Stocks

Investing in Nvidia: A Decade of Incredible Returns

Published January 10, 2025

Nvidia (NVDA -0.02%) has emerged as one of the most lucrative stocks over the past several years, often overlooked by many investors. Initially, Nvidia was known for producing graphics processing units (GPUs) designed primarily for gaming. However, the versatility of these GPUs has led to their application in various fields, significantly boosting Nvidia's market presence.

A major factor driving Nvidia's stock growth over the last decade has been its position as a leader in supplying GPUs for training artificial intelligence (AI) models. This new demand has changed the trajectory of Nvidia, making it a cornerstone in the tech environment.

Transformative Investment Returns

If you had invested $10,000 in Nvidia ten years ago, that investment would now be worth nearly $3 million. This remarkable performance solidifies Nvidia's status as a millionaire-maker stock.

Looking further back, an investment of the same size two decades ago in 2005 would be worth approximately $7.6 million today. These returns are extraordinary, but achieving them required investors to endure significant volatility and downturns.

Over the past decade, Nvidia's stock experienced drastic declines. It faced four instances where the stock fell roughly 25% from its peak and saw declines exceeding 50% on two occasions. Such volatility tested the patience of many investors who may have opted to sell during turbulent times.

These downturns were notably influenced by the impacts of cryptocurrency fluctuations, as Nvidia's GPUs play a role in cryptocurrency mining. When cryptocurrency prices dropped, the demand for GPUs fell sharply, leading Nvidia to face inventory surpluses, requiring steep discounts and further impacting stock performance.

Future Demand for Nvidia's GPUs

Despite past challenges, long-term investors recognized these market fluctuations as temporary setbacks. Looking ahead, the demand for Nvidia's GPUs is closely tied to the surge in AI development. If AI training continues to expand, it is likely that the demand for Nvidia GPUs will remain strong.

While it is possible that Nvidia may again face drops in demand similar to previous years, the increasing integration of GPUs into daily AI operations suggests that demand will remain steady. Moreover, GPUs have a limited lifespan, especially when deployed in high-use environments like data centers. They typically require replacement every one to three years, ensuring ongoing sales for Nvidia.

Given the ongoing adoption of AI technology, Nvidia may not experience the drastic stock declines witnessed in 2018 and 2022. This positive outlook remains encouraging for current and future investors, who can consider entering the market without the same level of concern for a significant crash.

Nvidia continues to be an attractive investment option, supported by sustained and growing demand for its GPUs. While investors today may not be able to replicate the phenomenal returns from a decade or two ago, Nvidia's future looks promising as it maintains a pivotal role in emerging technological landscapes.

This article has been prepared purely for informational purposes, and no investment advice is provided.

Nvidia, Investment, Returns