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Nvidia Stock (NVDA) Takes Battle to DeepSeek as AI Chips Go Full Speed Ahead

Nvidia Stock (NVDA) Takes Battle to DeepSeek as AI Chips Go Full Speed Ahead

Semiconductor giant Nvidia (NVDA) is battling back against its Chinese rivals by becoming more efficient at training AI models, according to new data.
Confident Investing Starts Here:
Chips Ahead
MLCommons, a nonprofit group, has released new data showing that Nvidia's newest type of chips have made AI training gains. The number of chips required to do the jobs has apparently dropped dramatically.
The data shows how chips fared at training AI systems such as Llama 3.1 405B, an open-source AI model released by Meta Platforms (META) that has a large enough number of what are known as 'parameters'. These give an indication of how the chips would perform at some of the most complex training tasks in the world.
The data showed that Nvidia's new Blackwell chips are, on a per-chip basis, more than twice as fast as the previous generation of Hopper chips.
In the fastest results for Nvidia's new chips, 2,496 Blackwell chips completed the training test in 27 minutes. It took more than three times that many of Nvidia's previous generation of chips to get a faster time.
China Challenge
This puts Nvidia in a prime position to challenge rivals such as China's DeepSeek, which claims to use far fewer chips than U.S. rivals.
Chetan Kapoor, chief product officer for CoreWeave (CRWV), which worked with Nvidia to produce some of the results, said there has been a trend in the AI industry toward stringing together smaller groups of chips into subsystems for separate AI training tasks, rather than creating homogeneous groups of 100,000 chips or more.
'Using a methodology like that, they're able to continue to accelerate or reduce the time to train some of these crazy, multi-trillion parameter model sizes,' Kapoor said.

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Why Costco Stock (COST) May Be a Smarter Investment Than Big Tech
Why Costco Stock (COST) May Be a Smarter Investment Than Big Tech

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Why Costco Stock (COST) May Be a Smarter Investment Than Big Tech

