Nvidia stock (NVDA) slipped in early trading on Monday, leaving investors wondering whether the AI leader has lost some of its momentum. NVDA shares dipped 0.6% to $179.37 in premarket trading, after falling nearly 1% on Friday. The move comes just ahead of Nvidia’s highly anticipated earnings report on August 27.
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
- Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
At first glance, the decline looks like part of a broader pullback in the market. Other chipmakers also traded lower, with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) down about 1% and Broadcom (AVGO) falling 0.7%. However, Nvidia’s slide is also tied to new talks about its next generation of AI processors.
Nvidia Might Delay Rubin Chips
Reports surfaced suggesting that Nvidia might delay production of its upcoming Rubin hardware in order to better compete with AMD’s next wave of chips. Any sign of a slowdown could spook investors, given Nvidia’s dominant position in powering artificial intelligence models.
However, analysts at Jefferies quickly poured cold water on the worries. In a research note, William Beavington wrote that production is still on track to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with server volumes expected by late in the third quarter of that year. He also noted that minor changes to chip design are common and should not be viewed as a red flag.
Nvidia Trades Range-Bound ahead of Earnings
For now, Nvidia stock appears range-bound. This is likely because traders are waiting for the chipmaker’s earnings before making important trades. This comes after the stock’s massive run earlier this year. Nvidia remains the clear leader in AI hardware, but with such a reputation, expectations usually rise to a higher level, and any hint of weakness could trigger volatility.
Nvidia’s momentum now depends on whether it can deliver another blockbuster quarter that reassures investors about growth, or if the stock will keep drifting until Rubin chips become reality.
Is Nvidia a Buy, Hold or Sell?
Analyst sentiment around Nvidia remains firmly bullish. Out of 38 analysts covering the stock in the past three months, 35 rate it a Buy, two suggest Hold, and only one recommends a Sell. The average 12-month NVDA price target sits at $191.26, which implies about a 6% upside from the latest price of $180.45.
