By Danny Vena
Publication Date: 2026-01-31 00:00:00
Key Points
Nvidia has been a wild ride for investors, but also an enormously profitable one.
Share price volatility has sent some fair-weather investors packing over time, but those who stuck around have been amply rewarded.
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Many shareholders profess to be long-term buy-and-hold investors, but excess volatility, economic instability, and even lofty valuations can test the mettle of even the most experienced investors.
Such has been the case with Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) during the past half-decade. Back in early 2021, roughly half its revenue came from its gaming segment. The stock kicked off 2021 by falling 24% amid fears of a graphics processing unit (GPU) shortage, prompting some investors to head for the exits.
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Image source: Nvidia.
The reality turned out to be much different, as Nvidia reported record quarterly revenue of $5 billion for its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter (ended Jan. 31, 2021). The stock defied detractors that year, gaining 125% in 2021.
The celebration would be short-lived. A period of rampant inflation and slowing economic growth between November 2021 and October 2022 sent Nvidia into a tailspin, and the stock price plunged 66%.
Fast forward to today, and Nvidia is a very different company. The data center segment, driven by demand for artificial intelligence (AI),…
