NVIDIA Corporation provides graphics and compute and networking solutions in the United States, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and internationally. The Graphics segment offers GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game streaming service and related infrastructure, and solutions for gaming platforms; Quadro/NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise workstation graphics; virtual GPU or vGPU software for cloud-based visual and virtual computing; automotive platforms for infotainment systems; and Omniverse software for building and operating metaverse and 3D internet applications. The Compute & Networking segment comprises Data Center computing platforms and end-to-end networking platforms, including Quantum for InfiniBand and Spectrum for Ethernet; NVIDIA DRIVE automated-driving platform and automotive development agreements; Jetson robotics and other embedded platforms; NVIDIA AI Enterprise and other software; and DGX Cloud software and services. The company's products are used in gaming, professional visualization, data center, and automotive markets. It sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, original device manufacturers, system integrators and distributors, independent software vendors, cloud service providers, consumer internet companies, add-in board manufacturers, distributors, automotive manufacturers and tier-1 automotive suppliers, and other ecosystem participants. NVIDIA Corporation was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

NVIDIA remains a rare case where exceptionally high profitability is combined with a very strong balance sheet, while the market is already pricing in a significant quality premium. Revenue for TTM rose to $96.2 billion, and gross profit, EBITDA, and operating profit have increased very rapidly year over year, confirming business scaling rather than a one-off spike. Margins look outstanding: gross margin of 74.7%, operating margin of 65.2%, and net margin of 63.7% — significantly above typical sector levels and indicative of strong pricing power and efficiency. ROE of 110.1%, ROA of 81.4%, and ROI of 102.1% are also extremely high and remain sustainably elevated, which is a strong argument in favor of a premium valuation. Liquidity is very comfortable: current ratio of 4.59 and quick ratio of 3.85, while cash on hand of nearly $99.4 billion provides a solid cushion. Leverage is moderate: debt/equity of 0.14 and long-term debt of $7.47 billion look low relative to the scale of capital and earnings, so financial risk is limited. At the same time, valuation multiples remain stretched: P/S of 17.78, P/B of 24.48, and P/FCF of 44.32 are noticeably above industry medians, indicating an already expensive valuation even accounting for business quality. P/E of 28.87, by contrast, is below the industry median, but that does not change the fact that the market is paying a high premium on revenue, book value, and free cash flow. Dividend yield of 0.11% has almost no impact on the investment case and is not a valuation support factor. Over the 5-year period, there has been improvement in almost all operating and financial metrics, including growth in assets, equity, earnings, and cash, confirming the company’s fundamental strengthening. The weak point is precisely the high valuation on sales, book value, and FCF, which makes the potential for further upside look limited relative to the pace of business growth. Overall, the fundamentals are strong but already partially reflected in the price, so for a target forecast only a moderate positive adjustment is appropriate.

NVIDIA Corporation

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Оптимистичный взгляд на свои позиции резко сменился на неуверенность.

Strong index, significantly down. An optimistic view of his position suddenly changed to uncertainty.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Medium index, significantly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Рынок не поддерживает медведей.

Medium index, significantly down. The market does not support the bears.

Слабый индекс, незначительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги остается на невысоком уровне.

Weak index, slightly up. The inflow of funds into longs remains at a low level.

Слабый индекс, незначительно упал

NVIDIA’s strong margins, profitability, and balance sheet support the valuation, but high P/S, P/B, and P/FCF ratios limit the potential for revaluation.

