- Microprocessor and chipset units were significantly lower versus the third quarter.
- Revenue from Intel® Atom™ microprocessors and chipsets was $300 million, up 50 percent.
- The total microprocessor average selling price (ASP) was flat.
- Excluding shipments of Intel Atom microprocessors, the ASP was higher.
- Gross margin of 53.1 percent was lower than 58.9 percent in the third quarter. The decrease was primarily due to higher factory underutilization charges and higher inventory write-offs.
- Spending was $2.6 billion, lower than $2.9 billion in the third quarter, driven by lower revenue- and profit-related expenses along with targeted spending reductions.
- The net loss from equity investments and interest and other was $1.1 billion, higher than the forecast of a $50-million loss, primarily due to a billion-dollar reduction in the carrying value of the company’s investments in Clearwire.
- The effective tax rate was 36.6 percent, higher than the expectation of approximately 29 percent.
Key Financial Information (Annual)
- Revenue was down 2 percent year-over-year. Adjusted for divestitures, revenue was up slightly in 2008.
- Intel had record microprocessor units, server revenue and mobile microprocessor revenue.
- Chipset and wireless connectivity products set new unit and revenue records.
- Gross margin was 55.5 percent, up from 52 percent in 2007.
- Intel removed more than $800 million of cost from the company in 2008 under the structure and efficiency program launched in 2006. Cumulative spending reductions under the program to date exceeded $3 billion.
Business Outlook
Intel’s Business Outlook does not include the potential impact of any mergers, acquisitions, divestitures or other business combinations that may be completed after Jan. 14. Current uncertainty in global economic conditions makes it particularly difficult to predict product demand and other related matters and makes it more likely that Intel’s actual results could differ materially from expectations. Consequently, the company is providing less quantitative guidance than in previous quarters.
Q1 2009:
- Due to economic uncertainty and limited visibility, Intel is not providing a revenue outlook at this time. For internal purposes, the company is currently planning for revenue in the vicinity of $7 billion.
- Gross margin: The percentage is expected to decline to the low 40s primarily due to higher underutilization charges and 32nm start-up costs. Gross margin is subject to changes in demand levels and pricing that could impact inventory write-offs, mix and unit costs, and potentially create several additional points of margin variability.
- Spending (R&D plus MG&A): Approximately $2.5 billion.
- Restructuring and asset impairment charges: Approximately $160 million.
- Net loss from equity investments and interest and other: Approximately $130 million.
- Depreciation: Approximately $1.2 billion.
Full-Year 2009:
- Spending (R&D plus MG&A): Between $10.4 billion and $10.6 billion.
- R&D: Approximately $5.4 billion.
- Capital spending: Expected to be flat to slightly down from 2008.
- Depreciation: $4.8 billion plus or minus $100 million.
- Tax rate: Approximately 27 percent.
Status of Business Outlook
During the quarter, Intel’s corporate representatives may reiterate the
Business Outlook during private meetings with investors, investment
analysts, the media and others. From the close of business on Feb. 27
until publication of the company’s first-quarter earnings release, Intel
will observe a “Quiet Period” during which the Business Outlook
disclosed in the company’s press releases and filings with the SEC
should be considered to be historical, speaking as of prior to the Quiet
Period only and not subject to an update by the company.
