Returns follow leadership. Intel proves it
Returns follow leadership. Intel proves it.
Over the past 20 years, Intel returned just ~2% annually.
In the last decade, it barely grew.
And in the last five years, the stock fell 11.5% annualized — while the S&P 500 compounded at +12%.
This wasn’t bad luck.
It was leadership failure.
The board hired the wrong leaders.
Repeatedly.
A revolving door of CEOs — none the right fit for the moment. Together, they over-diversified and lost their edge:
→ Missed the mobile wave while competitors seized it
→ Repeated manufacturing delays broke trust with customers and investors
→ Self-inflicted erosion of technological leadership
As a result, Apple and others walked away.
Contrast that with leadership teams who turned inflection points into compounding engines of growth — driving the S&P 500 higher.
At Eagle Talon, that’s the lens we bring to public markets:
→ Which CEOs are resilient under pressure?
→ Who allocates capital with discipline and foresight?
→ Where does leadership fit unlock potential — instead of leaving it stuck in place?
Because markets don’t just price products or earnings.
They value the quality of leadership. And over time, that difference compounds — for better or worse.
👉 Which companies today do you think are compounding (or eroding) because of leadership fit?
