Following a challenging second half of 2024, investors have expressed a positive outlook on Super Micro Computer, Inc. SMCI, with its shares gaining 97% this year and outpacing NVIDIA Corporation’s NVDA gain of 31.6%. So, can Supermicro, a manufacturer of data center components, become the next NVIDIA, and is it a worthwhile investment? Let’s explore –-
Supermicro’s shares surged 10% on Monday after Digi Power X announced a provisional patent for its ARMS 200 modular data center, with SMCI as its exclusive server supplier. The choice of Supermicro indicates that the company may be leveraging advanced, high-value technology.
A short-seller tarnished Supermicro’s reputation last year, but the stock rebounded to finish the first half of 2025 with a 60.8% increase. This rebound occurred after the company’s new auditor, BDO, reviewed the last three years of financial transactions and confirmed that Supermicro’s financial statements are fair in all material respects. The company was cleared of all allegations of fraud.
Supermicro’s shares gained further after the firm announced a $20 billion deal with Saudi Arabian data center operator DataVolt. This deal is part of the Trump administration’s strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia.
In the March quarter, Supermicro’s revenue growth fell short of market expectations, possibly due to delays in shipments of NVIDIA’s Blackwell chips. However, no delays are expected for the June quarter, which could boost Supermicro’s revenues and positively influence its share price. Remember, most of the graphics processing units (GPUs) used in Supermicro’s systems are NVIDIA chips.
Supermicro’s gains this year have sparked questions about whether it can replicate NVIDIA’s future success. Supermicro’s business, which involves integrating several third-party components, is much easier to commoditize compared to NVIDIA’s operations. However, developers prefer NVIDIA’s CUDA software and artificial intelligence (AI) GPUs over competitors like Intel Corporation INTC and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD.
NVIDIA’s products are distinctive and superior to those of its rivals, but some competitors also offer Supermicro’s direct liquid cooling method. Additionally, NVIDIA controls over 80% of the AI GPU market, boosting its pricing power. In contrast, Supermicro has only an 8% share in the AI server market, making it premature to crown Supermicro as the next NVIDIA (read more: Is Rigetti the Next NVIDIA, and Should You Buy the Stock?).