Key Points
Nvidia is positioned to capitalize on a multitrillion-dollar AI investment cycle.
Spotify is targeting 1 billion paying subscribers and margin expansion.
ServiceNow is on track to roughly double its subscription revenue by 2030.
If you have some extra cash that you won't need for several years, putting it into growth stocks with durable competitive advantages could pay off. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) leads in AI computing, Spotify Technology (NYSE: SPOT) in audio streaming, and ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) in software that runs companies' daily operations. Better yet, all three trade at discounts to their typical valuations. Here's why they're worth buying now.
Nvidia designs the chips and computing systems that power artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. Management expects AI infrastructure spending to reach $3 trillion to $4 trillion a year by the end of the decade. That's industrywide spending, not Nvidia's revenue, but Nvidia can capture a large share of it.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
The stock is up about 18% over the past year, slightly ahead of the S&P 500's 13%, as revenue doubled year over year to about $96 billion in the quarter ending July 26, 2026. Management expects revenue to grow about 70% next fiscal year.
That outlook reflects a chip industry experiencing component shortages, including for memory chips. Nvidia's advantage is that it sees both ends of the AI supply chain. At the September Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology conference, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang explained that Nvidia's size and decades-long relationships with trusted suppliers help it lock in what it needs. On the other end, it sells through the big cloud providers, server makers like Dell, newer AI cloud companies, and governments building their own AI.
That reach lets Nvidia track where new data centers are being built and powered around the world, giving it an early read on demand. It also gives Nvidia many paths to customers beyond a handful of tech giants. Nvidia said its non-hyperscaler revenue grew 138% year over year last quarter to $40 billion, almost as large as the $48 billion in revenue from hyperscalers like Microsoft.
Nvidia stock trades at about 23 times this year's consensus earnings estimate -- well below its three-year average of about 32. For a company that analysts expect to grow earnings at a 50% annualized rate, that's a solid value.
Spotify Technology
Spotify's music, podcast, and audiobook service reaches 788 million monthly users, including 306 million paying subscribers. Its 2030 targets call for mid-teens annual revenue growth and an operating margin above 20%, up from 13.5% in the third quarter.
At the September Goldman Sachs conference, co-CEO Gustav Söderström said the longer Spotify operates in a country, the more listeners pay. In Sweden, about half the population pays, and conversion has trended up in other regions. Yet only 3% to 4% of the world pays for a Spotify subscription. Management aims to reach 1 billion monthly users by 2030 and, eventually, 1 billion subscribers.
The stock is down about 15% over the past year after higher spending on AI features and marketing weighed on profit forecasts. Some also fear AI music will lure listeners away, but a recent deal with Universal Music mitigates this risk. The deal allows Spotify to launch AI cover tools for fan-made remixes of their favorite songs, which adds another incentive for users to sign up for a premium subscription.
Spotify stock trades at about 42 times forward earnings estimates, below its three-year average of about 55. That's not too expensive for a company that analysts expect to grow earnings at an annualized rate of 28% over the next several years. That should support superior returns.
ServiceNow
ServiceNow's cloud software helps large organizations run IT help desks and customer service. At its May 2026 investor day, management laid out a base case of over $30 billion in subscription revenue by 2030, roughly double this year's expected total. It's on schedule, with subscription revenue up about 25% year over year in the June-ending quarter.
The stock is down about 17% over the past year amid worries that AI agents will lead to fewer paid employee "seats," or licensed users at businesses. But management said that half of its new business comes from pricing not tied to seats, suggesting the concerns are overblown.
Looking long-term, the main reason to buy the stock is ServiceNow's entrenched position in customers' operations. At the Goldman Sachs conference in September, CEO Bill McDermott said ServiceNow has spent more than 20 years building a contextual map of what goes on inside a company and now runs over 100 billion workflows. Companies that tried building their own AI tools found they cost five to 10 times more than using ServiceNow.
At about 38 times forward earnings estimates, ServiceNow stock trades well below its three-year average of about 48. With analysts expecting about 24% annual earnings growth over the next several years, the stock could outperform the market from here through 2030.
Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $355,124!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,296,254!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 901% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 26, 2026.
John Ballard has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Goldman Sachs Group, Microsoft, Nvidia, ServiceNow, and Spotify Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

Got $5,000? 3 Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold Through 2030.

