Intel announces record 2010 profit of $11.7 billion

Intel announced a record fourth-quarter profit of $3.4 billion, or 59 cents per share, on revenue of $11.5 billion. For the full year of 2010 the chip giant pulled in a profit of $11.7 billion, or $2.05 per share, on revenue of $43.6 billion. These figures exclude the EC fine and the settlement with AMD. CEO Paul Otellini says 2010 was a record year for Intel and he believes 2011 will be even better.

Analysts anticipated a fourth-quarter revenue of $11.36 billion and $0.53 earnings per share. Intel's stock (INTC) is up 2.72 percent in after-hours trading to $21.87.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 – Intel Corporation today reported full-year revenue of $43.6 billion, operating income of $15.9 billion, net income of $11.7 billion, and EPS of $2.05 – all records. The company generated approximately $16.7 billion in cash from operations, paid cash dividends of $3.5 billion, and used $1.5 billion to repurchase 70 million shares of common stock.

For the fourth-quarter, Intel posted revenue of $11.5 billion. The company reported fourth-quarter operating income of $4.3 billion, net income of $3.4 billion, and EPS of 59 cents. Fourth-quarter revenue, operating income, net income, and EPS were also all records.

“2010 was the best year in Intel’s history. We believe that 2011 will be even better,” said Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO.

Full-Year Results
* Revenue $43.6 billion, up $8.5 billion, 24 percent year-over-year
* Gross margin of 66 percent, up 10 percentage points year-over-year
* Operating income $15.9 billion, up $10.2 billion, 179 percent year-over-year
* Net income $11.7 billion, up $7.3 billion, 167 percent year-over-year
* EPS $2.05, up $1.28, 166 percent year-over-year

Full-Year Results, Excluding the EC Fine and AMD Settlement Agreement
* On a non-GAAP basis, operating income $15.9 billion, up $7.5 Billion, 89 percent year-over-year
* On a non-GAAP basis, net income $11.7 billion, up $5.0 billion, 76 percent year-over-year
* On a non-GAAP basis, EPS $2.05, up 88 cents, 75 percent year-over-year

Fourth-Quarter Results
* Revenue $11.5 billion, up $355 million, 3 percent sequentially
* Record gross margin of 67.5 percent, up 1.5 percentage points sequentially
* Operating income $4.3 billion, up $211 million, 5 percent sequentially
* Net income $3.4 billion, up $433 million, 15 percent sequentially
* EPS 59 cents, up 7 cents, 13 percent sequentially

Full-Year 2010 Key Financial Information
* PC Client Group revenue up 21 percent, Data Center Group revenue up 35 percent, other Intel architecture group revenue up 27 percent, and Intel® Atom™ microprocessor and chipset revenue of $1.6 billion up 8 percent.
* Gross margin of 66 percent, up 10 percentage points compared to 2009.
* Full-year capital spending was $5.2 billion, consistent with the company’s expectation.
* The company used $1.5 billion to repurchase 70 million shares of common stock.

Q4 2010 Key Financial Information
* PC Client Group revenue flat, Data Center Group revenue up 15 percent, other Intel architecture group flat, and Intel Atom microprocessor and chipset revenue of $391 million flat, all sequentially.
* The average selling price (ASP) for microprocessors was slightly up sequentially.
* Gross margin was 67.5 percent, slightly above the company’s expectation.
* R&D plus MG&A spending of $3.4 billion was higher than the company’s expectation.
* The net gain of $140 million from equity investments and interest and other was better than the company’s expectation.
* The effective tax rate was 24 percent, lower than the company’s expectation of 31 percent primarily due to the retroactive reinstatement of the U.S. R&D tax credit.