Nvidia’s stock (NVDA) slipped both Monday and Tuesday after news that China’s State Administration for Market Regulation is investigating its 2020 acquisition of Mellanox Technologies. While that deal was already cleared by Chinese regulators at the time, the decision to revisit it has caught investors off guard. Antitrust reviews can drag on for months.
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
- Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
For Nvidia, the concern is that if China were to find issues, it could impose fines or new conditions that make operations harder in a region where Nvidia is already facing limits. The company’s H20 chip sales have been zeroed out in recent earnings reports, reflecting just how difficult the market has become. Adding a regulatory probe on top of trade restrictions makes China one of Nvidia’s biggest risk factors moving forward.
Analysts Raise Targets but Flag Risks
Even as China raises new hurdles, Wall Street analysts have been lifting their price targets. KeyBanc’s John Vinh argues that Nvidia’s CUDA software ecosystem is a powerful moat, making it difficult for rivals to lure developers away. He kept an overweight rating with a $230 target. William Blair’s Sebastien Naji also gave Nvidia an outperform rating with a $205 target, saying that China could still improve the company’s outlook despite the current uncertainty.
But there are reasons for caution. Susquehanna analyst Christopher Rolland lifted his target to $210 but highlighted concern around Nvidia’s H20 chip revenue. Reports suggest Chinese regulators have asked Nvidia to explain whether its chips could be tracked or shut down remotely, an unusual request that rattled investors. CEO Jensen Huang denied that those capabilities exist, but lingering questions could weigh on sales in a critical market.
Nvidia Delivers Earnings but No China Boost
Nvidia’s most recent quarter was strong on paper. The company posted $1.05 per share in earnings, topping estimates of $1.01. Sales of $46.74 billion also beat expectations, and guidance for the next quarter came in at $54 billion, slightly above forecasts. Nvidia also approved a massive $60 billion buyback, signaling confidence in its own valuation.
The problem is that none of this includes China. Nvidia booked zero sales from its H20 chips in the region and left those sales out of its forward guidance. Without clarity on when China revenue might return, the company’s headline numbers look impressive, but the full growth story is missing an important piece. For investors, that creates a gap between expectations and reality.
Nvidia Battles Rivals and Builds New Chips
Competition is also intensifying. Broadcom (AVGO) recently landed a $10 billion chip order that positions it as a serious rival in the AI space. Meanwhile, Alibaba (BABA) has developed an in-house AI chip, which is not on Nvidia’s level yet but signals that big Chinese firms are preparing alternatives. While Nvidia still holds the crown, the pressure from rivals means it must keep innovating at a rapid pace.
Reports suggest Nvidia is already working on a more powerful chip for China that could sidestep restrictions. It has placed orders for hundreds of thousands of H20 chips through Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), building up inventory while preparing for future launches. This shows us how much of Nvidia’s strategy is now tied to figuring out regulatory and political challenges.
Nvidia Tests Key Buy Level
From a technical perspective, Nvidia stock is testing important levels. Shares fell back to their 50-day moving average, a point many traders watch carefully for signs of support or breakdown. The official buy point remains $184.48, which also happens to be the stock’s all-time high. Until the stock can convincingly clear that level again, investors may be reluctant to chase the rally.
The stock’s ratings remain strong, with a top-level EPS rating of 99 and a Composite Rating of 98. But fund ownership has slipped, with only 41% of shares currently held by institutions. This suggests big money is not aggressively adding to positions at the moment. For individual investors, the question becomes whether this dip is a buying opportunity or a warning to wait on the sidelines.
Overall, Nvidia remains one of the strongest companies in the AI race, but the road ahead is no longer as smooth as it once was. The China probe, uncertainty around H20 chip sales, and rising competition all cloud the near-term picture. Analysts are still bullish overall, but their targets come with caveats.
If Nvidia can stabilize around current support and push above its buy point, it may well continue its record-breaking run. But if China’s pressure intensifies or rivals gain more ground, the stock could stay stuck in a holding pattern.
Is Nvidia a Good Stock to Buy?
Wall Street analysts remain firmly bullish on Nvidia stock. Out of 38 analysts weighing in over the past three months, 35 recommend a Buy, two suggest a Hold, and only one calls it a Sell. This gives the chipmaker a “Strong Buy” consensus rating.
The average 12-month price target for Nvidia is $211.26, representing nearly 19% upside from its latest price.
Source link