Key Points
iPhone maker Apple has nearly caught up with Nvidia in terms of market cap.
The two companies’ paths to the next big market cap milestone will be as different as the paths to the $5 trillion mark were.
Although one is more likely than the other to get to a $10 trillion valuation, it’s not necessarily the sort of contest with winners and losers that investors need to worry about.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was the first company to reach a $1 trillion market cap, way back in 2018. Thanks to the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence, however, hardware maker Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) became the world's first $5 trillion outfit late last year.
Now Apple's turning heads again. Thanks to its stock's recent gains, it joined the $5 trillion club just last week. Nvidia is still technically bigger, albeit barely, with its current market cap of $5.13 trillion.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
This market cap movement prompts a question: Although it doesn't really matter, which of these two companies is more likely to reach a $10 trillion valuation first? I suspect it's going to be Apple. Here's why.
Apple and Nvidia are not the same
Nvidia is still a fine growth investment. Even if we don't know exactly what the future holds, we can confidently say that computing technology -- including artificial intelligence -- features prominently in it. That bodes well for this tech giant.
There's a reason NVDA shares are priced relatively cheaply at just 14 times next year's expected per-share profit of $15.91, though. That is -- perhaps without even consciously realizing it -- the market is pricing in a headwind for Nvidia's AI business. It may also be factoring in the recent rise of AI computing competitors like Advanced Micro Devices and Qualcomm. It's a potential problem because data centers alone now account for roughly 90% of Nvidia's revenue.
But isn't Apple an artificial intelligence company too? Not really. While Apple's iPhone and its iOS certainly offer artificial intelligence-based solutions to their users, these are features rather than the crux of these profit centers.
Most iPhone owners -- who consistently account for about half of Apple's sales -- simply prefer this particular smartphone for the overall experience it provides. They loved it well before AI was part of it.
And that's the key to this ticker's market-beating past, present, and projected growth. It's not a hardware company in the same sense that Nvidia provides technology to institutions that perpetually shop for the most bang for their computing buck (so to speak). Rather, Apple is a lifestyle brand that's fostered enormous loyalty from a consumer market that's already more reliable and predictable than the corporate arena.
Consumer Intelligence Research Partners reports that 87% of current iPhone owners say their next smartphone purchase will be another iPhone, explaining the ongoing growth in the number of Apple-made devices actively used worldwide. The company reported this figure reached a new record of 2.5 billion early this year.
Knowing the sort of future growth performance they're almost certainly plugging into, investors have also consistently supported a premium valuation for Apple stock.
Not an either/or choice you absolutely must make
It's possible the underlying dynamic here could change in unexpected ways, pushing Nvidia to the $10 trillion mark before Apple gets there. And it doesn't really matter which one reaches the milestone first.
Still, if nothing else, comparing and contrasting what makes these two companies tick is an important thought exercise that helps all investors establish reasonable expectations. Just keep in mind that both stocks can perform more than well enough going forward.
Should you buy stock in Apple right now?
Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $355,124!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,296,254!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 901% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 24, 2026.
James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Apple Joins Nvidia in the $5 Trillion Club. Here's Which Stock I Think Can Get to $10 Trillion First.

