CRYPTO DOWN, JAPAN YIELDS UP, NVIDIA COMPETITION, FIRST DAY OF TRADING FOR DECEMBER | MARKET OPEN
CRYPTO DOWN, JAPAN YIELDS UP, NVIDIA COMPETITION, FIRST DAY OF TRADING FOR DECEMBER | MARKET OPEN
159 days agoAmit Kukreja@amitinvesting
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

For long-term investors bullish on AI, consider buying dips in NVIDIA (NVDA), as its dominant market position is viewed as a compelling opportunity with a recent analyst purchase at $170. As an alternative way to invest in the AI hardware trend, look into Google (GOOGL), whose custom TPU chips represent a

Detailed Analysis

Broader Market & Economy (S&P 500)

  • The market opened the month with a slight downturn, influenced by a sell-off in Bitcoin and rising bond yields in Japan.
  • Tom Lee of Fundstrat remains bullish for December, suggesting a potential rally for the S&P 500 to 7,200 - 7,300.
  • A major bullish catalyst mentioned is the end of Quantitative Tightening (QT), which officially concluded on December 1st. Historically, the end of QT has been positive for markets.
  • The probability of a Fed rate cut in December is very high at 87.6%, which is seen as a supportive factor for stocks.
  • Consumer spending appears strong, with record-breaking Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales figures from companies like Shopify and data from Adobe Analytics. This pushes back against the narrative of a weak consumer.
  • The ISM Manufacturing PMI data for November came in slightly weaker than expected, which could be interpreted as "bad news is good news" as it strengthens the case for Fed rate cuts.

Takeaways

  • While there are short-term headwinds from crypto volatility and international markets (Japan), the overall sentiment for December is cautiously optimistic.
  • Key tailwinds include the high likelihood of a Fed rate cut, the end of QT, and surprisingly resilient consumer spending.
  • Investors should watch for a potential "performance chase" by fund managers into the end of the year, which could lift the market.

Bitcoin (BTC) & Cryptocurrency Market

  • Bitcoin experienced a significant price drop, falling from $91,000 to as low as $83,000 (Note: These prices are as stated in the transcript).
  • The sell-off was attributed to two main factors:
    • The Yen Carry Trade: A sharp rise in Japanese 10-year bond yields (to the highest level since 2008) likely forced investors who were short the Yen and long crypto to sell their crypto assets to cover their positions.
    • Deleveraging: $800 million in liquidations occurred in the crypto markets, indicating that excessive leverage is still being washed out of the system.
  • Tom Lee believes the crypto market is still feeling the effects of deleveraging but could be "fully washed out" in another week or two, potentially setting the stage for a recovery and an all-time high by the end of January.
  • The host notes that the four-year cycle theory for Bitcoin is a topic of debate. One analysis suggests the cycle is still intact and could mean a market bottom around October 2026. Others believe the entry of institutional players and ETFs breaks this historical pattern.

Takeaways

  • The crypto market is currently in a risk-off phase, driven by macro factors and internal deleveraging. The price action is highly volatile.
  • The unwinding of the Yen Carry Trade is a key risk factor to monitor for crypto and other risk assets.
  • Long-term bulls believe the current pain is temporary, with a dovish Fed and the end of QT providing potential tailwinds for a recovery. However, the historical "four-year cycle" suggests a longer period of consolidation or decline could be possible.

NVIDIA (NVDA)

  • The stock was down despite a broader market recovery, with discussion centered on rising competition.
  • A report from SemiAnalysis highlighted the threat from Google's TPUs (Tensor Processing Units), suggesting they could lead to margin compression for NVIDIA.
  • Bull Case:
    • The host remains very bullish, stating he bought more shares at $170. The core argument is that if you believe AI demand is "insatiable," then NVIDIA, as the market leader with the dominant supply chain and CUDA software ecosystem, is a "no brainer."
    • CEO Jensen Huang defended the company's moat, arguing that NVIDIA's platform is more versatile and can address a much broader market (like industrial design and physical AI) than specialized ASICs like Google's TPUs.
    • NVIDIA announced a strategic partnership with and a $2 billion investment in Synopsys (SNPS) to revolutionize engineering and design, expanding its Total Addressable Market (TAM).
    • Elon Musk referred to NVIDIA as an "obvious" winner in AI.
    • The stock is trading at a relatively cheap valuation (25 times 2026 EPS) if you believe in its earnings growth trajectory.
  • Bear Case:
    • Prominent investor Michael Burry is publicly bearish on the stock, calling its stock-based compensation a "tragic algebra."
    • The narrative of rising competition from Google is gaining traction and could weigh on the stock's sentiment in the short term.

