HSBC Maintains Cautious Stance on Nvidia Despite AI Boom Ahead of Earnings
Nvidia's upcoming Q2 earnings report on August 27 has drawn widespread Wall Street optimism, fueled by surging AI demand and resilient cloud spending. Yet HSBC analyst Frank Lee strikes a contrarian note, maintaining a Hold rating despite raising his price target to $200 from $125.
China looms large in HSBC's skepticism. While the resumption of H20 chip licensing provides near-term relief, structural challenges persist. U.S. revenue-sharing requirements compress margins, while Beijing's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency threatens Nvidia's long-term position in the market. "The street may be underestimating China's drag on growth," Lee warns, even as he forecasts Q2 revenue of $46.7 billion - slightly ahead of consensus.