Nvidia dominates the market for data center accelerators, but the company also has a booming networking business.
In recent years, Wall Street analysts have consistently underestimated how much hyperscalers will spend on AI infrastructure.
Capex spending across Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft is set to exceed estimates in 2026.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been a cornerstone of the artificial intelligence (AI) trade since OpenAI introduced ChatGPT in late 2022. Shares have advanced 1,180% since early 2023, and most Wall Street analysts still think the stock is undervalued. The median target price of $250 per share implies 33% upside from the current share price of $187.
On that note, investors just got some good news from Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft that hints at strong financial results from Nvidia in the year ahead. Here are the important details.
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Image source: Nvidia.
Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) accelerate complex data center tasks like artificial intelligence training and inference. The company holds more than 80% market share in AI accelerators, and many analysts think Nvidia will maintain its dominant position due to its full-stack strategy, meaning the company develops adjacent hardware and software.
To elaborate, while Nvidia GPUs consistently outperform competing chips, the company is truly formidable because it offers a turnkey solution for AI infrastructure comprising CPUs, networking, and software tools. Indeed, networking revenue increased 162% in the most recent quarter, and its proprietary CUDA software is the industry standard in developing GPU-accelerated applications.
So what? Nvidia captures a substantial percentage of data center capital expenditures (capex) due to its full-stack strategy -- AllianceBernstein estimates the company pockets 30% of total AI data center spending as profit. And recent projections from several hyperscalers (i.e., companies with massive data center footprints) indicate that Wall Street woefully underestimated how much money will be spent on AI infrastructure this year.
Wall Street analysts have consistently underestimated AI spending in recent years. The consensus forecast said AI hyperscaler capex would increase 19% in 2024, but it actually soared 54%. Similarly, the consensus forecast said AI hyperscaler capex would increase 22% in 2025, but it actually soared 64%, according to Goldman Sachs.
That pattern is repeating in 2026. While the consensus estimate said AI hyperscaler capex would jump 19% this year, recent commentary from Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft suggests much faster growth.
Here's the big picture: Wall Street initially estimated AI hyperscaler capex would increase 19% in 2026, but revised estimates suggest spending will increase 70% to roughly $650 billion. That is good news for Nvidia because the company is likely to capture a large percentage of that spending.
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Trevor Jennewine has positions in Amazon and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Goldman Sachs Group, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.