Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) was able to surpass Nvidia (NVDA) in a key area thanks to a driver update for its graphics cards. The graphics processing unit (GPU) maker released a driver update that boosted the performance of its Radeon RX 9070 XT cards, netting them a 27% performance boost.
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The AMD driver update did more than just increase the performance of the Radeon RX 9070 XT. It also pushed the card to higher levels than the RTX 5070 Ti, its direct rival made by Nvidia. As a result, the RX 9070 XT now offers an average speed that is 3% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti when playing games at 1440p. For comparison, the RX 9070 XT was 2.5% slower than the RTX 5070 Ti when it was released.
The huge performance boost for the Radeon RX 9070 XT has increased its appeal to mid-range PC gamers. While the majority of gamers still only play at 1080p, a lower resolution than 1440p, there’s still plenty of demand for mid-range cards, according to Steam’s June 2025 hardware survey.
AMD Stock Still Lags Behind NVDA
While AMD and Nvidia compete in the same sector, that doesn’t mean the stocks have performed the same. For example, AMD stock was up 14.42% year-to-date but remained down 19.42% over the past 12 months. This has AMD’s market cap at $220.21 billion.
NVDA stock, on the other hand, has secured an 18.76% rally since the start of the year, and shares have increased 24.97% over the last year. Nvidia’s market capitalization is $3.79 trillion.
AMD vs. NVDA: Which Stock Do Analysts Prefer?
Turning to the TipRanks stock comparison tool, traders can see which of these two stocks analysts prefer. NVDA has the higher consensus rating at Strong Buy, compared to AMD’s Moderate Buy. The upside potential of Nvidia shares is also higher at 10.16%, while AMD’s price target suggests a possible 3.78% downside.
