Intel Lost Money Again in 2025. Here's Why -- and What It Means for the Stock

Core Insights - Intel has experienced a significant decline in its business performance despite a rebound in stock price, with the company still reporting losses in 2025 [1][9] - The stock market's positive outlook on Intel suggests expectations for future improvement, although historical performance indicates challenges that need to be addressed [2] Financial Performance - Intel's peak sales occurred in 2021, reaching $79 billion, but gross margin fell to 55.5% due to rising costs, and operating margin decreased to 24.6% [4] - In 2022, revenue dropped by 20% and net income fell nearly 40% due to decreased consumer demand and high inflation [5] - The decline continued in 2023, with net income decreasing by nearly 80% and sales falling another 14%, alongside loss of market share to competitors like Nvidia and AMD [6] - In 2025, Intel's gross margin improved slightly to 34.8%, but the company still reported a GAAP loss of approximately $300 million, with flat revenue overall [9] Leadership Changes - The resignation of former CEO Pat Gelsinger followed significant impairment and restructuring charges totaling $18.7 billion in 2024, despite attempts to cut costs [7] - Lip-Bu Tan was appointed as the new CEO in March 2025, bringing prior experience from his time on Intel's board [8] Strategic Focus - Tan emphasizes the importance of central processing units (CPUs) in the AI era, contrasting with competitors who focus on graphics processing units (GPUs) [11] - The success of Intel's strategic plan under Tan will be crucial for the company's recovery and future performance [12]