Costco (COST) has long been a market favorite, but its current valuation has even the most bullish investors raising eyebrows as the company trades near all-time highs. Trading at earnings multiples that outpace some of the world's biggest tech giants, it's fair to ask: how can a warehouse selling pallets of toilet paper and rotisserie chickens possibly justify such a steep premium? At first glance, the numbers don't add up. Comparing Costco to tech companies indicates a rather inflated valuation for the wholesaler. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Timid growth projections, razor-thin margins, and a business model that hasn't changed much in decades don't exactly scream innovation. And yet, Costco continues to climb—largely, in my view, due to one key factor: risk perception. Because the company's business model is so heavily anchored in predictable, recurring revenue from membership fees, its earnings stream is exceptionally stable. That stability arguably justifies the stock's lofty valuation—and forms the backbone of my bullish thesis, even if there's little to no margin of safety. I agree with Costco's critics—those who are skeptical about a warehouse full of assorted goods trading at a forward P/E of 58, a multiple literally higher than tech giant and AI trailblazer Nvidia. For a company like Costco, which has grown revenue at a ~10% CAGR over the past five years and operating income by 15%—yet is only expected by analysts to grow revenue at a 5% CAGR over the next five—it really doesn't make much sense, at first glance, for the business to trade at such a steep premium. But here's what a lot of market participants miss when analyzing companies: valuations based on net earnings are heavily anchored to one key factor—risk. And unlike earnings, there's no single, universally accepted measure of risk. Some investors focus on beta, while others consider regulatory threats or macroeconomic exposure. Ultimately, each investor views the situation through their own lens. That's where Costco stands out as a rare case: a recurring revenue model outside of the tech sector. Customers pay an annual membership fee—ranging from $60 to $120 in the U.S.—just to shop in its warehouses. Costco likely converts nearly all of that directly into operating profit (though the company doesn't explicitly disclose this), which allows the business to be highly profitable even while selling goods at razor-thin margins. In the most recent quarter, membership income rose 10% year-over-year, with a staggering 93% renewal rate in North America. That kind of brand loyalty and perceived value creates a business model with very little risk of earnings volatility. And because of that, Costco functions like a defensive stock, offering low risk and a high degree of predictability in returns. So, while the valuation may look stretched on the surface, this level of stability and cash flow certainty arguably justifies a premium multiple. While only about 2% of Costco's total revenue comes from membership fees, those fees account for more than half of the company's total operating income. At this kind of scale, there's simply no other retailer that can pull off a high-volume, low-margin model quite like the Issaquah, Washington-based warehouse giant. Main Street Data indicates that Costco's revenues are inching higher while membership fees remain a staple. That's why, even during periods of weak consumer spending, Costco tends to remain highly profitable—not just because of its membership model, but because it consistently gains market share from competitors. By keeping margins razor-thin on discretionary items, and with shoppers naturally shifting toward essentials during times of financial stress, Costco puts pressure on rival retailers that simply can't match its pricing without cutting into their own profitability. Take Q3, for example: Costco's comparable sales rose 8% year-over-year to $62 billion, while peers like Target (TGT) saw comparable sales shrink and were forced to revise earnings guidance downward. This highlights how Costco isn't just weathering macroeconomic headwinds—it's actually growing through them. In other words, macro risks seem to have a much lighter impact on a company like Costco. While Costco's relatively low-risk business model may warrant a valuation premium, it's worth exploring what an appropriate stock price might look like under simplified assumptions. For this analysis, I'll estimate an equity value for Costco using a basic perpetuity-based discounted cash flow (DCF) model. Let's begin with the fact that, in fiscal year 2024, Costco generated approximately $4.8 billion in membership fee revenue. While this isn't equivalent to free cash flow, it serves as a reasonable proxy for recurring operating cash flow due to its stable and high-margin nature. With Costco's current market capitalization at approximately $470 billion, we can reverse-engineer the valuation. If we assume a 6% discount rate—reflecting the company's relatively low risk profile despite the 10-year Treasury yield sitting around 4.4%—and a perpetual growth rate of 5%, the implied equity value is approximately $480 billion, or about $1,083 per share. This closely aligns with Costco's current share price. These assumptions appear fairly reasonable and suggest that Costco's valuation is justified under optimistic, yet not unrealistic, conditions. However, using a more conservative 7% discount rate, while keeping other assumptions constant, would cut the implied equity value significantly, roughly in half. In summary, while Costco does not appear overvalued under favorable scenarios, the current valuation leaves little room for error. A meaningful margin of safety may only emerge if macroeconomic conditions shift, such as a recession prompting lower risk-free rates and, in turn, greater tolerance for elevated valuation multiples. Out of the 25 analysts who have covered COST in the past three months, 17 rate the stock as a Buy, while the remaining eight call it a Hold. So, while the overall sentiment is moderately bullish, the average price target of $1,096.36 implies ~8.5% upside from the current share price over the next twelve months. Given the strength and stability of Costco's underlying business model, its premium valuation multiples appear justifiable. At present, there are no significant concerns that would challenge a constructive outlook on the stock. However, it's important to note that the current valuation offers limited—if any—margin of safety. As such, I maintain a cautious Buy rating on Costco. While near-term upside may be constrained, the company remains well-positioned to deliver steady, long-term compound growth. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue

Lee Jae-myung, Trump speak on phone, reaffirm U.S.-South Korea alliance
Lee Jae-myung, Trump speak on phone, reaffirm U.S.-South Korea alliance

