As global markets become more competitive and unpredictable, major corporations are being forced to rethink how they operate. From semiconductor manufacturing to international banking, companies are cutting costs, improving efficiency, and rebuilding core business models to protect long-term profitability and shareholder returns.
Two industry giants – Intel and Standard Chartered – are now pursuing aggressive restructuring strategies that could redefine their future growth trajectories.
Intel’s Foundry Strategy and Semiconductor Turnaround
Intel’s turnaround strategy is centered on expanding its external manufacturing division, Intel Foundry. For decades, Intel’s fabrication plants primarily produced chips for the company’s own PCs and data center products. Under former CEO Pat Gelsinger and current CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel is now repositioning itself as a global third-party chip manufacturer capable of competing with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).
Lip-Bu Tan’s Leadership Fuels Intel’s Recovery
Since Lip-Bu Tan became CEO in March 2025, Intel shares have surged more than 300%, reflecting growing investor confidence in the company’s restructuring efforts and long-term semiconductor strategy.
Investors are betting that Tan can stabilize Intel’s manufacturing operations and narrow the competitive gap with TSMC.
Intel Improves 18A Manufacturing Yields
One of the most important profitability metrics in semiconductor manufacturing is yield – the percentage of usable chips produced from each silicon wafer.
According to Tan, Intel’s advanced 18A process was underperforming when he took over. Since then, the company has improved operational efficiency significantly, achieving monthly yield gains of 7% to 8%, in line with industry standards.
“Foundry is very important. It’s one of the key national treasures.”
– Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO
Intel Targets External Foundry Customers
Improving manufacturing yields is helping Intel attract outside customers. Reports suggest the company has reached a preliminary agreement with Apple to manufacture some chips previously supplied by TSMC.
While Intel has not officially confirmed customer names, management expects to secure additional foundry commitments in the second half of the year. CFO David Zinsner previously stated that stronger commercial pipeline visibility would likely emerge through late 2026 and early 2027.
Why Intel’s Semiconductor Expansion Matters Geopolitically
Intel’s foundry expansion also carries strategic geopolitical importance. More than 90% of the world’s advanced processors are currently manufactured outside the United States.
To strengthen domestic semiconductor production, Intel is ramping up its 18A process at a new Arizona facility. However, the company’s Ohio manufacturing project has faced delays, pushing expected production to at least 2030.
Looking ahead, Tan believes Intel’s next-generation 14A process could reach market readiness alongside TSMC’s competing technology, potentially marking a major breakthrough for the U.S. semiconductor industry.
Standard Chartered Restructuring to Boost Banking Profitability
While Intel focuses on manufacturing expansion, Standard Chartered is restructuring its corporate operations to improve profitability and productivity.
Workforce Reductions Aim to Increase Productivity
Standard Chartered plans to cut more than 15% of its corporate functions workforce by 2030. According to the bank’s 2025 annual report, support functions such as HR, corporate affairs, and supply chain management currently account for around 52,000 of its 82,000 employees.
The bank’s goal is to increase income per employee by roughly 20% by 2028 while improving long-term shareholder returns.
As part of the restructuring strategy, Standard Chartered raised its medium-term targets:
- 2028 Target: 15% Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE)
- 2030 Target: 18% Return on Tangible Equity
Analyst Optimism Following Strong Earnings Growth
Analysts reacted positively to the updated guidance. Jefferies analyst Joseph Dickerson described the targets as “conservatively struck,” noting they support a path toward mid-teens earnings-per-share growth.
Jefferies maintained its Buy rating on Standard Chartered’s London-listed shares and raised its price target to 2,250 from a recent close of 1,921.50. The bank’s Hong Kong-listed shares also gained more than 2% following the announcement.
The restructuring comes after Standard Chartered reported a stronger-than-expected 17% increase in quarterly profits, driven by growth across:
- Wealth Solutions
- Global Banking
- Global Markets flow income
The bank also recorded a $190 million charge tied to expected losses related to ongoing Middle East conflicts.
Expansion Across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
Emerging markets remain central to Standard Chartered’s long-term strategy. The Middle East currently generates about 6% of the bank’s total revenue through expanding trade links with Asia, while most overall revenue continues to come from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
To strengthen its regional presence, Standard Chartered recently partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, to launch a $300 million risk-sharing facility supporting trade finance and localized supply chain solutions across eight African countries, including Ghana and Kenya.
Corporate Restructuring Trends Driving Shareholder Returns
Although Intel and Standard Chartered operate in very different industries, both companies are responding to the same global challenge: the need to improve efficiency, strengthen core operations, and deliver sustainable long-term returns.
Whether through semiconductor manufacturing yields or banking cost reductions, corporate restructuring is becoming a critical strategy for maintaining competitiveness in an increasingly complex global economy.