Nvidia’s AI Rally Hits a Snag as Wall Street Reassesses Tech’s True Value


Last updated: August 31, 2024

The AI thrill ride might be slowing down, and Wall Street’s starting to see the tech for what it is: promising but not yet the goldmine many hoped for.

Nvidia, the world’s leading AI chipmaker, just dropped a knockout earnings report—sales up 122% in the second quarter, profits doubled, and the future looks bright.

But despite these staggering numbers, Nvidia’s stock (NVDA) took a 7% dip after the news hit, leaving many to wonder, what gives?

Here’s the scoop: Wall Street has been riding the AI wave hard for the last 18 months, throwing money at anything with a whiff of artificial intelligence. Nvidia, once a niche player in the chip market, became the golden child of this AI frenzy.

The company’s stock has soared nearly 3,000% over the past five years, catapulting it into the upper echelons of global business giants like Apple and Microsoft.

Given Nvidia’s starring role in the AI narrative, its earnings reports have turned into high-stakes events, eagerly anticipated by investors and analysts alike.

And for the past year, Nvidia hasn’t disappointed, consistently surpassing expectations and fueling the hype.

But this time, the response was more subdued.

Yes, Nvidia outperformed, but it was as if Wall Street had seen the trick before. The excitement dimmed, like watching a Broadway show with a fantastic cast of understudies—good, but missing that magic.

This tempered reaction signals more than just earnings fatigue.

The initial buzz around AI is fading, and investors are starting to ask the hard questions: Where’s the return on investment? As the dust settles, it’s clear that while AI has potential, it’s not yet the game-changer it’s been hyped to be.

For all the billions poured into AI by tech giants, tangible results are still scarce.

For Nvidia, this could be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, the company isn’t just riding the AI wave; it’s a bedrock of the tech ecosystem, with its chips powering everything from AI chatbots to ad-targeting systems.

Its data center business, which accounts for nearly 90% of revenue, remains strong.

On the other hand, Nvidia’s complex hardware is unmatched today, but for how long? As companies like Google and Amazon rush to develop their own AI chips, Nvidia’s biggest customers could turn into its fiercest competitors.

So, while the AI craze might cool, Nvidia isn’t going anywhere.

Whether AI turns out to be the next internet revolution or just another tech bubble, Nvidia’s shovels and axes—its powerful chips—will continue to be indispensable tools in the ever-evolving landscape of technology.

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Co-Founder & Chief Editor
Jon Morgan, MBA, LLM, has over ten years of experience growing startups and currently serves as CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Venture Smarter. Educated at UC Davis and Harvard, he offers deeply informed guidance. Beyond work, he enjoys spending time with family, his poodle Sophie, and learning Spanish.
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LJ Viveros has 40 years of experience in founding and scaling businesses, including a significant sale to Logitech. He has led Market Solutions LLC since 1999, focusing on strategic transitions for global brands. A graduate of Saint Mary’s College in Communications, LJ is also a distinguished Matsushita Executive alumnus.
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