Did You Miss Intel's $100 Billion Gift?

Core Insights - Intel has historically been a generous steward of shareholder capital, returning a notable $94 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks over the last decade [1][3] - The company is currently undergoing a cost-cutting initiative, which includes laying off nearly 4,000 employees as part of a strategy led by new CEO Lip-Bu Tan [3] - Intel ranks 19th in history for total capital returned to shareholders, indicating a strong commitment to providing tangible returns [4] Financial Performance - Intel's revenue growth has been negative, with a -3.7% last twelve months (LTM) growth and a -9.4% average over the last three years [12] - The company has faced significant revenue shocks, with a minimum annual revenue growth of -26.4% in the last three years [12] - Intel's cash generation metrics are concerning, showing a nearly -20.6% free cash flow margin and a -8.3% operating margin LTM [12] Market Position - The total capital returned to shareholders as a percentage of current market cap appears inversely proportional to growth prospects for reinvestments, with companies like Meta and Microsoft showing faster growth but lower capital returns [6] - Despite its historical capital returns, Intel's stock has experienced significant volatility, including a 74% decline during the Dot-Com Bubble and a 62% drop during the 2022 inflation shock [9][10]