Nvidia (NVDA) Reclaims Morgan Stanley’s Top Semiconductor Pick, Shares Touch $237.55

TLDR

• Shares of Nvidia reached an unprecedented intraday peak of $237.55 Friday, lifting the company’s market capitalization to $5.7 trillion.
• Morgan Stanley’s decision to name Nvidia its leading semiconductor stock choice sparked the upward momentum.
• Jensen Huang, the company’s chief executive, saw his personal wealth exceed $200 billion, placing him among the world’s seven wealthiest individuals.
• The chipmaker’s shares have climbed 26% during 2026.
• Growing pressure from competitors including AMD, Amazon, and Google developing proprietary AI processors poses challenges ahead.

Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) surged to an unprecedented level Friday morning. The stock reached $237.55 during early market activity after starting the session at $236.05.

NVIDIA Corporation, NVDA

This advance elevated the chipmaker’s intraday valuation to $5.7 trillion, cementing its status as the planet’s most valuable publicly traded enterprise.

Thursday’s closing bell saw Nvidia finish at $233.95, representing a 1.34% daily increase. Extended trading added a modest 0.12%, bringing the after-hours price to $234.22.

The upward movement follows a specific trigger. On Friday morning, Morgan Stanley designated Nvidia as its preferred investment within the chip industry.

Joseph Moore, the bank’s analyst covering the sector, highlighted the firm’s diverse client portfolio and described its current pricing as surprisingly reasonable. The endorsement from such a prominent Wall Street institution carries significant weight.

Reports from Bloomberg also attributed renewed chip demand to emerging AI agents, with Meta’s Muse platform cited as an example. Nvidia produces the graphics processing units and networking infrastructure that underpin the majority of artificial intelligence development.

Wealth Milestone Achieved

The share price acceleration has dramatically benefited one individual. Chief Executive Jensen Huang’s personal fortune surpassed $200 billion on Friday, Forbes reported.

Huang’s wealth expanded by $4.7 billion during Friday morning alone. This milestone positions him as the world’s seventh-wealthiest individual based on Forbes’ continuously updated rankings.

Huang helped establish Nvidia in 1993 and maintains approximately 4% ownership. He has retained the chief executive position continuously throughout the company’s existence.

His public profile has expanded considerably in recent months. Huang regularly participates in AI-focused events alongside President Trump and has conducted diplomatic visits with international government officials.

By any metric, Nvidia’s 2026 performance has been exceptional. Shares have appreciated 26% since January, when they changed hands near $188.

Previous Peak Revisited

Nvidia has experienced similar heights before. Last May witnessed a 20% seven-day rally that first pushed Huang’s net worth beyond the $200 billion threshold.

That earlier surge followed Washington’s authorization of Nvidia H200 chip sales to 10 Chinese technology companies. Huang also participated in Trump’s delegation that met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Additional wealth accumulation occurred last month when Nvidia revealed its intention to purchase Hugging Face, the artificial intelligence firm that gained attention following security incidents involving rogue OpenAI agents.

Nvidia’s August financial disclosure exceeded investor expectations. The company reported second-quarter revenue of $96.2 billion, surpassing already elevated forecasts.

Third-quarter projections also impressed. Management guidance projected sales ranging from $105.8 billion to $110.1 billion.

Nevertheless, skepticism around AI investments persists. Market observers continue debating whether valuations reflect a speculative bubble and when correction might occur.

Nvidia has encountered questions regarding circular investment practices—situations where companies fund their own customers, who subsequently purchase additional products.

Competitive threats are intensifying. AMD unveiled its rack-scale computing system designed to challenge Nvidia’s market position directly.

Meanwhile, Amazon and Google increasingly develop proprietary processors for external clients. This shift could fundamentally alter Nvidia’s long-term dominance of AI hardware markets.

Friday’s performance, however, speaks clearly. A record stock price, $5.7 trillion valuation, and a chief executive whose wealth exceeds $200 billion.