NAS100: Nvidia Takes Center Stage

Nvidia earnings and July Core PCE data will drive the Nasdaq 100 this Wednesday.

NAS100: Nvidia Takes Center Stage

Nvidia accounts for roughly 8.4% of the Nasdaq-100, making it the index’s largest single component. That means Wednesday’s earnings could move the entire tech benchmark.

KEY DRIVERS FOR NAS100

• Nvidia earnings are the main event

Nvidia reports Q2 FY2027 results after the US market close on Wednesday, 26 August. The company has guided for revenue of around $91 billion, plus or minus 2%, while consensus is closer to $93 billion with EPS near $2.09 — almost double the level a year earlier.

• AI demand and guidance matter most

Investors will focus on data-center and AI revenue, but forward guidance could be even more important. The key question is whether demand remains exceptional or begins to normalize after the recent investment boom.

• Options point to a large move

The options market is pricing an Nvidia move of roughly 6.8% after earnings. Given the stock’s weight in the Nasdaq-100, that could translate into a move of around 0.6% in the index before accounting for broader market reactions.

• Expectations are already extremely high

Nvidia shares have fallen after each of the company’s last four earnings reports, despite results often beating expectations. That highlights the risk of a “good, but not good enough” reaction when valuations and expectations are elevated.

THE MACRO CATALYST: CORE PCE

US core PCE for July will be released earlier on Wednesday and will set the macro tone before Nvidia reports.

Bloomberg Economics estimates core PCE increased around 0.23% month over month. Portfolio-management fees may have added significantly to the headline figure, meaning the data could overstate underlying inflation.

Other measures, including trimmed-mean inflation gauges, point to softer underlying price pressures, with many running close to 0.1% month over month.

A relatively benign PCE report would support expectations for the Fed to remain on hold in September and could provide a more constructive backdrop for technology stocks ahead of Nvidia’s results.

KEY EVENTS

• US Core PCE, July: Wednesday, 26 August — 12:30 GMT

• Nvidia Q2 FY2027 earnings: Wednesday, 26 August — after the US market close, around 20:20 GMT

• Nvidia implied earnings move: approximately 6.8%

TECHNICALS

NAS100 is consolidating below its 21-day and 50-day moving averages as investors position ahead of Nvidia’s earnings. A strong report and softer inflation data could provide the catalyst for a breakout, while disappointing guidance or a hotter PCE print would increase the risk of another leg lower.

STOCKS IN THIS ARTICLE

Comments