Nvidia (NVDA) remains at the center of the AI boom, and a top Wall Street analyst has laid out his view for the stock into 2026. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said Nvidia’s “base case” puts the stock around $250 by the end of 2026, as AI demand keeps rising and Nvidia holds a strong lead in AI chips and software.
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Ives’ comments come as Nvidia is back in the spotlight, including reports that the company is moving closer to shipping its H200 AI chips to China, pending approvals. If cleared, the move could reopen a key market and support future revenue.
Ives Sees Nvidia at the Heart of the AI Buildout
Ives, a five-star analyst at Wedbush, has long been one of Nvidia’s most visible bulls. He believes Nvidia’s chips and software give it a clear edge as AI moves from early testing to real-world use. In the past, Ives has compared Nvidia’s AI chips to “oil or gold,” pointing to their key role in the tech space.
Despite a high valuation, Ives believes strong demand from cloud firms, data centers, and enterprises can support growth into 2026. He has also played down fears of an AI bubble, noting that many firms are still early in using AI at scale.
China Export Approval Is a Positive Catalyst
One key development that could support Ives’ view is the U.S. government’s recent approval of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip exports to China. Ives has said access to China remains important for Nvidia’s long-term growth, as it helps the company stay competitive in the global AI market.
He also noted that Nvidia’s H200 chip remains ahead of many local options in terms of performance. While political risk has not gone away, Ives views any step toward broader market access as a positive for future demand.
Long-Term Growth Still in Focus
Looking ahead, Ives believes Nvidia will continue to benefit from steady spending on AI systems and wider use of its GPUs for both training and inference. He expects AI use to spread across more industries as companies move beyond early trials.
For investors, Ives’ $250 base-case view for the end of 2026 reflects confidence that Nvidia can keep growing, even after the stock’s strong run. In his view, Wall Street still sees room for gains if AI demand keeps building as expected.
Is NVDA a Good Stock to Buy Now?
Analysts remain highly optimistic about Nvidia’s long-term outlook. On TipRanks, NVDA stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 39 Buys, one Hold, and one Sell rating. The average Nvidia price target of $263.58 implies nearly 40% upside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, NVDA stock has gained nearly 40%.
