Big Bets Against Nvidia: Short Sellers Wary of Chipmaker’s Soaring Stock

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As Nvidia threatens to dethrone Microsoft as the world’s most valuable company, some investors are wagering that its soaring shares will eventually come back down to earth. According to a report from S3 Partners on Thursday, outstanding short bets against Nvidia stand at approximately $34 billion. This figure is nearly double the combined short bets against Apple and Tesla, the next two biggest targets for short sellers.

Specifically, short sellers have bet around $19 billion against Apple and $18 billion against Tesla, based on S3’s data. Despite the large sum bet against Nvidia, these short positions represent just 1% of the company’s total market value, according to LSEG data.

The relentless demand for Nvidia’s high-end AI processors has driven its stock price up by 143% in 2024. On Wednesday, Nvidia’s market capitalization reached an impressive $3.012 trillion, surpassing Apple’s to become the world’s second most valuable company. 

However, Nvidia’s market value dipped nearly 2% on Thursday, bringing it down to $2.96 trillion. In contrast, Microsoft’s market value remains at $3.15 trillion, following a 13% increase in its stock price year to date.

These developments highlight the volatile and competitive nature of the tech industry, where market valuations can shift rapidly based on technological advancements and investor sentiment. The significant short interest in Nvidia suggests that while many are optimistic about its future, there are also considerable doubts about the sustainability of its rapid growth.