Arm Holdings Plunges 16% as Tepid Forecast Stirs Investor Worries
Arm 홀딩스, 미온적인 전망으로 인해 16% 하락하며 투자자들의 우려를 자아내다
Arm Holdings saw its shares tumble by 16% on Thursday afternoon following a lukewarm revenue forecast that raised concerns about the company's ability to quickly benefit from the burgeoning AI sector. Trading at $121.36, the company's stock risks shedding nearly $24 billion in market value if the current levels persist. Prior to the earnings report on Wednesday, the stock had soared by over 90% this year.
"The stock's premium valuation is likely to be pressured near-term given lack of upside drivers," analysts at BofA Global Research commented, despite maintaining a "buy" rating. They attributed Arm's near-term projections to weaknesses in sectors like the Internet of Things (IoT), networking, and industrial markets. Nevertheless, investors are optimistic that substantial investments in artificial intelligence by businesses will eventually boost sales for chip manufacturers.
Arm, known for licensing its chip designs and earning royalties, is making strides into the data center market. This sector seeks to develop proprietary chips for new AI models, aiming to lessen dependence on dominant supplier Nvidia. On the post-earnings call on Wednesday, Arm CEO Rene Haas indicated that the company might need about four years to see significant returns from the AI server chip designs licensed this year.
For the current fiscal second quarter, Arm forecasted revenue between $780 million and $830 million, slightly below analysts' expectations of $804.1 million according to LSEG data. Despite this, Arm reported a robust 39% revenue growth in the fiscal first quarter, surpassing expectations and prompting at least 11 brokerages to raise their price targets. Currently, over half of the analysts covering Arm hold a "buy" or higher rating, as per LSEG.