Nvidia briefly became the world’s largest company by market capitalization this week as its shares soared. The stock is up 206% over the past 12 months and more than 1,000% since October 2022. Despite significant earnings from the shares of the American chipmaker, investors began to think about how long the growth could continue and whether it was worth taking a closer look at shares of other technology companies. Meanwhile, Nvidia is forecasting even greater growth in its financial performance, expecting revenue to double this fiscal year to $120 billion, with further growth to $160 billion next year. By comparison, Microsoft, which once again topped the list of the world’s largest companies by market value after Nvidia shares fell 3.4% on Thursday, expects revenue to grow about 16% this fiscal year.
Investor Sentiment and Market Risks
The rise in Nvidia shares is attracting investors looking to catch extra profits, but it has also pushed up the stock’s price. Nvidia’s forward price-to-earnings ratio has risen 80% this year, increasing the risk of sharp pullbacks if bad news about the company or the market emerges. Investors’ opinions were divided. Optimistic investors point to Nvidia’s dominance in the AI chip sector as a key reason for their confidence in the company’s stock’s continued growth. Thanks to the high performance combined with proprietary software, Nvidia chips are difficult to replace. For example, Ivana Delevska, founder and chief investment officer of Spear Invest, remains bullish on the prospects for Nvidia shares, expecting earnings to exceed Wall Street analysts’ forecasts. Tom Plumb, president of Plumb Funds, said the capabilities of Nvidia chips beyond AI are underestimated. The company has held Nvidia shares for more than seven years, making it the largest position in its two funds.
Other investors are more cautious about Nvidia’s prospects for stunning future success. For example, Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson, acknowledging that Nvidia has a “truly revolutionary” product and has demonstrated “unprecedented growth,” gave Nvidia shares a “neutral” rating and a $90 price target, compared with Nvidia’s $130.78 share price on Thursday. “The caution with Nvidia comes from a long-term perspective,” Luria says. “That kind of momentum is very difficult to maintain.”
Competitive Landscape and Future Outlook
Other investors have expressed concerns that competition from other companies could undermine Nvidia’s leadership position in the market, notes NIXsolutions. Technology giants Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Alphabet, which owns Google, are also working to create their own AI solutions for use in their products and services. Morningstar analysts estimate the fair value of Nvidia shares to be $105. They stated that leading providers such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms will seek to reduce their dependence on Nvidia and diversify their supplier base, which will, of course, be reflected in its position in the market. We’ll keep you updated as the situation evolves.