Key Points
Nvidia has a stronger moat than Broadcom.
Even with mounting competition in the GPU market, Nvidia has expanded its total addressable opportunity.
Nvidia’s valuation looks reasonable right now.
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) are two of the leading semiconductor companies at the center of the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Both tech leaders have been handsomely rewarded for their troubles. Over the past five years, Nvidia's shares have climbed by about 904%, as of writing, while Broadcom has gained 563%.
Both could continue capitalizing on the AI industry's growth, but which one will perform better over the next five years? My money is on Nvidia, and here is why.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Is Nvidia's momentum about to stop?
Nvidia is best known for making GPUs (graphics processing units), the workhorse of AI training. Demand for the company's products has been the main driver behind outstanding revenue and earnings growth in recent years.
However, many worry that this tailwind may be coming to an end. There is increased demand for Application-Specific Integrated Circuits, custom AI chips designed to handle specific workloads. Broadcom is a leader in designing ASICs.
As companies increasingly seek to reduce their reliance on Nvidia's hardware for various reasons, including price-related ones, Broadcom may benefit. Even so, several things signal that demand for Nvidia's GPUs will remain high for the foreseeable future. For instance, even as some of the hyperscalers double down on AI chips, they remain loyal Nvidia customers.
Some of them have said so. Amazon's (NASDAQ:AMZN) CEO, Andy Jassy, predicted that the company would be an Nvidia partner for as long as he can foresee. Other companies, including Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ:SPCX), are spending fortunes on their AI-related ambitions. So, it appears that the predicted continued increase in AI infrastructure spending will benefit Nvidia over the medium term.
It should benefit Broadcom as well, but there are several reasons Nvidia is arguably in a better position. Let's consider three of them. First, Nvidia is the undisputed leader in the GPU market, holding a more than 90% market share.
The company's technological expertise is only part of the reason it has remained the top player in this industry. Its real competitive edge stems from its CUDA ecosystem, which creates high switching costs.
Broadcom is also a leader in the ASIC space, but its roughly 60% market share isn't nearly as impressive as Nvidia's dominance in GPUs. Besides, I'd argue that Broadcom's moat is narrower, while the company is increasingly facing tough competition. Second, even as Broadcom's AI semiconductor revenue continues to grow rapidly, this business has lower gross margins than the company's Infrastructure software segment.
So, as AI semiconductor revenue accounts for an increasingly large percentage of revenue, gross margins could drop. That won't mean lower profits. It will mean a lower gross profit per dollar of revenue.
Third, Nvidia is no longer just a GPU company. The company has expanded well beyond that and now offers a full-stack AI platform. The company's GPU business should remain the main growth driver, but other products, such as CPUs (central processing units), should contribute meaningfully over the medium term.
It is true that Broadcom is significantly diversified beyond its semiconductor solutions, notably thanks to its software segment. But Nvidia has also made an effort to diversify its business, and that could pay rich dividends down the road.
Do valuation considerations tip the scales in Broadcom's favor?
Which one of these two companies appears more attractively valued right now? Some might say it is Broadcom. It is trading at 19.4x forward earnings, versus Nvidia's 24.9x, and an average of 19.3x for information technology stocks. I'd buy Broadcom's shares at current levels, but Nvidia looks more attractive given its position in the AI industry and therefore deserves a higher premium. So, even with a higher forward price-to-earnings ratio, Nvidia could outperform Broadcom over the next five years.
Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $361,596!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,303,935!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 910% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 23, 2026.
Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Amazon and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Broadcom, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Prediction: Nvidia Will Outperform Broadcom Over the Next 5 Years

Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in NVIDIA Corp (Symbol: NVDA), where a total of 1.7 million contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 171.1 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 161.8% of NVDA's average daily trading volume over the past month of 105.8 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $215 strike call option expiring October 23, 2026, with 229,507 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 23.0 million underlying shares of NVDA. Below is a chart showing NVDA's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $215 strike highlighted in orange:
Microsoft Corporation (Symbol: MSFT) saw options trading volume of 262,544 contracts, representing approximately 26.3 million underlying shares or approximately 122.6% of MSFT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 21.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $525 strike call option expiring October 23, 2026, with 33,376 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 3.3 million underlying shares of MSFT. Below is a chart showing MSFT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $525 strike highlighted in orange:
And Vertiv Holdings Co (Symbol: VRT) options are showing a volume of 53,970 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 5.4 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 100.3% of VRT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 5.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $185 strike put option expiring November 20, 2026, with 10,851 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.1 million underlying shares of VRT. Below is a chart showing VRT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $185 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for NVDA options, MSFT options, or VRT options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further NVDA Research:

