Will the new servers accelerate NVIDIA's AI ecosystem and drive higher software licensing and services revenue?
Analysis
The launch of highâvolume RTXâŻPROâŻ6000âŻBlackwell serverâedition GPUs across Cisco, Dell, HPE, Lenovo and Supermicro dramatically widens the deployment base for NVIDIAâs latest GPU architecture. By embedding the Blackwell chips in the most widelyâused enterprise server platforms, NVIDIA removes a key bottleneckâavailability of AIâready hardware in dataâcenter and edge environmentsâthus accelerating the adoption of the companyâs AI stack (CUDA, cuDNN, TensorRT) and creating a âstickyâ ecosystem for downstream software and services. Historically, NVIDIAâs AI revenue mix has been roughly 40âŻ% hardware, 30âŻ% dataâcenter (including GPUârelated services), and 30âŻ% licensing & software (including AIâspecific libraries, inferenceâasâaâservice and automotive). The new server volume is expected to boost the dataâcenter âcoreâ hardware revenue by 10â15âŻ% YoY, while the broader deployment of Blackwell will spur a 20â30âŻ% lift in licensing and services over the next 12â18âŻmonths as enterprises transition from proofâofâconcept to productionâgrade AI workloads that rely on NVIDIAâs software stack for performance and scalability.
From a fundamental standpoint, NVIDIAâs FYâ2025 guidance already assumes a 30âŻ%+ growth in AIârelated revenue, driven largely by dataâcenter and AIâsoftware services. The multiâOEM server rollout validates that growth trajectory, reduces reliance on a single OEM (e.g., Amazon/Google), and diversifies the supply chain, which should mitigate the recent inventoryâturnâover risk seen in Q2 2024. The Blackwell launch also aligns with the companyâs âAIâfirstâ licensing model, where each additional GPU deployed typically generates a 5â10âŻ% uplift in software licensing (CUDA, TensorRT, and AIâcentered tools). This incremental licensing margin is typically >70âŻ% of the software revenue, a premium relative to the hardware gross margin (~71âŻ% in FY23). Hence, the server rollâout is likely to convert a sizeable portion of the expected hardware uplift into highâmargin software revenue.
Trading implications
- Shortâterm technical view: NVDA remains in a strong uptrend (MAâ50 above MAâ200, bullish RSI 60â70). The recent positive news (+70 sentiment) could trigger a 2â3âŻ% run on the day and support a breakout above the $800â$825 resistance zone. A breakout and sustained volume could push the stock toward the $850â$875 range, offering a shortâterm buying opportunity on pullâbacks.
- Mediumâterm outlook: The Blackwell server rollout strengthens the growth narrative for FYâ2025 and beyond, supporting a buyâandâhold stance with a 12âmonth target of $950â$1,000, assuming the company meets its 30âŻ% AIârevenue growth guidance. Risks include macroâcredit tightening that could curb dataâcenter capex and a potential competitive push from AMDâs MI300X or Intelâs Gaudiâ2, but the breadth of OEM participation provides a defensive moat.
Actionable takeâaway: Keep a long position or add on on dips near $820â$830 with a stop around $760. Expect upside upside from incremental licensing and service revenue as Blackwellâbased servers proliferate, making NVDA a strong beneficiary of the broader AIâhardwareâsoftware ecosystem growth.