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Natalie.Sullivan


Intel's Strong Performance and Innovation Drive Growth Amidst Challenges

2023-07-30

The recent conference call held by the company provided an update on their business progress, with a focus on U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and efforts to increase capital intensity and efficiency. The CEO and CFO expressed confidence in their strategy and execution, despite facing challenges. The meeting included participation from analysts and investors.

One of the most important topics discussed in the meeting was the CHIPS Act and its impact on making U.S. manufacturing competitive in the world. The company emphasized their commitment to capitalizing on all segments with optimized silicon and software solutions, demonstrating their dedication to innovation and staying competitive in the market.

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The company's Programmable Solutions business achieved an all-time record revenue in Q1, highlighting its strong performance. They also announced plans to introduce over 15 new products in their FPGA portfolio this year, showcasing their dedication to continuous improvement and meeting customer needs.

In the client computing business, the company executed their roadmap and gained overall PC market share in Q1. They expect their competitive position to continue improving as they ramp up production of Meteor Lake in Q2 for a launch in the second half of the year. The introduction of the 13th gen Intel core mobile processor and the new vPro platform powered by the full lineup of 13th gen Intel core processors further showcases the company's focus on delivering comprehensive security and improved productivity for companies.

Overall, the company's focus on capitalizing on all segments, strong performance in the Programmable Solutions business, expansion of the FPGA portfolio, and advancements in the client computing business demonstrate its commitment to innovation, competitiveness, and meeting customer needs.

The company's market outlook is positive, as they shift to an internal foundry model expected to lead to long-term cost improvements and achieve profit goals. They have already seen positive results from this shift. For the second quarter, they expect revenue between $11.5 billion to $12.5 billion, with a midpoint of $12 billion. They anticipate billings to trail consumption in certain markets but remain cautiously optimistic and expect sequential revenue growth throughout the year. The company is confident in the demand for AI capabilities and believes their CPU and accelerator portfolios are well positioned to benefit from this market growth.

The key drivers of the business for this company are data center trends, AI and machine learning, democratizing AI, and gross margin improvement. They have plans to introduce more than 15 new products in their FPGA portfolio, improve their competitive position in the PC market by launching Meteor Lake and introducing new processors and platforms, and deliver over 170 notebooks, desktops, and entry workstations through partnerships with technology providers.

The competitive landscape for the company is evolving positively. The company's Programmable Solutions business achieved record revenue and plans to introduce a high number of new products in the FPGA business. In the client computing business, the company has gained overall PC market share and expects further improvement. They have introduced new processors and platforms that offer enhanced security and productivity for businesses. The company is also making advancements in the network industry, with their products and solutions being widely adopted. Their subsidiary, Mobileye, has shown strong growth in profitability and is gaining traction with customers. The company is focused on reducing costs and driving efficiencies.

The company's outlook for the quarter/year is cautious. They expect some modest recovery in the second half but remain cautious on the macro outlook. The PC market is stabilizing, but the server and networking markets are still weak. The company's Q2 revenue guide considers inventory corrections and normal seasonal factors.

The company has made progress on several strategic initiatives. In the Programmable Solutions business, they achieved record revenue in Q1 and introduced a significant number of new products in their FPGA portfolio. They are also working on building a more resilient supply chain through collaboration with customers. In the client computing business, they gained overall PC market share and introduced new processors and platforms for increased security and productivity. They also have plans to deliver a wide range of notebooks, desktops, and workstations in the future.

The company's capital spending plans include investing in equipment and shells, making investments in the foundry side, aiming to keep net capex intensity in the low 30s as a percentage of revenue, and anticipating potential capital offsets.

The participants of the call mentioned in the meeting outcome were John Pitzer - Corporate Vice President, Investor Relations; Pat Gelsinger - Chief Executive Officer; David Zinsner - Chief Financial Officer; Timothy Arcuri - UBS - Analyst; C.J. Muse - Evercore ISI - Analyst; Ross Seymore - Deutsche Bank - Analyst; Matt Ramsay - Cowen and Company - Analyst; Pierre Ferragu - New Street Research - Analyst; Vivek Arya - Bank of America Merrill Lynch - Analyst; and Joseph Moore - Morgan Stanley - Analyst.

In conclusion, the recent conference call held by the company provided valuable insights into their business progress and future plans. The company's focus on innovation, competitiveness, and meeting customer needs was evident throughout the meeting. With strong performance in their Programmable Solutions business, expansion of their FPGA portfolio, and advancements in the client computing business, the company is well-positioned for growth. They are also optimistic about the demand for AI capabilities and have plans to introduce new products and platforms to cater to market needs. Despite cautious outlook for the quarter/year, the company remains committed to reducing costs, driving efficiencies, and delivering value to their customers.