Notable Friday Option Activity: NVDA, MSFT, VRT

Key Points
Nvidia isn't developing a quantum computing unit.
The company has developed interface systems that make it easier for quantum computers to plug into traditional computing infrastructure.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) isn't the first stock that comes to mind when discussing quantum computing. That's probably because it isn't building a quantum computer or quantum computing chip, nor does it plan to. Given that, you might wonder why it could even be considered a quantum computing investment.
The answer to that is that there's more to quantum computing than the actual computing units, and Nvidia is leaning heavily into the support side, which makes it a pretty good offshoot investment. Combine that with the massive AI build-out tailwind ongoing right now, and you have a recipe for a stock that could have several years' worth of strong growth ahead.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Nvidia predicts a hybrid quantum computing environment
Quantum computers perform computations in ways that are fundamentally different from traditional machines. While they have the potential to be incredibly useful in some unusual situations where the math gets so complex that it would take a standard supercomputer years to deliver an answer, quantum computers will never be appropriate tools for most of the tasks we use computers for today. Furthermore, Nvidia and others are betting that quantum computers won't be able to function in isolation; they'll need close support from traditional accelerated computing hardware, such as its GPUs.
To ensure that server clusters built around its processor architectures are used in the hybrid computing approach, Nvidia has launched several supporting products. First, it developed the NVQLink, a high-speed connector that allows quantum computers to interface with classical servers powered by Nvidia's GPUs.
It has also adapted its industry-leading CUDA software platform to include quantum computing functions, which differ significantly from traditional computing functions. This version of the software is appropriately named CUDA-Q, and it's another reason why quantum computing firms may choose Nvidia's hardware to support their quantum computers. Nvidia also developed an AI model called Ising that helps with quantum computing error correction.
All these new technologies ensure that Nvidia's platform will be used alongside quantum computing hardware when that technology eventually reaches commercial viability. If quantum computing takes longer than expected to get to that point (or even if it never reaches mainstream status), Nvidia's position at the top of the accelerated computing field will remain, and it will continue to make money from the massive AI build-out.
Nvidia expects huge growth on the AI front through 2030, projecting that global annual data center capital expenditures will reach $3 trillion to $4 trillion that year. For reference, Nvidia believes the big five AI hyperscalers will spend nearly $800 billion on data centers in 2026 and $1.3 trillion in 2027.
So, whether it's traditional computing for AI or looking to the future of quantum computing, Nvidia has clearly positioned itself as a major partner for whichever new technologies need significant computing power. As a result, I think it's a top investment pick, even in a quantum computing-focused basket.
Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $350,756!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,363,905!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 922% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 22, 2026.
Keithen Drury has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

Is Nvidia a Top Quantum Computing Stock?

Key Points
AI agents rely on central processing units (CPUs) as they handle real-world problems.
Nvidia’s new standalone CPU represents its entrance into a market that AMD and Intel have long led.
