Investor Expectations and Nvidia's Market Impact
Nvidia investors are eagerly awaiting the chip designer's quarterly revenue forecast this Wednesday, anticipating figures above estimates. Their curiosity surrounds how much the revenue might exceed expectations. Nvidia's role in powering artificial intelligence apps like ChatGPT has made it a key player in the industry.
A Trillion-Dollar Success Story
Shares of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) have seen a remarkable threefold increase in value this year, adding $700 billion to the market valuation. This growth made Nvidia the first trillion-dollar chip firm, with its shares closing 8.5% higher on Monday, marking the largest jump in nearly three months.
Risks of Disappointment and Market Direction
The dramatic rally in Nvidia's shares has left little room for error, and any disappointment in the earnings forecast could trigger a sharp decline in its stock. This scenario, analysts warn, would not only impact Nvidia but could also dictate the direction of the wider market, given the AI-driven rally in Nvidia and Big Tech stocks.
The AI Pillar and Market Concerns
Inge Heydorn, a partner at GP Bullhound, emphasizes the dependency on Nvidia's success, stating, "AI is the last pillar of growth." If Nvidia shows any weakness, there could be a substantial market correction.
Wall Street Expectations and Brokerages' Views
Wall Street expects Nvidia's third-quarter revenue to rise by about 110% to $12.50 billion, and last week at least 10 brokerages raised their price targets on the stock. The 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio has also been a significant focus, with changes reflecting the ongoing analyst adjustments.
Data Center Sales and Investor Focus
Investors will be looking at Nvidia's data center unit, specifically sales of its H100 chip used in AI, to evaluate if the current valuation can be justified. Meanwhile, the company's price-to-earnings ratio stands high in comparison to rivals like AMD.
The Supply-Demand Challenge
Analysts observe that Nvidia can only meet half of the current demand, and its H100 chip's selling price has doubled to $40,000. Concerns about growth are also fueled by China's stockpiling of chips due to potential U.S. export restrictions.
Rival AMD's Competitive Positioning
Rival AMD is looking to challenge Nvidia with its M1300X chip, possibly offering a much cheaper option for AI workloads. AMD's expected market entry could reshape the competitive landscape, though catching up with Nvidia's software CUDA, the industry standard in AI, may prove to be an uphill battle.
