Billionaire Philippe Laffont Sold 77% of Coatue's Stake in Nvidia in 2024 in Favor of a Polarizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock That's Up 6,700% Since Its IPO

Core Viewpoint - Coatue Management's billionaire chief Philippe Laffont has significantly reduced his stake in Nvidia while investing in Super Micro Computer, a volatile AI infrastructure company with potential for high sales growth [1][5][14] Group 1: Nvidia Stake Reduction - Laffont reduced Coatue's stake in Nvidia by over 75%, from approximately 43.2 million shares to about 10 million shares, representing a reduction of roughly 33.2 million shares [6][7] - The decision to sell Nvidia shares may be attributed to profit-taking, as the stock had increased tenfold since the beginning of 2023 [8] - Concerns regarding trade policies, tariffs, and increasing competition in the AI chip market may have influenced Laffont's decision to exit Nvidia [10][12][13] Group 2: Investment in Super Micro Computer - Laffont opened a new position in Super Micro Computer, acquiring approximately 8.87 million shares, valued at over $525 million as of February 20 [15] - Super Micro Computer has shown impressive growth, with a projected 54% year-over-year revenue growth for its fiscal second quarter and potential sales growth from $23.5 billion to $40 billion between fiscal 2025 and 2026 [17] - Despite its growth potential, Super Micro Computer has faced controversy, including allegations of accounting manipulation and regulatory scrutiny, although an internal probe found no evidence of fraud [19][20][21]