Since the start of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, the story has centered around the graphics processing unit (GPU). Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) built the world's fastest, and the tech giant's sales skyrocketed. But as AI transitions from answering questions to completing tasks on its own, another chip is stepping into the spotlight: the central processing unit (CPU).
Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) have long led this market -- but now, Nvidia wants in. Let's consider why AI agents need CPUs and whether Nvidia can dominate in this market too.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
What an AI agent does with a CPU
There's been a lot of talk about agentic AI in recent months -- but what exactly is this technology? It's software that works through various steps to reach a particular goal. Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, speaking during anearnings callearlier this year, described an agent as a "harness" built around an AI model, and the harness manages inputs and outputs, memory, tool use, and more. All of that runs on CPUs, while GPUs power the model's "thinking."
Huang predicts the world will eventually have billions of AI agents, and all of this should result in more use for GPUs and CPUs.
AMD chief executive officer Lisa Su also expects the CPU market to take off. She says CPUs used to be paired with GPUs at a ratio of one to four or one to eight, but that ratio is moving toward one to one, according to TrendForce. AMD now expects server CPU market growth of more than 35% annually, topping $120 billion by 2030, the market intelligence firm added.
Nvidia seizes a fresh opportunity
Nvidia, recognizing the opportunity, is now rolling out the Vera Rubin platform, featuring the company's first stand-alone CPU. Designed specifically for agentic AI, it aims for speed, delivering up to 1.5x faster performance per core compared to CPUs based on x86 architecture, Nvidia says.
The tech giant is on track to generate $20 billion in stand-alone CPU revenue this year and says the market opportunity equals $200 billion.
Here's how that compares to the company's current data center business. Nvidia's data center revenue reached $89 billion in the second quarter. Using that as a reference, $20 billion is only about three weeks of data center sales. But for a business Nvidia didn't previously address, that's a pretty impressive amount. And we're likely in the early days of this growth story. It's also important to note that this $20 billion is over just a few months, since rollout began recently.
The hurdles ahead
Though Nvidia is the GPU giant, this doesn't mean the company will unseat Intel and AMD in CPUs. And this is for two major reasons. First, AMD and Intel have decades of customer relationships and confirmed leadership in CPUs. Second, customers running software designed for x86 chips may not quickly switch over to Nvidia, which is based on a different architecture.
That said, Nvidia doesn't necessarily have to unseat the two market leaders to win. If the AI agent market is the next big growth area in AI, there should be plenty of room for all three companies to be successful.
What does this mean for Nvidia and its shareholders? The emergence of CPUs in the AI story offers the company a fresh opportunity for growth -- whether it becomes a leader or not. Nvidia has broadened its reach across the AI space in recent years, through partnerships and the development of new technologies, and that strengthens its position as an AI leader.
Investors should look to see how much CPU market share Nvidia may capture and how that translates into revenue in the coming quarters. Considering Nvidia's commitment to innovation over time, there's reason to be optimistic that CPUs may become a significant growth driver for the company in the years to come.
Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $350,756!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,363,905!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 922% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 22, 2026.
Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

