Intel EPS Beats Forecast, Shares Jump to 52-Week High; SambaNova Deal Clears FTC
Intel reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $0.29 vs $0.01 forecast and revenue of $13.58B vs $12.42B, sending shares up ~5% to a 52-week high with data center sales up 22% to $5.1B. The FTC cleared Intel’s $350M investment in SambaNova, boosting its stake to 8.2% and accelerating their AI hardware partnership.
1. Strong First-Quarter Financial Performance
Intel posted adjusted EPS of $0.29, well above the $0.01 estimate, on revenue of $13.58 billion surpassing projections of $12.42 billion, reflecting a broader operational turnaround in Q1.
2. Data Center Business Growth
Sales in the data center segment rose 22% to $5.1 billion as AI-driven demand for high-performance CPUs drove a substantial increase in orders.
3. FTC Clearance for SambaNova Investment
The Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of its review of Intel’s $350 million funding round for SambaNova, raising Intel’s ownership to 8.2% and solidifying their AI hardware collaboration.
4. Capital Strategy and Partnerships
Intel launched investment-grade bond sales to fund a $14.2 billion plan to regain full ownership of its Fab 34 facility in Ireland and is joining a Terafab complex in Austin, while Tesla plans to adopt Intel’s 14A process for vehicles, robotics and space data centers.