Weakness In Nvidia's Gaming Segment Could Be A Passing Phase, JPMorgan Says In Upgrade

The Analyst

Analyst Harlan Sur upgraded Nvidia from Neutral to Overweight and lowered the price target from $265 to $255.

The Thesis

Notwithstanding near-term gaming GPU challenges, Sur said Nvidia has strong momentum in high-performance computing/professional visualization/data center products amid solid penetration in new compute workload acceleration.

Nvidia will continue to see outsized growth and clear leadership in data center/HPC and gaming over the next few years, the analyst said. 

The imminent release of over 30 new games as well as secular growth trends in esports could cushion the weakness in gaming that stems from an inventory glut, he said. 

Autonomous driving is a long-term tailwind for Nvidia, and the company is an "emerging frontrunner" in the sector, Sur said. 

Nvidia's top-line and gross margin could get a shot in the arm over the next few years as high-end gaming and data center become a larger portion of the mix, according to JPMorgan. 

The sell-side firm also projects further operating margin expansion.

JPMorgan lowered its near-term estimates for Nvidia to account for a more sluggish GPU environment, but forecast $10-plus in annualized earnings power in 12-18 months. 

The Price Action

Nvidia shares have lost roughly 4 percent year-to-date.

The stock was trading up 2.42 percent at $190.11 at the time of publication Tuesday. 

Related Links:

Morgan Stanley Sees Buying Opportunity In Nvidia: 'Clarity Likely After Next Week's Product Launches'

Morgan Stanley: Nvidia 'The Cleanest Growth Story In Semis,' With New Products Ahead

Photo courtesy of Nvidia. 

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