Three of the biggest names in technology made major workforce and strategy moves on the same day, sending their stocks in sharply different directions.

Intel Surges on Earnings

Intel shares jumped 25%, making it one of the stock's strongest single-day moves in recent memory. The article does not specify what drove the surge, but a move of this size typically follows a significant earnings beat or a major strategic announcement. Investors clearly read whatever Intel reported as a turning point for a company that has faced years of competitive pressure from AMD and Nvidia.

Meta and Microsoft Cut Headcount

Meta announced it will cut 10% of its workforce. The company has not been shy about restructuring — this follows earlier rounds of layoffs as Meta pushes deeper into AI and tries to keep its cost base lean. A 10% reduction is a large cut by any measure, affecting thousands of employees across what is one of the world's largest technology companies.

Microsoft took a different approach: the company is offering buyouts rather than direct layoffs. A buyout offer gives eligible employees a financial package to leave voluntarily, which can reduce headcount without the reputational cost of forced cuts. Microsoft has been investing heavily in AI infrastructure and may be reshaping its workforce toward those priorities.

Both moves point to the same pressure across big tech: companies are trying to control costs while funding expensive AI buildouts. Hiring that expanded rapidly during the pandemic era is being reversed, with firms prioritizing margin discipline and AI capability over headcount size.

For markets, Intel's 25% jump will lift sentiment in the semiconductor space at least in the short term. Meta's cut signals continued cost focus, which investors in recent years have tended to reward with higher valuations. Microsoft's buyout path is less disruptive and suggests the company wants to manage the transition carefully.

Watch for how many employees accept Microsoft's buyout offer, which teams Meta's cuts target, and whether Intel follows its stock move with concrete guidance on its turnaround timeline.