Nvidia Stock Leads Magnificent Seven Gains to Start 2025 After Megacap Tech Stock Selloff
Thursday, Jan 2, 2025 12:40 pm ET
Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) has emerged as the standout performer among the Magnificent Seven stocks, which include Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon.com, Meta Platforms, and Tesla, as the new year begins. The tech giant's stock surged 24% on Thursday, January 3, 2025, following an impressive earnings and guidance release that surpassed analysts' expectations. Nvidia reported a first-quarter profit of $1.09 per share, significantly higher than the forecasted $0.92, and offered second-quarter revenue guidance of $11 billion, nearly $4 billion more than the $7.15 billion consensus estimate.
The strong performance can be attributed to the growing demand for AI chips, as Nvidia's Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress noted on the earnings call. "Generative AI drove significant upside in demand for our products, creating opportunities and broad-based global growth across our markets," Kress said. Analysts have taken notice of Nvidia's potential, with Susquehanna analyst Christopher Rolland predicting that the company's four segments—auto, data center, gaming, and professional visualization—could grow at a rate at least three times that of semiconductors generally.

Nvidia's recent gains have brought its market capitalization close to the $1 trillion mark, with a current valuation of $939.3 billion. To reach this milestone, the stock would need to hit $404.86, which is more than 6% higher than its current price of $379.80. Needham analyst Rajvindra Gill has been bullish on Nvidia's prospects, predicting that the company could achieve this valuation over time, given the strong demand for its products from various industries.
However, investors should be cautious about chasing after Nvidia's recent surge, as the stock is already trading at 47.4 times its 12-month forward earnings. The sustainability of Nvidia's growth depends on the continued spending by companies to catch up in AI. If demand slows after this fiscal year, the stock may look even more expensive.
In conclusion, Nvidia's impressive performance has positioned it as a leader among the Magnificent Seven stocks, with the potential to become the world's first trillion-dollar chip stock. However, investors should remain vigilant and monitor the company's progress, as well as the broader AI market, to ensure that they make informed decisions about their investments.