'Most important stock in the world' set to rattle global economy
Computer chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly earnings report today that is expected to either deepen a recent downturn in the US stock market or prompt a sigh of relief among investors increasingly worried that the world’s most valuable company is perched atop an artificial intelligence bubble that’s about to burst.
Nvidia’s report, due after the US market closes at 8am AEST, has turned into a pulse check on an AI boom that began three years ago when OpenAI released ChatGPT.

Nvidia, once a relatively obscure name in the chip industry primarily recognized for its gaming graphics chips, skyrocketed to prominence in the artificial intelligence sector. Its specialized chipsets have become essential for driving the technology that fuels the current AI frenzy.

Traders James Bodner, foreground, and Chris Lagana work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange ahead of Nvidia releasing its results today.(AP)

The soaring market valuation of Nvidia reflects investor confidence, as the company consistently delivers quarterly results that exceed expectations. CEO Jensen Huang frequently underscores the company’s potential for extended growth, projecting a robust trajectory over the next decade, despite hurdles like the trade tensions initiated during Donald Trump’s presidency.

However, recent weeks have seen a growing number of investors questioning the sustainability of the AI boom. This skepticism arises even as tech giants like Alphabet continue to allocate substantial resources to expand their AI capabilities.

Consequently, Nvidia’s market capitalization has experienced a decline of over 10 percent—a downturn referred to as a correction in financial circles—occurring merely three weeks after it achieved a valuation milestone of $US5 trillion.

“Investor skepticism is at its peak compared to recent years,” noted Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments, reflecting on the cautious sentiment pervading the market.

Despite the prevailing doubts, the consensus remains that Nvidia’s upcoming quarterly earnings will at least align with analyst predictions, which play a pivotal role in shaping investor sentiment.

The Santa Clara, California, company is expected to earn $US1.26 per share on revenue of $US54.9 billion, which would be a 59 per cent increase from the same time last year.

But the bar has been raised so high for Nvidia and AI that the company will likely have to deliver even more robust growth to ease the bubble worries.

Investors also are likely to be parsing Huang’s remarks about the past quarter and the current market conditions — an assessment that has become akin to the State of the Union for the AI boom.

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