TRADERS are pricing in a big move for Nvidia’s shares after the chipmaker reports earnings on Wednesday (May 22), though expectations for volatility are more muted than in the past, US options markets show.
Nvidia’s options are primed for an 8.7 per cent swing in either direction by Friday, according to data from options analytics firm Trade Alert. That would translate to a market cap swing of US$200 billion – larger than the market capitalisation for about 90 per cent of S&P 500 companies.
While massive by most measures, that implied move would fall far short of the 16.4 per cent jump Nvidia’s shares notched after the company’s most recent quarterly earnings report. It is also less aggressive than the average 12 per cent move traders had priced for the last eight quarters.
“Volatility and expectations had been a fair amount higher the last time around,” said Chris Murphy, co-head of derivative strategy at Susquehanna Financial Group.
Nvidia, up about 87 per cent this year, is seen as a bellwether of the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) industry and has a market value of about US$2.3 trillion, making it the third-largest company on Wall Street, behind Microsoft and Apple. Wall Street is betting on a blowout quarterly report from Nvidia.
Investor interest has spread out to other beneficiaries of the AI theme in recent months.
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“AI benefits are broadening out to power, commodities and utilities,” BofA strategists including Gonzalo Asis wrote in a note on Monday. “It’s not just about NVDA anymore.”
BofA’s strategists expect the company to drive 9 per cent of the S&P 500 earnings growth over the next 12 months, compared to 37 per cent over the last 12 months.
That’s not to say the upcoming earnings report is expected to be uneventful for the company’s share price.
Matt Amberson, founder of options analytics service Orats, noted that implied volatility for out of the money calls is roughly equal to that of out of the money puts. That suggests options traders are not writing off the possibility of more upside for the stock, despite its already-hefty year-to-date gains.
“Traders expect up moves to be as violent as down moves,” Amberson said.
Nvidia is expected to post earnings of US$5.59 a share, and a rise in quarterly revenue to US$24.65 billion from US$7.19 billion a year ago, according to LSEG data.
Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, said a downturn in Nvidia could test investors’ resolve regarding the broader AI trade.
“Yes, the rally has broadened out, but I’m not sure how sturdy it would be if Nvidia sold off hard,” he said.
“There is a lot riding on the AI trade,” Sosnick said. REUTERS
