Stocks

Tom Lee from Fundstrat Views Nvidia's Plunge as a Buying Opportunity

Published January 28, 2025

Fundstrat Global Advisors’ head of research Tom Lee believes that the recent sell-off in the tech sector is an overreaction, particularly regarding Nvidia Corp. shares, which dropped 17%. According to Lee, this decline presents a unique buying opportunity for investors rather than signaling a fundamental change in the artificial intelligence field.

Market Reaction: On CNBC’s "Closing Bell," Lee described the drop as an overreaction, akin to Nvidia's decline in March 2020, which marked a strong entry point for investors at that time. "I’d be looking at this as an opportunity," he stated, encouraging investors to consider the long-term potential despite the short-term market volatility.

Addressing concerns that Nvidia might fall into obsolescence, which he likened to the outdated video format Betamax, Lee stated that such a drastic scenario could only explain the intense selling pressure witnessed. He believes the fundamentals supporting Nvidia remain strong.

The significant drop in Nvidia’s stock was prompted by a recent announcement from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which revealed the development of a free, open-source large language model that was created for under $6 million using Nvidia’s H800 chips. This caught investors off guard and sparked fears regarding the viability of large-scale AI investments that rely heavily on Nvidia’s technology.

Impact on the Market: The quick market reaction led to Nvidia experiencing its largest single-day market value loss, estimated at around $600 billion. This occurred despite Nvidia clarifying that DeepSeek’s development adhered to export-control regulations and noted that the use of their technology still requires many Nvidia GPUs and significant networking capabilities.

In contrast to the market's panic, major tech companies have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to AI investments. For instance, Microsoft Corp. has set plans for an $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure by 2025, while Meta Platforms Inc. has projected between $60 and $65 billion for similar initiatives. This reflects a confidence among leading companies in the continued importance and growth of AI technologies.

Current Stock Performance: After the hefty drop, Nvidia's stock closed at $118.58 on Monday, marking a decline of 16.86% for that day. However, in after-hours trading, the stock saw a slight recovery, gaining 1.35%. Over the last year, Nvidia’s stock has increased by an impressive 89.81%, showcasing its overall performance despite the recent setback.

Looking Ahead

Investors are now left to consider the implications of the price drop and whether now is the time to buy into Nvidia stock. While market reactions can often lead to panic selling, as highlighted by Tom Lee, history has shown that such drops can present excellent opportunities for those willing to withstand short-term fluctuations.

Conclusion

In summary, Tom Lee's perspective suggests that the recent plunge in Nvidia’s stock value should not deter investors but rather encourage them to evaluate the company’s long-term prospects within the AI industry. As Nvidia continues to be at the forefront of technological advancement, the fundamentals may still offer considerable value moving forward.

Nvidia, TomLee, Investment