Episode Overview

Podcast: Becker Business
Host: Scott Becker
Episode: Intel May Be the Biggest Surprise of the Year
Date: October 24, 2025

In this brief episode, Scott Becker talks about the remarkable turnaround of Intel in 2025, diving into its surprising performance in the semiconductor industry after years of underperformance. He compares Intel’s rebound to other comeback stories in the business world and explores how AI-driven chip demand has spurred its resurgence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Intel’s Unexpected Comeback

• Earnings Outperform Expectations (00:10-00:22)
  Scott Becker highlights that Intel’s Q3 earnings not only met but beat market expectations:

  • “It just reported third quarter earnings and those were winning earnings. They beat expectations.” (Scott Becker, 00:08)

• AI as the Growth Catalyst (00:22-00:32)
  Becker emphasizes AI’s role in fueling the demand for Intel chips, helping reshape Intel’s reputation:

  • “AI is driving chip demand. It even was Intel. What was once thought of as sort of the commodity chip company has raised its head, raised its hand, and moved back in the right direction.” (Scott Becker, 00:18)

• Stock Surge and Context (00:32-00:48)
  Intel’s stock is up about 90% for the year, significantly recovering after years of stagnation:

  • “The story with Intel is nothing but shocking. It's up about 90% this year after years of being in the doldrums.” (Scott Becker, 00:25)
  • Despite the strong bounce-back this year, Intel is still down 20% over five years, showing how much ground it has to re-cover compared to industry peers.

• Relative Performance (00:48-01:01)
  Becker situates Intel’s gains within the broader context of the chip sector and the NASDAQ, hinting at how unusual and significant this turnaround is.

The Element of Surprise

• Becker stresses just how unexpected Intel's turnaround has been, not just for industry watchers but for him personally:
  • “Intel, to me, the biggest, biggest, the biggest surprise of the year.” (Scott Becker, 01:11)
  • He draws a comparison to Stellantis (Jeep), another company that made a dramatic rebound:
    • “...like a company like Stellantis, Jeep that I thought was basically gone for dead or left for dead, has rebounded dramatically.” (Scott Becker, 01:16)

Acknowledgment & Reflection

• In a homage to Intel and its legendary former CEO, Becker closes with:
  • “God bless Andy Grove. God bless Intel. Back from the grave. Congratulations.” (Scott Becker, 01:21)

Notable Quotes

• “It just reported third quarter earnings and those were winning earnings. They beat expectations. AI is driving chip demand.”
  — Scott Becker (00:08)
• “What was once thought of as sort of the commodity chip company has raised its head ... and moved back in the right direction… up about 90% this year after years of being in the doldrums.”
  — Scott Becker (00:22)
• “Intel, to me, the biggest, biggest, the biggest surprise of the year.”
  — Scott Becker (01:11)
• “God bless Andy Grove. God bless Intel. Back from the grave.”
  — Scott Becker (01:21)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:08 — Intel’s Q3 earnings and surprise performance introduced
• 00:18 — AI’s role in driving chip demand
• 00:25 — Stock rebound described (up 90% this year)
• 00:48 — Longer-term Intel performance context
• 01:11 — Declared as biggest business surprise of the year
• 01:16 — Comparison to Stellantis comeback
• 01:21 — Tribute to Andy Grove and Intel’s “back from the grave” moment

Summary

Scott Becker uses Intel’s story as a case study in resilience and unexpected comeback in the sometimes-unforgiving tech industry. Despite lagging its peers for years, Intel has found new momentum in 2025—almost entirely due to the explosion in AI and its impact on chip demand. Becker frames Intel’s 90% stock rise as not just impressive, but astonishing, placing it alongside legendary business comebacks like Stellantis and finally closing with a spirited nod to Intel’s enduring legacy.