What Does an AI Agent Need a CPU For? Why Nvidia Wants In on the Business Dominated by AMD and Intel

Comparing units outstanding versus one week ago at the coverage universe of ETFs at ETF Channel, the biggest inflow was seen in the Tradr 2X Long SPY Monthly ETF, which added 26,100,000 units, or a 1.3% increase week over week. Among the largest underlying components of SPYM, in morning trading today Nvidia is down about 2.9%, and Apple is relatively unchanged.
And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest increase in inflows was the COHX ETF, which added 1,810,000 units, for a 38.9% increase in outstanding units.

SPYM, COHX: Big ETF Inflows

Key Points
Hyperliquid, up 210% for the year, has become the market leader in perpetual futures trading.
Zcash, up 128% for the year, has become the world's top privacy coin.
Venice Token, up more than 1,300% for the year, has become the most popular way to invest in the future of decentralized AI.
Admittedly, it's been a tough year for crypto investors. Market bellwether Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is down nearly 10% year-to-date. Top altcoins Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) are down 20% and 30%, respectively.
But there have been some bright spots for the crypto market in 2026. A handful of names are actually up more than 100% for the year and continue to soar in value.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Hyperliquid
One decentralized exchange receiving massive attention this year is Hyperliquid -- a platform for trading spot crypto and perpetual futures ('perps') powered by its native altcoin, also called Hyperliquid (CRYPTO: HYPE).
The HYPE token is now up 210% for the year, and currently ranks among the top 10 cryptocurrencies in the world, with a market cap of $20 billion.
Given its recent blockbuster performance, Hyperliquid has even attracted the attention of top Trump administration officials. In August, during a White House meeting, President Trump specifically mentioned Hyperliquid and suggested that regulators do everything in their power to bring it to the United States. The exchange is currently based offshore in Singapore, and trading on the decentralized exchange is off-limits for U.S. investors.
What makes Hyperliquid particularly attractive right now is the recent launch of Hyperliquid spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This dramatically widens the base of potential investors and makes HYPE much more of a mainstream crypto investment.
Another market standout this year has been Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC), a so-called "privacy coin" that protects blockchain transaction data from prying eyes. Zcash has been on an absolute heater this year, up 128% year-to-date. As a result of its recent performance, it too has cracked the list of the world's top 10 cryptocurrencies (as measured by market cap).
And just like with Hyperliquid, there is now a way for investors to gain exposure to Zcash through an ETF. In August, digital asset investment firm Grayscale launched the first-ever spot Zcash ETF. In less than 30 days, it attracted more than $500 million from investors, demonstrating a high level of investor demand for Zcash
NEAR Protocol
The AI investment thesis is still going strong, and that has created all sorts of new opportunities for crypto investors to play the artificial intelligence boom. Case in point: NEAR Protocol (CRYPTO: NEAR) has reinvented itself from a general-purpose Layer-1 blockchain network into one that is optimized for the AI agent economy. In fact, the new NEAR marketing tagline is: "The currency of agents."
If AI agents really are the future, then NEAR Protocol could be worth a closer look. But just be aware: NEAR is down 75% from its all-time high in January 2022. It is only in the past 10 months that NEAR Protocol has found its groove. In 2026, NEAR is up 240%. As long as the hype around AI agents persists, NEAR could continue to soar in value. But what happens when the hype disappears?
Venice Token
Regarding crypto AI, I'm more bullish on Venice Token (CRYPTO: VVV), another altcoin on a tear. Venice Token powers Venice AI, which is a privacy-focused generative AI platform.
Venice looks and feels much like ChatGPT, enabling users to create text, images, or videos with just a single prompt. However, there's one big difference: Venice specifically does not store or transmit any user information, meaning that all of your AI data remains private.
This is a decentralized AI platform. That distinguishes it from the large centralized AI platforms being created in Silicon Valley. So, by investing in Venice Token, you are at least implicitly buying into the notion that the future of AI is decentralized rather than centralized.
Decentralized AI is a big idea, and one that Jensen Huang of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) highlighted earlier this year. For the year, Venice is up an incredible 1,300%, easily making it the top-performing major cryptocurrency. It currently has a market cap just north of $1 billion.
The best crypto to buy right now
If forced to pick just one among these four crypto market standouts, I'd select Hyperliquid. Perpetual futures are already widely popular overseas, and U.S. regulators recently opened the U.S. market to them, creating even more potential growth opportunities ahead. Moreover, Hyperliquid has the implicit support of the Trump administration. This helps mitigate regulatory risk associated with perpetual futures.
As a result, I'm leaning toward Hyperliquid, and not Venice Token, as the best surging altcoin to buy right now.
Should you buy stock in Hyperliquid right now?
Before you buy stock in Hyperliquid, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Hyperliquid wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $380,363!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,315,732!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 919% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 19, 2026.
Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperliquid, NEAR Protocol, Nvidia, Venice Token, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

What Crypto Bear Market? All of These Cryptocurrencies Have Skyrocketed in Value This Year

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has authorized a $235 billion buyback while continuing to invest aggressively across the AI ecosystem. The real opportunity is not the headline alone. If cash generation remains strong and the share count continues to decline, repurchases could become an increasingly important driver of per-share growth.
Stock prices used were the market prices of Sept. 29, 2026. The video was published on Oct. 18, 2026.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $380,363!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,315,732!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 919% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 19, 2026.
Rick Orford has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

Is Nvidia Stock a Buy After Its Historic $235 Billion Buyback?

