After a 17% dip, is now a golden opportunity for me to buy Nvidia stock?

Our writer takes a look at the incredible performance of Nvidia stock and considers whether now might be a good time to add it to his portfolio.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock has been all over the place lately, dropping 7% one day and bouncing back 6% or more the next. These daily swings are enough to give shareholders a serious case of whiplash!

From an intraday peak of $140, the share price has now fallen around 17% to $116. Yet the stock’s still up a mind-boggling 2,800% in five years. So those who bought on previous dips have seen their investments skyrocket.

Should I invest on this pullback? Let’s take a look.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Nvidia PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL14 Aug 201914 Aug 2024Zoom ▾Jan '20Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '23Jan '24Jul '242020202020212021202220222023202320242024www.fool.co.uk

From million to trillions

Research by economist Hendrik Bessembinder reveals that just 83 US companies from nearly 26,000 generated half of the $47trn in shareholder wealth generated between 1926 and 2019.

Astonishingly, only about 1,000 stocks out of 26,000 created all the $35trn of wealth beyond the returns of risk-free Treasury Bills. Therefore, more than 96% of companies weren’t really worth investing in.

But Nvidia certainly has been. Its shares went public in 1999 at around $0.04 apiece on a split-adjusted basis. The market cap was approximately $626m. Fast-forward to today, and the chipmaker is a $2.86trn titan that’s worth more than the entire London Stock Exchange (around $2.5trn).

Asymmetric returns

Indeed, Nvidia tops the list of US stocks with the highest annualised returns in the last couple of decades. Up to December 2023, it had turned every $1 invested into a staggering $1,316!

YearsCumulative gross return per $1Annualised compound return (%)
Nvidia25$1,31633.38%
Netflix21.5$40632.06%
Amazon26.5$1,55131.78%
Axon Enterprise 22.5$45231.13%
Source: Which US Stocks Generated the Highest Long-Term Returns? by Hendrik Bessembinder

These returns will be even better now because all four stocks have risen higher since December.

  • Nvidia is up 134.5% year to date
  • Netflix +33.1%
  • Amazon +12%
  • Axon +42.8%

Nvidia’s compound annual growth rate since going public is now more like 40%! This shows the substantial rewards that can be gained from investing in and holding top-tier stocks over the long term.

Nvidia shares don’t just always go up

Bessembinder’s research also highlights that Nvidia investors should brace for significant drawdowns. The share price has plunged more than 50% several times in the last 20 years.

These included a 60% decline in 2011-2012 due to weak chip demand and a 57% drop across 2018-2019 following the cryptocurrency crash (Nvidia’s GPUs were used heavily in crypto mining). Then there was the 67% loss in 2021-2022 amid the tech sell-off leading up to the release of ChatGPT.

Given Nvidia’s lofty forward earnings multiple of 42, a 17% pullback is minor compared to what could happen if AI spending suddenly slows or the company fails to meet growth expectations.

Moreover, the semiconductor industry remains cyclical, meaning Nvidia’s earnings are vulnerable to sharp drops in demand. Hard to believe right now, I know.

A golden opportunity?

The chipmaker reports Q2 earnings on 28 August and I’m pretty optimistic we’ll see more eye-popping growth due to elevated AI spending from the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet.

Yet any tempering of investor expectations from management could upset the AI apple cart. If that happens and the market overreacts to the earnings report, I’ll reconsider the stock.

For now though, I don’t think a 17% pullback is enough to justify me running out to invest in Nvidia.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Ben McPoland has positions in Axon Enterprise. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Axon Enterprise, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

£20K invested in Tesla stock last April is now worth…

Despite all the bad headlines lately, Tesla stock has put in a storming performance over a 12-month timeframe. Is this…

Read more »

Investing Articles

If a 40 year old invests £600 a month in a SIPP, here’s what they could have by retirement

With no retirement savings at 40, an investor could put £600 a month into a SIPP and grow its value…

Read more »

Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

Why hasn’t its 9.9% yield boosted the Phoenix share price?

Phoenix Group has a dividend close to double digits, but saw a weak share price performance in recent years. Christopher…

Read more »

Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

With average 10% yields, these mid-cap FTSE shares could supercharge a passive income portfolio

Some of the best passive income gems can be found on the UK's smaller indexes like the FTSE 250 and…

Read more »

A coin being dropped into a piggy bank
Investing Articles

As the Barclays share price tanks 19% in 2 days, is this a great buying opportunity?

As a trade war sends the Barclays share price into a tailspin, Andrew Mackie steps back to look at the…

Read more »

Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

Is Fundsmith Equity still a good choice for a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2025?

Many Britons hold the Fundsmith Equity fund in their Stocks and Shares ISAs. Is this still a good move? Edward…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Nvidia stock is down 24% this year. Time to buy the dip?

Christopher Ruane has been eyeing Nvidia stock as a potential addition to his portfolio for a while. Is a recent…

Read more »

Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Down 25% since January, this resilient dividend stock’s catching my eye

Maintaining the UK’s rail, water, and energy infrastructure isn’t the most exciting business. But it has made this a solid…

Read more »