Why is Wall Street obsessed with AI (artificial intelligence) leader Nvidia?

The chipmaker has captured the hearts of Wall Street, and the road ahead is long.

| More on:
A tech worker wearing a mask holds a computer chip.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

There's no two ways about it. Investors across the depth and breadth of Wall Street are absolutely captivated by Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). The chipmaker is a frequent topic of discussion among financial programming anchors and analysts alike. There's more. Of the 66 analysts who offered an opinion in July, 88% say it's a buy or strong buy, and none recommend selling.

There are plenty of reasons Wall Street is obsessed. Let's look at a few of those reasons and what they mean for investors.

Paint by numbers

Nvidia was already one of the world's most successful chip companies, a leading provider of graphics processing units (GPUs) that bring video games to life. Furthermore, Nvidia developed CUDA, a library of software tools that helps developers harness the raw, number-crunching power of GPUs for computationally intensive applications. This enabled data scientists and researchers to develop speedier algorithms, spurring the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

That pivot to AI has led to eye-popping financial gains. For two successive years, Nvidia generated triple-digit year-over-year revenue and profit growth. At the same time, the stock price surged 638%, adding $3 trillion to its market cap. Since then, its growth has slowed but remains impressive nonetheless. In the company's fiscal 2026 first quarter (ended April 27), revenue of $44 billion jumped 69% year over year, while adjusted earnings per share (EPS) climbed 33%.

Great news for investors

As impressive as these results are, Nvidia's growth story is far from over, which is great news for investors. Sales of Nvidia's next-generation Blackwell AI-centric chips have recently started to ramp up, and CEO Jensen Huang is lobbying world leaders to develop their own sovereign AI programs. Furthermore, the chief executive's efforts in Washington, D.C., appear to be paying off, as the Trump administration is poised to approve the resumption of H20 chip sales to China, according to Huang.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives says it's "still the first inning for AI," which suggests there's much more opportunity ahead.

That's why Wall Street is obsessed with Nvidia, and investors should be, too.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Danny Vena has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on International Stock News

Delighted adult man, working on a company slogan, on his laptop.
International Stock News

Here's why Nvidia still is a multimillionaire-maker

The company plays a key role in the AI boom.

Read more »

Woman on her laptop thinking to herself.
International Stock News

Amazon is expanding its AI chip ambitions. Should Nvidia investors be worried?

Amazon says customers can save 30% to 40% by using its AI chips over Nvidia's GPUs.

Read more »

Happy man working on his laptop.
International Stock News

1 compelling reason to buy Meta hand over fist right now

Meta offers investors a combination of safety and growth potential.

Read more »

A young woman sits with her hand to her chin staring off to the side thinking about her investments.
International Stock News

Michael Burry just sent a warning to artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. Should Nvidia investors be worried?

Michael Burry of "The Big Short" fame is bearish on artificial intelligence (AI) stocks.

Read more »

Legendary share market investing expert, and owner of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett.
International Stock News

Is Warren Buffett sending a quiet warning to investors? Here's what you need to know.

Berkshire Hathaway's cash stockpile just reached record heights. Is that a warning sign for investors?

Read more »

Robot hand and human hand touching the same space on a digital screen, symbolising artificial intelligence.
International Stock News

Better $3 trillion AI stock to buy now: Microsoft or Alphabet

Alphabet's stock has surged in recent weeks.

Read more »

Legendary share market investing expert and owner of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett.
International Stock News

Here are billionaire Warren Buffett's 5 biggest stock holdings

Warren Buffett is widely regarded as the greatest investor of all time.

Read more »

Woman and man calculating a dividend yield.
International Stock News

Amazon just made a major AI announcement. Here's what it means for investors.

The AI race continues to heat up, and Amazon continues to invest in keeping its lead.

Read more »