Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai. NVIDIA, the semiconductor company renowned for its graphics processing technology, has once again claimed the title of the world's most valuable company. On November 5, the company's stock surged by 2.84%, pushing its market cap to $3.43 trillion (around ₹289 lakh crore). This surge has allowed NVIDIA to surpass both Apple and Microsoft, with Apple’s market cap standing at $3.38 trillion (around ₹285 lakh crore) and Microsoft’s at $3.06 trillion (around ₹250 lakh crore). This isn’t the first time NVIDIA has achieved this milestone. In June 2024, NVIDIA briefly held the position as the world’s most valuable company, though it retained the title for only a day.

NVIDIA’s Lead Over Apple in the Early 2000s

NVIDIA has overtaken Apple’s market cap in the past. In 2002, NVIDIA’s market cap exceeded Apple’s when both companies were valued below $10 billion (around ₹83,000 crore). However, Apple’s launch of the iPhone in 2007 marked a turning point for the company, leading to significant market cap growth and global influence.

World’s Most Valuable Semiconductor Firm

NVIDIA remains the most valuable semiconductor firm globally. It has established four engineering development centers in India, located in Hyderabad, Pune, Gurugram, and Bengaluru. According to Bloomberg, NVIDIA is currently working to upgrade its AI accelerators to further strengthen its product offerings in artificial intelligence.

Pioneering in GPU Technology

Founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Curtis Priem, and Chris Malachowsky, NVIDIA is widely known for designing and manufacturing Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), crucial for gaming, cryptocurrency mining, and various professional applications. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, NVIDIA has expanded its reach into multiple sectors, with its chips powering not only gaming systems but also vehicles, robotics, and other advanced equipment.

CEO Jensen Huang’s Growing Wealth

Following this recent stock surge, Bloomberg Billionaires Index reported that NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, saw a personal wealth increase of over $5 billion (approximately Rs 41,000 crore), bringing his total net worth to $107.4 billion (around Rs 89 lakh crore). This increase highlights Huang’s pivotal role in NVIDIA’s impressive market performance and technological advancements.

Challenges for Apple in 2023

Apple has faced several challenges this year, including decreasing iPhone demand in China and concerns over potential fines from the European Union. These issues have weighed on Apple’s stock. However, despite these challenges, Apple’s stock closed at $195.87, rising by 0.78% on Wednesday. Over the past month, Apple shares have increased by 7.79%, though they have shown only modest growth of 1.85% over the last six months and 9.3% over the past year. As NVIDIA continues to lead in semiconductor technology and expand into new fields, its rise to the top underscores the growing demand and importance of AI and processing power in today’s digital world.