How did INTC's Q4 2024 earnings surprise analysts?

Intel's Q4 2024 earnings report disappointed analysts with a significant net loss of $16.99 billion, which was exacerbated by a substantial revenue decline. This result was particularly shocking given the market's low expectations, as reflected by the EPS surprise of -$0.44, which was a stark contrast to the positive surprise of $0.04 in the previous quarter. The dismal earnings report further weighed on Intel's stock, which had already experienced a steep decline of 60% for the year, marking its worst stock performance since going public in 1971.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income YoY|Net Income|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|INTC|INTC.O|Intel|2024 Q1|84.21242774566474|-4.37E8|185|
|INTC|INTC.O|Intel|2024 Q2|-212.28784792939578|-1.654E9|185|
|INTC|INTC.O|Intel|2024 Q3|-5580.322580645161|-1.6989E10|185|
|INTC|INTC.O|Intel|2024 Q4|-105.75187969924814|-1.53E8|185|

Moreover, analysts' opinions on Intel's stock remained largely negative, with a "Neutral" rating and a price target of $23.62, indicating a lack of confidence in the company's immediate future. The prevailing sentiment was one of caution, with analysts advising against investment due to Intel's ongoing financial struggles and competitive disadvantages in the AI and server chip markets.