UPI

time2 hours ago

  • UPI

Lee Jae-myung, Trump speak on phone, reaffirm U.S.-South Korea alliance

New South Korean President Lee Jae Myung appears at a news conference at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, his first remarks after being inaugurated earlier in the day. Photo by Ahn Young-joon/EPA-EFE/pool June 7 (UPI) -- South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung spoke for the first time with U.S. President Donald Trump late Friday as both leaders agreed to further strengthen their nations' alliance. Lee, who took office Wednesday, talked with Trump in a 20-minute phone call, according to the presidential office of South Korea. The White House has not confirmed the conversation, and the president, who is in New Jersey this weekend, hasn't posted about the call on Truth Social. The two presidents agreed to strive toward reaching a mutually acceptable trade agreement, including on tariffs. Trump has imposed 10% baseline tariffs on most trading partners. On April 2, Trump said the Republic of Korea would face a 49% duty but one week later he paused it for three months along with the other worst offenders in the trade imbalance. South Korea's tariffs on imported agricultural goods average 54%. Trump congratulated Lee on his election victory, and the new leader expressed his gratitude, according to the office. Lee noted the importance of the alliance, which forms the foundation of Seoul's diplomacy. The phone call was "conducted in a friendly and candid atmosphere," as they shared anecdotes and experiences from their election campaigns, according to South Korea's presidential office. They exchanged views on their assassination attempts last year and political challenges, in addition to discussing their their golf skills and agreed to play a round together. Trump invited Lee to the White House and the Group of Seven summit in Alberta, Canada, from June 15-17. South Korea is not a G7 member state, but the nation attended them group's meetings in 2021 and 2023. Korea's neighbor, Japan, is a member of the G7. Yonhap reported the South Korea government is in consultations for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak to their leader. It has not been decided whether Lee will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders' summit in the Netherlands on June 24 and 25, according to the presidential office. Lee, the Democratic Party liberal candidate, won in a landslide over Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party. He was inaugurated the next day on Wednesday. South Koreans turned out in record numbers in a snap election triggered by the impeachment and removal of Yoon Suk Yeol in April after a botched martial law decree. Some 35.24 million voters cast a ballot, representing a turnout of 79.4% -- the highest mark since an 80.7% turnout in 1997.

Xi Has 'Bowed To Reality,' Says China Analyst, Urges More Engagement Between Leaders To Resolve Trade Issues: 'No Substitute For Direct Negotiations With Trump'
Xi Has 'Bowed To Reality,' Says China Analyst, Urges More Engagement Between Leaders To Resolve Trade Issues: 'No Substitute For Direct Negotiations With Trump'

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time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Xi Has 'Bowed To Reality,' Says China Analyst, Urges More Engagement Between Leaders To Resolve Trade Issues: 'No Substitute For Direct Negotiations With Trump'

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. As U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping break the ice with a phone call after months of silence, analysts weigh in on what's in store for the U.S.-China trade. What Happened: The U.S. and China have been at odds over trade for a considerable period. The call signifies some advancement in establishing ground rules for a potential meeting. Jeremy Chan, Senior China Analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy, stated that this communication suggests a level of respect from President Trump towards President Xi, reported The South China Morning Post. Trending: Start investing with eToro's CopyTrader — . However, analysts have noted that more than optimistic statements are required to resolve the deeply rooted trade differences between the two nations. Chan further noted that Xi typically consents to meetings with foreign leaders only after substantial groundwork has been laid through lower-level diplomatic efforts. "Xi has bowed to reality, like so many other foreign leaders before him, that there is no substitute for direct negotiations with Trump," stated Chan, who is also a former U.S. diplomat. On the other hand, ASPI's Wendy Cutler highlighted the complexity of the upcoming trade talks and the challenges. "The likelihood of further misunderstandings, coupled with a fundamental lack of trust, will present enormous challenges for the negotiators as they try to hammer out a deal," cautioned It Matters: This phone call comes in the wake of escalating trade tensions between the two countries. On Thursday, U.S. stocks dipped following reports of a phone call between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, signaling a possible thaw in China trade tensions. The outreach was said to have come from the U.S. side, as per CNBC, citing Chinese state media. Earlier in May, President Trump had expressed his willingness to travel to China to meet with President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-China relationship. In early May, the South China Morning Post reported that the U.S. and China are struggling to resume trade talks. China suggested using special envoys, but the U.S. prefers direct talks between Trump and Xi—a move China considers 'risky and uncertain.' This latest phone call could be seen as a step towards that potential meeting, and a move towards resolving the trade disputes. Baidu Inc (NASDAQ:BIDU) and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd – ADR (NYSE:BABA) climbed 1.13% and 0.43%, respectively, on Thursday. Meanwhile, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) declined 0.72% Read Next: Nancy Pelosi Invested $5 Million In An AI Company Last Year — Here's How You Can Invest In Multiple Pre-IPO AI Startups With Just $1,000. Invest Where It Hurts — And Help Millions Heal: Invest in Cytonics and help disrupt a $390B Big Pharma stronghold. Image via Shutterstock This article Xi Has 'Bowed To Reality,' Says China Analyst, Urges More Engagement Between Leaders To Resolve Trade Issues: 'No Substitute For Direct Negotiations With Trump' originally appeared on

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