Nvidia posts another record quarter, reveals $43B of holdings in startups

2026-05-20 · Source: AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch · Field: Finance & Economics — Capital Markets & Investment Management, Corporate Finance & Treasury · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Nvidia reported record financial results for the quarter ending April 26, achieving \$81.6 billion in revenue, a 20% increase from the prior quarter, with data center revenue reaching a record \$75.2 billion. The company authorized \$80 billion in share repurchases. Nvidia CFO Colette Kress noted the widespread adoption of their Blackwell architecture by major hyperscalers and model makers, while projecting a slowdown to \$91 billion in revenue for the next quarter, representing 12% growth. Chinese exports did not significantly impact earnings, with H200s approved for U.S. export but no revenue generated yet. A notable surprise was the near doubling of Nvidia's stakes in privately held companies, growing from \$22 billion to \$43 billion, driven by \$18.5 billion in purchases. This figure excludes public investments and a \$30 billion commitment to OpenAI. CEO Jensen Huang also highlighted a significant pending buildout with Anthropic.

Key takeaway

For investors evaluating semiconductor and AI infrastructure plays, Nvidia's sustained data center growth and aggressive startup investment strategy signal continued market dominance. You should consider the impact of their Blackwell architecture's broad adoption and the significant capital allocated to private equity stakes. Be aware of the projected revenue growth moderation and potential uncertainties in Chinese export markets when assessing future performance.

Key insights

Nvidia's record quarter is fueled by data center demand and strategic startup investments, despite projected growth moderation.

Principles

• Data center demand drives significant revenue.
• Strategic startup investments expand market reach.
• Architecture adoption is key for hyperscalers.

In practice

• Monitor data center infrastructure spending.
• Evaluate startup portfolios for strategic value.
• Track major architecture adoption trends.

Topics

• NVIDIA Financials
• Data Center Revenue
• Blackwell Architecture
• Startup Investments
• AI Infrastructure
• Hyperscalers

Best for: Investor, Executive, Tech Journalist

Related on AIssential

• Ai is pricy — AI hardware demand may be inflated by a temporary training phase among concentrated hyperscaler buyers.
• NVIDIA Q1 Revenue Climbs 85% Amid Agentic AI Proliferation — NVIDIA's record Q1 2026 revenue highlights explosive demand for AI infrastructure and agentic AI systems.
• Nvidia Earnings In Focus; SpaceX Eyes Historic IPO — AI's explosive growth drives market shifts, but geopolitical factors and supply chain bottlenecks pose significant challenges.
• Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk — Strategic partnerships and IPOs are shaping the AI and tech market landscape.
• Nvidia’s AI empire: A look at its top startup investments — Nvidia is aggressively expanding the AI ecosystem through strategic venture capital investments in key startups.
• Nvidia posts record revenue and approves $80 billion share buyback — Nvidia's financial strength is fueled by data center growth and strategic AI investments, despite projected growth moderation.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch.