Nvidia shares declined 1.8% in premarket trading on Tuesday, extending the company’s recent struggles, while Broadcom continued its ascent with a 1.9% rise.

The divergence reflects growing competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market, where Nvidia’s dominance is being tested by custom solutions developed by Broadcom for hyperscalers.

Nvidia entered correction territory on Monday, falling 10% from its all-time closing high of $148.88 reached last month.

Broadcom, on the other hand, has been buoyed by strong fourth-quarter earnings and an optimistic revenue outlook, driving its shares higher by 40% over the past five days alone.

Nvidia stock slips further as investors reassess valuations

Nvidia’s stock decline underscores investor concerns about its valuations following a period of rapid growth.

The company has gained over 160% year-to-date, driven by the soaring demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs), widely used for training advanced AI models, including OpenAI’s systems.

The recent downturn suggests markets are recalibrating expectations as Nvidia faces increasing competition and questions about long-term sustainability.

Broadcom’s gains have only intensified the pressure on Nvidia.

While the company remains the preferred choice for general-purpose AI training hardware, Broadcom’s focus on custom AI accelerators for hyperscalers is resonating with large cloud computing providers looking for tailored solutions.

Broadcom shares rally on strong earnings and AI chip demand

Broadcom’s stellar performance follows the release of its fourth-quarter earnings report last week, which surpassed market expectations.

The company also provided a robust revenue outlook for the current quarter, leading Wall Street firms, including Goldman Sachs, to raise their price targets on Broadcom shares.

Broadcom’s stock has risen by over 120% this year to date, with the AI chip segment acting as a significant growth driver.

CEO Hock Tan highlighted the company’s strategy to develop bespoke AI chips for hyperscalers, positioning Broadcom as a direct competitor to Nvidia.

Tan said during the earnings call, signalling Broadcom’s confidence in the market’s expansion,

We see an opportunity over the next three years in AI.

Massive specific hyperscalers have begun their respective journeys to develop their own custom AI accelerators.

AI chip market competition intensifies

The ongoing rivalry between Nvidia and Broadcom underscores a larger shift in the AI hardware market.

Hyperscalers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, are increasingly demanding custom chips tailored to their workloads.

Broadcom’s strategy aligns with this trend, creating opportunities to gain market share at the expense of Nvidia’s one-size-fits-all GPU dominance.

Nvidia’s GPUs remain a cornerstone for AI training, but competitors such as Broadcom, AMD, and Intel are diversifying the landscape with custom and cost-efficient alternatives.

This intensifying competition could limit Nvidia’s growth potential, especially if major hyperscalers opt for in-house solutions or partnerships with chip developers like Broadcom.

Nvidia faces near-term challenges

Despite Nvidia’s recent dip, analysts remain cautiously optimistic about its long-term position in the AI market.

The company’s GPUs continue to enjoy widespread adoption, and demand for AI infrastructure shows no signs of slowing.

However, the near-term outlook is clouded by concerns over valuations, competitive pressures, and the potential for slower growth in the AI chip sector.

Broadcom’s momentum, meanwhile, reflects investor confidence in its ability to capitalise on hyperscaler demand.

If the company can sustain its growth trajectory, it may challenge Nvidia’s leadership in key segments of the AI market.

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