Nvidia Hits $5T Milestone as AI Chip Frenzy Fuels Record Surge

Nvidia Corp. shares surged 4.32% to close at $208.27 on Friday, April 24, 2026, propelling the company's valuation past the $5 trillion mark for the first time and marking a fresh all-time high.[1][2][3] Trading volume spiked to 192.5 million shares, 12% above the three-month average, signaling robust investor enthusiasm across the semiconductor sector.[1][3] The rally builds on CEO Jensen Huang's recent comments at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference, where he described AI chip demand as 'intense' and noted that major tech firms are 'counting on us' for supply.[5] The boom traces Nvidia's transformation from a $1 trillion firm to a $5 trillion behemoth, driven by its graphics processing units (GPUs) becoming the gold standard for training and deploying AI models.[3] Fiscal 2026 sales hit $215.9 billion, a 65% year-over-year leap, fueled by massive data center orders from hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet.[3][4] Earlier projections pegged fiscal 2024 revenue near $61 billion, underscoring the relentless acceleration in AI infrastructure spending.[3] Analysts remain bullish, with a one-year price target of $269 implying 35% upside from current levels, while longer-term models forecast $457—a potential 119% gain over 2.8 years.[1][4] Easing U.S. export restrictions to China has further boosted sentiment, removing prior headwinds.[7] Nvidia's upcoming Rubin chip family promises advanced AI capabilities, cementing its market leadership and drawing long-term investors.[1] All eyes now turn to Nvidia's Q1 FY27 earnings on May 20, 2026, where results will be gauged against guidance for $78 billion in revenue, plus or minus 2%.[4] Strong showings from Big Tech peers in coming weeks could reaffirm hyperscaler commitments to AI capex, sustaining demand for Nvidia's GPUs, CPUs, networking gear, and systems.[4] The surge has quelled 'AI bubble' worries, with Huang's upbeat outlook reinforcing the sector's staying power.[6]