NVIDIA CorporationDefends financing strategy against circular financing claims; record revenue and guidance but shares fell.

Nvidia Corp. leadership pushed back against criticism that its investments and financing arrangements could create a circular flow of capital that artificially boosts demand for its chips, during the company's second-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. CEO Jensen Huang and CFO Colette Kress defended the company's balance sheet strategy, which includes a $500 billion institutional credit financing push with six financial institutions and support for a multibillion-dollar OpenAI data center in Ohio. Kress acknowledged the market's unease but said, "We recognize the scale of this support, and we know some will call this circular financing. We see it differently." Huang had earlier written in a blog post, "Is this circular financing? No. OpenAI will pay the lease." Despite Nvidia posting record second-quarter revenue of $96.2 billion, up 106% year-over-year, critics remain unconvinced, with "Big Short" investor Michael Burry calling the financing mechanisms a "Wall Street stunt" and warning of "circular spending to biblical proportions." Nvidia guides for $108 billion in third-quarter revenue, and its shares closed 1.59% lower at $209.66 on Wednesday but rose 5.91% in premarket trading on Thursday.
NVIDIA CorporationDefends financing strategy against circular financing claims; record revenue and guidance but shares fell.
Support for OpenAI data center financing indicates continued demand for AI infrastructure.