The Motley Fool·2026-02-11 07:15Core Viewpoint - The ongoing demand for AI technology is evidenced by TSMC's record sales, indicating robust growth in the semiconductor industry, particularly for AI-centric chips [3][10]. Group 1: TSMC's Performance - TSMC reported a record net revenue of NT$401.26 billion (approximately $12.7 billion) in January, marking a 37% year-over-year increase and a 20% rise from December [6]. - TSMC controls about 71% of the global chip market and manufactures over 90% of the most advanced semiconductors, making it a key indicator of AI demand [5]. - The strong sales figures from TSMC suggest a sustained demand for advanced processors, which has broader implications for the tech industry [7][10]. Group 2: Nvidia's Market Position - Nvidia holds a dominant 92% share of the data center GPU market, making it a crucial client for TSMC [9]. - Anticipation is high for Nvidia's fiscal 2026 fourth quarter results, with guidance for a 65% year-over-year revenue growth, an acceleration from the previous quarter [12]. - Nvidia's stock has increased by 746% over the past three years, driven by the demand for AI, and is still considered affordable at less than 25 times forward earnings [15]. Group 3: Industry Outlook - The tech industry is experiencing a data center boom, with projected spending of $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030, where GPUs account for approximately 39% of total costs [11]. - Analysts are optimistic about Nvidia, with 94% of 63 analysts rating it a buy or strong buy, and an average price target suggesting a potential upside of 33% [14]. - Evercore ISI analyst Mark Lipacis has a more bullish price target of $352 for Nvidia, indicating a potential upside of 85% [15].