Nvidia, the leading maker of graphics processors or GPUs, has reported a stunning $13.51 billion in revenue for its second fiscal quarter, which ended on July 30. This is an increase of 171% from the same period last year and 88% from the previous quarter. The company also posted a net income of $6.7 billion, up 422% year-over-year.
AI Demand Drives Nvidia’s Growth
The main driver of Nvidia’s impressive performance is the soaring demand for its AI chips, especially its high-end H100 model, which is used by tech companies to build and run complex AI applications. Nvidia said that about half of its data center revenue comes from cloud providers, followed by big internet companies.
Nvidia is benefiting from the AI boom more than any other company, as it provides the specialized hardware and software needed to power AI systems. The company said that its software contributes to its margin and that it is selling more complicated products than mere silicon. Nvidia is also compiling its technology into expensive and complicated systems like its HGX box, which combines eight H100 GPUs into a single computer.
Nvidia’s Customers Spend Heavily on AI
Nvidia’s prodigious cash flow contrasts with its top customers, which are spending heavily on AI hardware and building multi-million dollar AI models, but haven’t yet started to see income from the technology. For example, OpenAI, a research organization backed by Microsoft and Elon Musk, spent $12 million to train its GPT-3 language model, which runs on Nvidia’s GPUs.
Some analysts believe that Nvidia’s customers will eventually reap the benefits of their AI investments, as they will be able to offer new products and services based on AI capabilities. However, others are skeptical about the return on investment of AI projects, as they may face technical, ethical, and regulatory challenges.
Nvidia Faces Competition and Supply Constraints
Despite its dominant position in the AI market, Nvidia is not without challenges. The company faces competition from other chipmakers, such as Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, as well as from tech giants like Google and Amazon, which are developing their own custom AI chips. Nvidia also has to deal with supply constraints and rising costs of raw materials, which may limit its ability to meet the growing demand for its products.
Nvidia said that it has secured increased supply for the rest of the year and that it expects demand to remain high through next year. The company also said that it is confident that it will complete its $40 billion acquisition of Arm, a British chip designer, by early 2024, despite regulatory hurdles and opposition from some Arm customers.
Nvidia’s Stock Surges on Earnings Report
Nvidia’s earnings report was well received by investors and analysts, who praised the company’s growth and profitability. Nvidia’s stock rose more than 6% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, adding to its remarkable gain of more than 200% this year so far. The company’s market capitalization is now over $1 trillion, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Some analysts have raised their price targets for Nvidia’s stock, citing its strong outlook and competitive advantage in the AI space. For example, Chaim Siegel, an analyst at Elazar Advisors, lifted his price target to $1,600, a “3x move from here,” and said that he still thinks his numbers are too conservative. He said that price suggests a multiple of 13 times 2024 earnings per share.