Nvidia earnings beat expectations despite US export controls

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia reported earnings that exceeded market expectations despite facing significant challenges from US export controls, which are projected to cost the company about $8 billion in the current quarter [3][4][8]. Financial Performance - Nvidia incurred a charge of $4.5 billion in the recent quarter due to excess inventory and purchase obligations related to its H20 chips, which are now restricted from being sold in China [7][8]. - The company's revenue for the quarter was $44.1 billion, with a profit of $18.8 billion, leading to a more than four percent increase in share price in after-market trading [8]. - Revenue from Nvidia's data center division reached $39.1 billion, marking a 10% increase year-over-year, although this was below market expectations [10]. Market Dynamics - The new US licensing requirements have effectively closed the $50 billion AI market in China to Nvidia, as the company cannot further reduce the capabilities of its H20 chips to comply with export constraints [5][6]. - Nvidia's gaming chip business achieved a record revenue of $3.8 billion, a 48% increase, driven by the ongoing AI boom [11]. Competitive Landscape - Nvidia faces increasing competitive pressure from rivals like AMD, as well as geopolitical challenges that may impact AI chip demand in future quarters [11][12]. - The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, emphasized that while China is advancing in AI independently, the question remains whether the market will operate on American platforms [6][7]. Technological Advancements - Nvidia's new Blackwell NVL72 AI supercomputer, described as a "thinking machine," is now in full production, indicating strong ongoing demand for the company's AI technology [9].