Stocks

Why Nvidia Stock is a Smart Choice for Growth Investment

Published October 19, 2024

Investing in the stock market doesn't require you to be wealthy. Even a modest investment of $500 can lead to significant growth if you select the right stocks and give them enough time to appreciate. It’s considered one of the most effective ways to accumulate wealth and plan for a comfortable retirement. However, investing always carries risk, so it's wise to have a diverse portfolio that includes both high-risk growth stocks and stable, dividend-yielding companies.

The appropriate balance of higher-growth, higher-risk stocks in your portfolio depends on several factors, including your age, personal circumstances, and risk appetite. One stock that many investors might consider adding to their portfolio is Nvidia (NVDA). Even if you currently have just $500 to invest, here's why Nvidia is a compelling option.

Is Nvidia Too Expensive Now?

Some investors may feel that Nvidia’s rapid growth and rising stock price mean it is now too expensive to invest in. Recently, Nvidia was trading with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio exceeding 60, following a year where its stock tripled. With a market capitalization of approximately $3.2 trillion and sales around $56 billion for the first half of this fiscal year—170% higher than the same period last year—the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio stands at almost 35. This is remarkably high for an established company.

Nvidia acknowledges that as a large company, future revenue growth rates may slow down, estimating 8% sequential growth in the current quarter ending in late October. Yet, Nvidia has numerous growth opportunities available, and investors who can handle potential stock price fluctuations should keep considering Nvidia.

Image source: Nvidia.

Nvidia's Unmatched Competitive Advantage

Nvidia is actively innovating, addressing the overwhelming demand for its products in the artificial intelligence (AI) market. The company has recently begun shipping its new Blackwell GPUs (graphics processing units) in significant volumes and has announced plans for its next GPU platform, Rubin, to keep delivering more efficient chips annually.

While competitors also seek to benefit from the booming demand, Nvidia has a unique factor that helps retain customer loyalty: compatibility within its AI infrastructure. Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, explained in a recent interview how the company's focus is on ensuring that its products work seamlessly with its installed base of AI tools. Their CUDA (compute unified device architecture) software platform enables developers to expand applications across various GPU-accelerated systems, forming the backbone of the computing ecosystem.

This platform means that even as Nvidia introduces new, more advanced chips, older models remain relevant. For instance, while new GPUs are preferred for AI training, older models are still suitable for inference tasks. Consequently, major data center managers are becoming increasingly reliant on Nvidia's ecosystem.

Huang emphasized that while compute power is vital, it's just one part of the larger picture. He metaphorically described Nvidia's approach as a flywheel where the process of AI teaches more AI. He stated:

"Training is just one step. ... You really want to create a system that accelerates every single step of that. ... Our perspective manifests itself into the product. ... We accelerate everything. That entire thing flywheel is CUDA accelerated."

Investors Still Have Time

The increasing applications of artificial intelligence provide Nvidia with a lengthy growth trajectory for its products. As an early entrant in the AI sector, Nvidia's platforms are becoming essential for many customers.

While Nvidia’s stock is not cheap and might experience volatility, those investors willing to adopt a long-term view—spanning years or even decades—should not feel they have missed an opportunity with Nvidia. This company remains a valuable growth stock that many investors should consider including in their portfolios.

Note: It is crucial for potential investors to conduct thorough research and consider their financial situation before making any investment decisions.

investing, growth, Nvidia