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is up by +0.57% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.11%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +1.52%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) are up +0.58%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) are up +1.51%.
Stock indexes are mostly higher today, with chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks leading the broader market higher after last week’s selloff. Earnings optimism is lifting stocks ahead of this week's earnings results from Meta Platforms, Tesla, and Netflix. Also, weaker crude oil prices today have improved market sentiment and are supportive of stocks.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
On the downside, homebuilders are under pressure after today’s US economic news showed the Oct NAHB housing market index fell 3 points to a 14-year low of 29, below expectations of 31.
Mostly better-than-expected Chinese economic news is positive for global growth prospects and stocks. China Q3 GDP rose +1.2% q/q and +4.5% y/y, stronger than expectations of +1.0% q/q and +4.4% y/y. Also, China's Sep industrial production rose +5.5% y/y, right on expectations and the largest increase in 6 months. In addition, China's Sep retail sales rose +1.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.5% y/y and the largest increase in 6 months. Finally, China's Sep surveyed jobless rate unexpectedly fell -0.1 to 5.2%, below the expected 5.3% and signaling a stronger labor market. On the downside, China's Sep new home prices fell -0.14% m/m, the fortieth consecutive month of declines.
Stocks have support from the prospect of solid quarterly earnings results. According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Q3 S&P 500 earnings are expected to climb by +25% from a year earlier, up from a July estimate of 22%. As of today, 45 of the S&P 500 companies have reported results, with 80% beating estimates.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) are moving lower today on some profit-taking after last week's rally to a 5-week high. US Energy Secretary Wright said Persian Gulf oil flows have recovered to about 80% of their pre-war level, though refined-product shipments remain constrained. Crude oil prices have underlying support from concerns about disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies after Houthi rebels in Yemen targeted Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, a significant Red Sea port for Saudi oil exports that avoids the Strait of Hormuz, with missiles and drones. Also, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that two tankers were attacked in the Persian Gulf near Saudi Arabia's port city of Jubail over the weekend.
Markets are discounting a 17% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 1-week low today and is down -1.18%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up +0.39%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 1-month low and closed down -0.62%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are down -4 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3.2 bp to 5.127%. Today’s stock rally has reduced safe-haven demand for government debt, weighing on T-notes. Losses in T-notes are limited amid some safe-haven buying due to the social unrest in France. Weaker WTI crude oil prices today are also lowering inflation expectations and supporting T-notes.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield is up +3.6 bp to 3.462%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is up +5.7 bp to 5.430%.
The German Bundesbank said in a report today that "inflation risks in the Eurozone are clearly tilted to the upside."
Markets are discounting an 8% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are moving higher today, recovering some of last week’s rout. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is up more than +2%. SanDisk (SNDK) is up more than +6% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, and Western Digital (WDC) is up more than +6%. Also, Marvell Technology (MRVL) is up more than +5%, and Intel (INTC), Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX), Lam Research (LRCX), and Micron Technology (MU) are up more than +4%. In addition, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Applied Materials (AMAT) are up more than +3%, and Analog Devices (ADI), KLA Corp (KLAC), Broadcom (AVGO), and Qualcomm (QCOM) are up more than +2%.
The Magnificent Seven stocks, excluding Meta, are up today, supporting broader market gains. Amazon.com (AMZN) is up more than +4% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials, and Tesla (TSLA) is up more than +3%. Also, Nvidia (NVDA), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Microsoft (MSFT) are up more than +1%. In addition, Apple (AAPL) is up +0.14%. Conversely, Meta Platforms (META) is down -0.87%.
Cloud infrastructure stocks are climbing today. Applied Digital (APLD) is up more than +8%, and Nebius Group NV (NBIS) and Lumentum Holdings (LITE) are up more than +3%. Also, CoreWeave (CRWV) and Arista Networks (ANET) aew up more than +2%, and Oracle (ORCL) is up more than +1%.
Home builders and building supplies are slipping today after the US Oct NAHB housing market index fell more than expected to a 14-year low. DR Horton (DHI) and Pulte Group (PHM) are down more than -2%, and Lennar (LEN), KB Home (KBH), Toll Brothers (TOL), and Builders Firstsource (BLDR) are down more than -1%.
Disc Medicine (IRON) is up more than +39% after announcing that its investigational drug bitopertin met all primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase 3 Apollo trial in adults and adolescents with erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Cleveland Cliffs (CLF) is up more than +13% after reporting Q3 adjusted Ebitda of $612 million, above the consensus of $591.5 million.
Datadog (DDOG) is up more than +5% after Bernstein upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform with a price target of $350.
NRG Energy (NRG) is down more than -5% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after Jeffries cut its price target on the stock to $131 from $160.
Ameriprise Financial (AMP) is down more than -3% after Bank of America Global Research double-downgraded the stock to underperform from buy with a price target of $445.
Earnings Reports (10/19/2026)
AGNC Investment Corp (AGNC), BOK Financial Corp (BOKF), Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF), Crown Holdings Inc (CCK), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), FNB Corp/PA (FNB), RLI Corp (RLI), Steel Dynamics Inc (STLD), W R Berkley Corp (WRB), Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL), Wintrust Financial Corp (WTFC), Zions Bancorp NA (ZION).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.