Nvidia forecasts upbeat quarterly sales as AI boosts chip demand

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia forecasts first-quarter revenue of $78 billion, exceeding analysts' estimates of $72.60 billion, driven by strong demand for AI processors from Big Tech [2][3] Group 1: Financial Performance - Nvidia reported January-quarter sales of $68.13 billion, surpassing estimates of $66.21 billion, with adjusted profits of $1.62 per share compared to estimates of $1.53 [5] - The company anticipates first-quarter revenue to be within a range of $78 billion, plus or minus 2% [2] Group 2: Market Demand and Investment - Big Tech companies are expected to spend at least $630 billion on data center infrastructure in 2026, with a significant portion allocated for AI processors [3] - There is a relentless push from businesses and governments to develop advanced AI technology, indicating robust demand for Nvidia's AI chips [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Nvidia faces emerging competition from AMD, which plans to launch a new flagship AI server and has secured deals with Nvidia's key customers [4] - Google is also becoming a significant competitor by providing its in-house chips to companies like Anthropic and is in discussions to supply Meta [4] Group 4: Regulatory and Operational Considerations - Nvidia's current revenue forecast does not include sales of data center chips to China, which were previously restricted due to U.S. export curbs [6] - CEO Jensen Huang expressed hope for the approval to sell Nvidia's H200 AI chip in China, with licensing discussions ongoing [7] Group 5: Compensation Strategy - Nvidia plans to include stock-based compensation expenses in its non-GAAP financial measures, diverging from broader industry trends, to attract and retain top AI talent [8]