Intel Corporation today announced preliminary fourth-quarter financial information with revenue of approximately $8.2 billion, down 20 percent sequentially and down 23 percent year over year. Revenue will be lower than the company's previous expectation, provided on Nov. 12, 2008, as a result of further weakness in end demand and inventory reductions by its customers in the global PC supply chain. The preliminary estimate of gross margin for the fourth quarter is at the bottom of the previous expectation of 55 percent, plus or minus a couple of points.

As a result of the year-end market price of Clearwire Corporation stock, Intel will impair the value of its investment, resulting in a non-cash charge to fourth-quarter earnings of approximately $950 million. The company now expects the net gain or loss from equity investments and interest and other to be a loss of between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion versus a previous expectation of a loss of approximately $50 million.

Spending (R&D plus MG&A) is expected to be approximately $2.6 billion, lower than the previous expectation of approximately $2.8 billion.

Restructuring and asset impairment charges are expected to be approximately $250 million, unchanged.

The company is continuing to review its fourth-quarter results and will provide additional information in its previously scheduled earnings announcement on Jan. 15. A news release will be distributed after close of market, and a public webcast will be available at 2:30 p.m. PST on the Investor Relations Web site at intc.com. The company is currently observing the pre-earnings quiet period and will not make further comments about its fourth-quarter results in the interim.