Takeaways

  • NVIDIA is at the center of a debate between its dominant market position and the rise of credible competitors.
  • The long-term investment thesis hinges on whether you believe AI demand is large enough for multiple winners and if NVIDIA's CUDA software platform provides a durable competitive advantage.
  • The stock's valuation is considered attractive by bulls relative to its projected growth, making dips a potential buying opportunity for believers in the long-term story.

Google (GOOGL)

  • Google is seen as a major beneficiary of the AI boom, with its custom TPU chips gaining significant traction.
  • Morgan Stanley is very bullish, doubling its sales forecast to 12 million TPUs over the next two years. They estimate this could add $0.40 to Google's EPS in 2027.
  • Elon Musk was very positive on the company, stating he thinks "Google is going to be pretty valuable in the future" due to its foundational work in AI.
  • The discussion around TPUs is viewed as more of a positive for Google than a negative for NVIDIA, as it opens up a massive new revenue stream for the company.

Takeaways

  • Investing in Google is becoming another way to get exposure to the AI hardware boom, not just AI software and services.
  • The success of its custom TPU chips represents a significant growth catalyst that could lead to meaningful earnings upside in the coming years.

Other Stocks & Opportunities

MicroStrategy (MSTR)

  • The company continues to buy Bitcoin but lowered its internal year-end price projection from $150,000 to $85,000.
  • The stock is getting hit very hard due to the Bitcoin sell-off, down over 9%.
  • Concerns exist about its large debt load, but the company has mechanisms like issuing more stock to pay creditors.
  • Takeaway: MSTR is a highly leveraged bet on the price of Bitcoin. Its stock will experience amplified moves in both directions. It is a high-risk proxy for investors who are extremely bullish on Bitcoin.

Robinhood (HOOD)

  • The stock is down over 5%, largely due to its exposure to the crypto market sell-off.
  • The host is very bullish on the company's long-term strategy of entering prediction markets, calling it a potential "trillion dollar industry." Robinhood is positioning itself to be a leader by bringing market-making in-house.
  • Takeaway: While the stock is volatile due to crypto sentiment, its strategic push into prediction markets is a significant long-term growth catalyst to watch.

Shopify (SHOP)

  • The company reported a massive Black Friday, with sales up 25% year-over-year to $6.2 billion.
  • Dan Ives, a prominent tech analyst, added SHOP to his "AI 30" list of top AI names.
  • Takeaway: Shopify is showing exceptional growth and is a strong indicator of consumer health. Its adoption of AI and strong e-commerce position make it an attractive name in the tech and retail sectors.

Tesla (TSLA)

  • Michael Burry called the stock "ridiculously overvalued."
  • Elon Musk outlined a long-term vision of converging Tesla, SpaceX, and XAI to create a future of "solar-powered AI satellites," which underpins the bull case for the company's massive valuation.
  • Takeaway: The investment case for Tesla remains polarized between traditional valuation concerns and a belief in Elon Musk's ambitious, world-changing long-term vision.

Broadcom (AVGO) & Amcor (AMCR)

  • Broadcom received an analyst upgrade, citing Google's TPUs as a positive tailwind. The stock has significantly outperformed NVIDIA year-to-date.
  • Amcor (AMCR) is mentioned as having a close relationship with Broadcom and is also seen as a beneficiary.
  • Takeaway: Broadcom is a key supplier for custom AI chips and offers an alternative way to invest in the AI hardware trend. Its strong performance reflects this.

Synopsys (SNPS)

  • The company announced a major strategic partnership with NVIDIA, which is also investing $2 billion into the company. The stock jumped on the news.
  • Takeaway: The NVIDIA partnership is a massive vote of confidence and a growth catalyst, placing Synopsys at the center of the AI-driven revolution in engineering and design.

Silver & Gold

  • Silver hit a new all-time high, and Gold is also trading at very high levels.
  • This could be interpreted in several ways: a flight to safety (bearish for stocks), a hedge against currency debasement, or part of a broader "everything rally."
  • Takeaway: The strong performance of precious metals is a significant macro signal. Investors may consider them for portfolio diversification or as a hedge against inflation and market uncertainty.
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Video Description
twitter: https://x.com/amitisinvesting deepdives: https://amitsdeepdives.substack.com/ 00:00 - Intro 05:40 - Japan 12:30 - Tom Lee Speaks 18:40 - Nvidia 35:00 - Macro 44:00 - Market Open 48:00 - Jensen Live 1:32:40 - Black Friday Stats
About Amit Kukreja
Amit Kukreja

Amit Kukreja

By @amitinvesting

Breaking down stocks, business, tech. Thank you for following along the journey!