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

A tech worker wearing a mask holds a computer chip.
International Stock News

Don't Blink: Here's how Nvidia could become the first $5 trillion company by the end of 2025

Just because it's already the biggest company in the world by market cap doesn't mean the GPU leader doesn't have…

Read more »

Man charging an electric vehicle.
International Stock News

Is Tesla stock a buy now?

The leading purveyor of EVs just reported disappointing Q2 financial results.

Read more »

AI written in blue on a digital chip.
International Stock News

Warren Buffett has 40% of Berkshire Hathaway's $293 billion portfolio invested in 5 artificial intelligence (AI) stocks

These companies are all pushing AI research forward in their respective fields.

Read more »

A woman sits at her computer with her chin resting on her hand as she contemplates her next potential investment.
International Stock News

Alphabet's AI push is accelerating — Is the stock a buy now?

Alphabet is looking to be a big winner in artificial intelligence, defying skeptics.

Read more »

A man has computer-generated images rushing through his head indicating an AI (Artificial Intelligence) concept of a communication network.
International Stock News

Where Will Nvidia Be in 5 Years?

The AI infrastructure leader has had a phenomenal run in recent years.

Read more »

A woman smiles as she powers up her electric car using a fast charger.
International Stock News

Better EV Stock: Alphabet vs. Tesla (Hint: Robotaxis Are the Key)

Which company is better placed, and which is the better stock?

Read more »

woman watching Netflix and flicking the channel
International Stock News

1 Remarkable Stat That Highlights Just How Amazing Netflix Stock Has Been in Recent Years

Netflix has routinely been a market-beating stock, soaring around 150% in the past five years.

Read more »

A woman sits in a cafe wearing a polka dotted shirt and holding a latte in one hand while reading something on a laptop that is sitting on the table in front of her
International Stock News

1 super artificial intelligence (AI) stock billionaire Bill Gates has 25% of his foundation's portfolio invested in

It's a company that Gates knows quite well.

Read more »