Billionaire Philippe Laffont Trades Nvidia for Soaring AI Stock: Up 300% in 2025!

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By : Glen Rodrick

Are you ready to navigate the thrilling world of AI stocks? Dive into the strategic moves of Wall Street giants and emerging tech players that are shaping the future of artificial intelligence investment.

The Nvidia Narrative: A Mixed Bag of Sales and Strategy

Nvidia, a vanguard in the AI industry, is enjoying robust health in the financial markets, courtesy of its cutting-edge AI infrastructure solutions. With a jaw-dropping 69% increase in sales totaling $44 billion, Nvidia’s fiscal prowess is clear. This growth, as stated by CEO Jensen Huang, is fueled by an “incredibly strong” demand for their products. Even more impressive is their non-GAAP earnings growth of 33% to $0.81 per diluted share. Though this could have been higher if not for certain export restrictions.

Despite these robust figures, Nvidia, which boasts a leading position in the market for data center graphics processing units (GPUs), is also expanding its horizons into networking and cloud services. These areas are experiencing exponential growth due to the ever-increasing demand for AI, positioning Nvidia for potential strong sales growth well into the end of the decade. According to Grand View Research, the AI sector is expected to see an annual increase of 35% in spending through 2030. Wall Street’s forecast aligns with this, predicting a 40% annual growth in Nvidia’s adjusted earnings through January 2027.

Yet, Philippe Laffont of Coatue Management chose the first quarter to trim his Nvidia holdings by 15%, selling 1.4 million shares despite the promising outlook. Since acquiring the stock in the third quarter of 2016 at an average price of $1.47 per share, the value had skyrocketed by 8,500% by the first quarter of 2025. This move suggests a strategic profit-taking rather than a loss of faith, as Nvidia still represents 4% of his portfolio.

CoreWeave: The Rising Star in AI Infrastructure

On the flip side of Laffont’s portfolio adjustments is CoreWeave, a company specializing in infrastructure and software services tailored for AI workloads. CoreWeave is not just any new player; it’s a powerhouse in managing GPU clusters, boasting up to 20% better performance than other public clouds according to an internal study. This efficiency was echoed by SemiAnalysis, which ranked CoreWeave as the best AI cloud platform available.

Financially, CoreWeave’s first-quarter results were nothing short of phenomenal. Its revenue soared by 420% to $981 million, and its adjusted operating income jumped by 550% to $162 million. Despite a non-GAAP net loss of $150 million due to hefty interest payments, the company’s financial management strategy is sound, engaging in what it calls “naturally deleveraging self-amortizing debt.” This approach only involves taking on debt when absolutely necessary and ensuring it’s covered by contractually guaranteed revenue.

CoreWeave’s future looks bright as it reported a 63% increase in its revenue backlog, now standing at $26 billion, partly thanks to a new deal with OpenAI. The company also serves giants like IBM, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and even Nvidia, signaling a promising influx of demand for AI infrastructure.

Laffont seized the opportunity to buy into CoreWeave at around $40 per share during its IPO in late March, which was public for just two trading days in the first quarter. Since then, the stock has quadrupled in value, now trading at 29 times sales—a steep valuation that warrants cautious investment strategies. While it may be enticing to jump in, a prudent approach would be to start with a modest investment and wait for a more favorable pricing before increasing one’s stake.

In the dynamic landscape of AI stocks, understanding the strategic shifts of influential investors like Philippe Laffont can provide valuable insights into where the market might head next. Whether it’s taking profits from a long-term winner like Nvidia or betting on a newcomer like CoreWeave, the AI sector continues to offer exciting opportunities for the astute investor.

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