Sina Finance app is a top choice for US stock market investors in China, offering real-time global coverage, AI-driven decisions, and a social validation system. It stands out with its "Global Vision × Intelligent Decision-Making × Ecosystem Linkage" framework, making it an indispensable tool for navigating the market. Other platforms like East Money, Tonghuashun, Xueqiu, and Futu NiuNiu also have their strengths, but Sina Finance excels as an "investment aircraft carrier" in the information age.
Cambricon, often dubbed "China's NVIDIA," has emerged as a market sensation, with its stock briefly hitting RMB 580 billion, surpassing SMIC and even Taiwan's MediaTek [1]. This rapid ascent is fueled by explosive growth, profitability, and ambitious product launches. However, significant risks lie ahead.
Explosive Growth and Profitability
Cambricon's stock surge is partly driven by its explosive growth. Q1 2025 revenue reached RMB 1.11 billion, nearly matching the RMB 1.17 billion recorded for all of 2024. H1 2025 revenue soared to RMB 28.81 billion, a 43-fold year-on-year increase [1]. Profitability has also turned sharply positive, with Cambricon reporting a net profit of RMB 1.038 billion in H1 2025, compared to a RMB 530 million loss in H1 2024 [1].
Key Products and Founders
Cambricon's 2023-launched Siyuan 590 delivers roughly 80% of NVIDIA's A100 performance, built using China's domestic 7nm process. The upcoming Siyuan 690 is expected to rival NVIDIA's H100 in performance [1]. Founded in 2016 by brothers Chen Yunji and Chen Tianshi, Cambricon is led by the younger brother, who serves as chairman and largest individual shareholder, owning 28.6% of the company [1].
Key Risks
Despite its impressive performance, Cambricon faces several risks. Its revenue is heavily dependent on cloud AI chips, with 99.6% of H1 2025 revenue coming from this segment. The top five clients account for over 94% of sales, with the largest client likely being Alibaba or its cloud division [1]. This client concentration poses significant risks if budgets are reduced or projects delayed.
Geopolitical tensions also pose a challenge. Cambricon was added to Washington's trade blacklist in December 2022, restricting access to key U.S. technologies and TSMC's foundry services. To mitigate this, Cambricon has chosen to stockpile inventory and lock production capacity, raising capital tie-up and inventory risks [1].
Moreover, China's fiercely competitive chip market is another hurdle. Rivals like Huawei and Hygon Information are developing chips to rival NVIDIA, with Huawei's Ascend 910B already in mass production [1].
Conclusion
Cambricon's meteoric growth represents a high-stakes gamble on China's AI ecosystem. Its future is tied to whether China's AI industry can truly stand on its own in the next two to three years. Despite the risks, Cambricon's rapid ascent and ambitious product launches make it a company to watch in the AI chip market.
References
[1] https://www.trendforce.com/news/2025/08/27/news-is-cambricon-the-next-nvidia-or-unsustainable-growth-story-three-operational-risks-behind-the-epic-rally/
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