Nvidia is Expected to Contribute the Most to Corporate Profits in Q3. The Bar is Very High, According to an Analyst

Shares of Nvidia Corp., a prominent chip manufacturer, have experienced a remarkable surge of over 240% in the current year, primarily fueled by the ongoing AI boom and the company's outstanding quarterly performance. With a current valuation of approximately $1.2 trillion, Nvidia is positioned to be the primary driver of profit growth for the S&P 500 index in the third quarter.

‍

However, sustaining this impressive rally poses a challenge for Nvidia, which is slated to disclose its third-quarter results on Tuesday. Despite the anticipation of another robust quarter for Nvidia, analysts from Susquehanna Financial Group caution that investors may have set exceedingly high expectations, creating a formidable bar for the company to surpass.

‍

Nvidia has dedicated extensive efforts to developing chips integral to numerous AI functions. Nevertheless, amidst projections of extraordinary third-quarter results, the company is confronted with an expanding list of uncertainties. Businesses have exhibited restraint in their technology spending, and Wall Street is scrutinizing the costs that companies involved in AI development will have to bear.

‍

Following an initial surge of enthusiasm for all things AI earlier in the year, there is now a realization on the Street that the financial rewards from AI development might take longer than initially anticipated. The benefits, currently concentrated among a select few companies, have led to what analysts describe as a division into "contenders and pretenders," as reported by MarketWatch last month.

‍

Nvidia is specifically grappling with concerns raised by analysts regarding recent stringent U.S. restrictions on tech and chip exports to China, a major driver of the company's data-center sales. Nvidia has acknowledged that these export controls, implemented to curb China's advancements in technology, AI, and military capabilities, could impact some of its circuits and potentially result in production delays.

‍

Despite this, the company asserts that the additional restrictions are not expected to have an immediate and substantial impact on its financial results, given the existing strong demand. However, questions linger about whether Nvidia possesses sufficient production capacity to meet this demand. Susquehanna notes that the supply situation for the company has "improved considerably," with a clearer picture expected to emerge on Tuesday.

‍

Nvidia's upcoming earnings announcement is poised to play a significant role in the overall profits of the S&P 500 Index. According to John Butters, FactSet Senior Earnings Analyst, Nvidia is projected to be the largest contributor to earnings growth for the entire S&P 500 in Q3. Excluding Nvidia from the equation would result in an increase in the blended earnings decline for the S&P 500 for Q3 from -0.4% to -1.8%.

‍

As the week unfolds, eleven S&P 500 companies are scheduled to release their results, according to a FactSet report from Friday. The market will keenly observe Nvidia's performance as it navigates through the challenges and high expectations surrounding its third-quarter results.

‍