Stock market uncertainty has rattled investors. Is artificial intelligence (AI) darling Nvidia still a buy?

The Nasdaq has dropped markedly as investors sour on technology stocks.

| More on:
A woman holds a soldering tool as she sits in front of a computer screen while working on the manufacturing of technology equipment in a laboratory environment.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

If there is one thing that investors really don't like, it's uncertainty. Right now, a host of factors ranging from new tariffs, geopolitical unrest in the Middle East and Europe, economic indicators such as jobless claims -- and even some murmurings of stagflation -- have made investors uneasy.

After soaring to record highs over the last two years, the Nasdaq Composite has turned southward -- and mega-cap tech stocks have sold off in epic fashion. In just the last month, artificial intelligence (AI) darling Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has lost roughly $600 billion in market value following a 16% drop in its share price.

Could more drops be in store for Nvidia, or is now a lucrative opportunity to take advantage of the market slump and buy the dip?

Nvidia's business looks well-positioned

The direction in which a share price moves and the underlying business fundamentals for a specific business are not always correlated. Although shares of Nvidia have been sliding for several weeks now, the financial profile below shows a pretty compelling picture -- one that underscores the demand for Nvidia's products and services are in demand, and the company is able to fulfill this demand at a highly profitable rate.

NVDA Revenue (Quarterly) Chart

NVDA Revenue (Quarterly) data by YCharts

One good way to assess what Nvidia's future could look like is to pay attention to the moves of its customers. Some of Nvidia's largest clients include cloud hyperscalers Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon, as well as another "Magnificent Seven" member, Meta Platforms.

Each of these companies recently reported earnings for the full calendar year 2024. During their respective earnings calls, investors learned that these AI behemoths are gearing up to spend north of $320 billion on AI infrastructure at the high end of their guidance this year.

Considering that competition in the data center GPU market is still limited, I think it's highly likely that Nvidia will benefit greatly from rising capital expenditures (capex) among its largest existing customers.

Nvidia's pipeline looks incredible

Over the past year, investors have been peppered with talking points about Nvidia's next-generation GPU architecture, Blackwell. Well, Blackwell is finally here, and its initial results did not disappoint. During the fourth quarter, revenue from Blackwell came in at $11 billion -- which was above management's internal estimates, according to Nvidia CFO Colette Kress.

While Blackwell is expected to be Nvidia's latest growth engine in the near term, the company is already working on a line of new products that should not be overlooked.

Just a few days ago, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took the stage at the company's high-profile GTC conference. In addition to Blackwell, Huang showcased a lineup of successor architectures dubbed Blackwell Ultra, Rubin, and Rubin Ultra. Over the next couple of years, Nvidia is expected to continue releasing refined versions of its already market-leading GPUs.

In my eyes, the spending forecasts from big tech that I referenced above indicate that AI remains a top priority, and I think that supports Nvidia's efforts to double down on research and development (R&D) and continue innovating at light speed.

Is Nvidia stock a good buy right now?

The chart below illustrates Nvidia's price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple over the last several years. At a P/E of roughly 40, Nvidia stock is actually trading close to its cheapest valuation on a P/E basis in five years.

NVDA PE Ratio Chart

NVDA PE Ratio data by YCharts

The AI revolution has not just served as a bellwether for Nvidia -- it represented a transformative shift in the company's operation from primarily a business focused on gaming to one that is now fueling myriad applications across the AI realm for the world's largest companies.

While a cratering stock price may give the appearance of a bearish narrative, the trends analyzed in this piece suggest that Nvidia's future prospects look incredibly bright. Shares appear to be trading for a bargain compared to historical valuation levels, making the ongoing sell-off stock a terrific opportunity to double down and buy the dip in Nvidia stock.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on International Stock News

Happy family watching Netflix together.
International Stock News

Netflix stock gained 21.4% last month. Here's how.

Is Netflix on track for a long blockbuster run? Check out what's fuelling investor excitement about the media-streaming veteran right…

Read more »

An elderly man finds out he's made a mistake.
International Stock News

Warren Buffett's career in review: His worst investment decisions

Despite the wins, Buffett has also made plenty of errors in his long career.

Read more »

A man in his 30s holds his laptop and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.
International Stock News

Warren Buffett's career in review: His best investment decisions

Buffett's best buys are simply astonishing.

Read more »

A woman sits at her computer with her chin resting on her hand as she contemplates her next potential investment.
International Stock News

Meta Platforms is ramping up data center and AI investments. Is the growth stock a buy now?

Let's take a look.

Read more »

A head shot of legendary investor Warren Buffett speaking into a microphone at an event.
International Stock News

Berkshire Hathaway stock plunges after Warren Buffett steps down. Is this a golden opportunity to buy?

Investors might be wondering whether they should be buying or selling Berkshire Hathaway stock now.

Read more »

Man with virtual white circles on his eye and AI written on top, symbolising artificial intelligence.
International Stock News

Where Will Alphabet Be in 5 Years?

Today, the lowest-valued stock in the "Magnificent Seven" is Alphabet, and it's not close.

Read more »

Silhouette of CEO standing in conference room looking out at cityscape.
International Stock News

Who is Warren Buffett's successor Greg Abel?

Buffett's successor has been in training for years.

Read more »

A young woman sits at her desk in deep contemplation with her hand to her chin while seriously considering information she is reading on her laptop.
International Stock News

Do Google's antitrust woes make Alphabet stock a buy, sell, or hold?

In the past year, Google lost two major antitrust cases aimed at the heart of its business.

Read more »