Key Highlights

  • NVDA shares rose 2.38% pre-market today to $170.15 from a prior close of $166.19.
  • Colette Kress is serving as interim CEO while the board searches for a successor.
  • Third quarter Earnings are due after the close on November 17.
  • Third quarter Revenue guidance is $108 billion, plus or minus 2%.

Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares edged higher in pre-market today as investors weighed the departure of founder and CEO Jensen Huang and looked ahead to earnings next week. The stock was at $170.15, up 2.38% from the prior close of $166.19, which followed a 4.34% decline in the previous session.

Huang stepped down from his post amid media reports about his personal conduct. Chief financial officer Colette Kress will lead the company as interim CEO, and the board is searching internally and externally for a permanent successor.

Ten or more analysts downgraded the stock or cut price targets this week. Rival chipmakers have gained over the same stretch, with AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) up about 30% and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) up about 24% this week, while Nvidia is down about 11%.

Earnings Preview: Guidance, Margins and Beat History

Nvidia reports fiscal third quarter results after the close on November 17. It guided revenue to $108 billion, plus or minus 2%, which implies a range of $105.84 billion to $110.16 billion, with gross Margin of 74%, plus or minus 50 basis points. The guidance assumes no China Data Center compute revenue.

Market estimates sit near $108.8 billion in revenue and roughly $2.5 per share, against $57.01 billion and $1.30 a year earlier. Second quarter revenue was $96.2 billion, with data center revenue of $89 billion, and EPS of $2.22 beat the $2.09 expected. Nvidia has beaten estimates for seven straight quarters.

Investors are also expected to watch the Vera Rubin ramp, hyperscaler Capital spending, data center buildout, gross margin trends and the guided 70% fiscal 2028 revenue growth. Leadership and governance are expected to be a focus on the call, which will be the first since Huang stepped down.

Shares Sit About 30% Below the October High

The stock closed at $166.19 on Thursday after a 4.34% decline. The 52-week range runs from $148.80 to $243.37, and the pre-market price is roughly 30% below the high.

Leadership Clarity and Guidance Delivery Set the Tone for November 17

The pre-market gain follows a 4.34% decline and comes before the first report under an interim CEO. Guidance of about $108 billion, the margin outlook and any update on the search for a permanent CEO are the next points to watch.