BUZZ-PREVIEW: Intel shares flat; Q4 EPS, rev expected to sink

** Shares in struggling chip designer and manufacturer Intel Corp INTC.O roughly flat on Thursday, following five straight declines and before Q4 report due after market close

** Wall St mean estimate is for INTC to report adj EPS of $0.12 vs $0.54 in year-ago quarter on rev of $13.81 bln vs $15.41 bln year-ago, according to latest LSEG data

** In last 8 quarters INTC's rev beat expectations 5 times while EPS beat six times

** Intel is expected to face scrutiny on its CEO search during its conference call as investors expect big decline in revenue on weak PC sales, shrinking share of data center market. Co ousted CEO Pat Gelsinger last month casting doubts on its plans to build out a contract chip manufacturing business

** INTC last traded at $19.75 vs median PT of 23.50, down from a PT of $25 just a month ago per LSEG, which shows 45 analyst ratings: 1 'strong buy,' 1 'buy,' 37 'hold,' 5 'sell' and 1 'strong sell'

** Intel shares down 1.3% YTD after falling 60.1% in 2024 vs a 0.5% gain Philadelphia semiconductor index .SOX so far in 2025 and a 19.3% gain in 2024