AVGO Expands Data Center Portfolio With Jericho4: Hold the Stock?

Core Insights - Broadcom is shipping the Jericho4 Ethernet fabric router, capable of interconnecting over one million custom AI accelerators across multiple data centers, offering unmatched bandwidth, security, and lossless performance [1][7] - The company has seen a significant increase in AI networking revenues, which surged 170% year over year, contributing to 40% of AI revenues in Q2 of fiscal 2025 [2][7] - Broadcom's strong portfolio and partnerships with major tech companies are driving its market share growth among hyperscalers [2][9] Product Developments - The Jericho4 system scales to 36,000 HyperPorts, each operating at 3.2 Tb/s, with advanced features for data protection and long-distance transport [1] - The Tomahawk 6 Ethernet switch, launched in June, delivers 102.4 Terabits/sec, doubling the bandwidth of its predecessor, while the Tomahawk Ultra achieves 250ns switch latency at full 51.2 Tbps throughput [3] Financial Performance - Broadcom's shares have increased by 30.4% year to date, outperforming the Zacks Electronics Semiconductors industry and the Computer and Technology sector [4] - The company reported cash and cash equivalents of $9.47 billion and generated $6.55 billion in cash flow from operations as of May 4, 2025 [11] - In Q2 of fiscal 2025, Broadcom paid $2.8 billion in cash dividends and repurchased approximately 25 million shares for $4.2 billion [12] Market Outlook - Broadcom expects third-quarter fiscal 2025 AI revenues to rise 60% year over year to $5.1 billion, despite anticipated lower margins due to a higher mix of lower-margin XPU products [9][13] - The company’s third-quarter revenue guidance of $15.8 billion suggests a 21% year-over-year growth but indicates modest sequential growth [13] Valuation Metrics - Broadcom's stock is trading at a premium, with a forward Price/Sales ratio of 19.59X, significantly higher than the sector average and its peers [15] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter earnings is $1.66 per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 33.87% [14] Strategic Positioning - Broadcom's focus on AI-powered security solutions and its partnerships with companies like NVIDIA and Meta Platforms are expected to enhance its revenue growth [10][8] - The company is positioned well for long-term growth, although declining gross margins and macroeconomic challenges may impact its premium valuation [18]