The meteoric rise of NVIDIA ($NVDA) has captivated investors, but recent revelations raise questions about the company’s financial practices and potential overvaluation. A closer look at historical events and accounting practices suggests a pattern that investors may find disconcerting.
In March 2011, then-CFO David White abruptly resigned, citing “personal reasons.” This unexpected departure raised eyebrows, and the subsequent two-year search for a replacement led to the appointment of Colette Kress as the new CFO. Such swift changes in leadership, especially during a CFO’s prime years, typically signal deeper issues.
A delve into NVIDIA’s past uncovered a troubling incident. In 2003, former CFO Christine Hoberg faced fraud charges related to intentionally failing to record $3.3 million in expenses tied to a deal with a supplier. The SEC alleged that NVIDIA materially overstated its gross profit and income for a quarter in 2000, leading to a boost in stock prices.
The questionable transaction involved NVIDIA’s senior management reducing costs to meet market expectations, entering into an agreement with a supplier to lower costs in exchange for a commitment to pay higher prices on future products. The SEC’s charges shed light on a historical pattern of manipulating financials to align with market expectations.
Fast forward to the present, concerns are surfacing regarding NVIDIA’s current financial reporting. Claims of revenue overstatement and assertions that the company is “lying” under its own nose have emerged. Allegations of the company’s involvement in “round-tripping” cash and questions about the sustainability of its profit margins are casting shadows over its financial transparency.
One perplexing aspect is the suppliers’ inability to grow revenues despite the purported overwhelming demand for NVIDIA’s GPUs. This raises questions about the dynamics within the supply chain, especially against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s inclusion under new licensing requirements.
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⚠️ IS $NVDA CURRENTLY EMPLOYING THE SAME ACCOUNTING TRICK TO INFLATE ITS MARGINS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY CAUGHT USING DURING THE DOT-COM BUBBLE? 👀⚠️
In March 2011, the $NVDA CFO at that time, David White, suddenly resigned due to "personal reasons". The company then… t.co/GzsaMgSsNo pic.twitter.com/gRDyjONj9N
— JustDario 🏊♂️ (@DarioCpx) February 12, 2024
If Nvidia investors would only read the 10-Q and understand that Saudi Arabia is under the new updated licensing requirements, they would realize that the meeting is purely for PR purposes to pump the stock, and Jensen is a PRs master. $NVDA t.co/a63j4CyROf pic.twitter.com/zMcxzMmymN
— Kakashii (@kakashiii111) February 12, 2024