AMD Stock: Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD) experienced a 7.6% drop in after-hours trading on Tuesday following the release of its third-quarter earnings. Despite surpassing Wall Street’s revenue expectations and meeting adjusted earnings forecasts, the slight miss on its fourth-quarter revenue guidance led to the stock’s decline.
Strong Q3 Performance Led by Data Center Growth
AMD reported $6.82 billion in revenue for Q3, an 18% increase year-over-year, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.92, narrowly beating the $0.91 consensus estimate. Notably, the company’s data center segment surged 122% year-over-year, reaching a record high of $3.55 billion. This growth was driven by the increased production and shipments of Instinct MI300 GPUs, a product designed to compete directly with Nvidia’s AI-dominant data center GPUs, and boosted by strong EPYC CPU sales. AMD’s client segment also saw significant gains, with a 29% year-over-year increase, largely thanks to the continued success of Ryzen processors for PCs.
However, AMD’s gaming segment struggled, experiencing a 69% year-over-year decline due to reduced demand for processors used in gaming consoles. The embedded segment also faced challenges with a 25% revenue drop year-over-year as certain end markets, like automotive and industrial, normalized their inventory levels.
Q4 Guidance Slightly Below Expectations
For the upcoming quarter, AMD projected revenue of $7.5 billion, representing 22% growth year-over-year, but slightly below Wall Street’s expectation of $7.54 billion. Management also forecasted an adjusted gross margin of 54%, consistent with the current quarter’s performance. This slight miss, however, contributed to AMD’s post-earnings stock decline, with some investors looking for even stronger growth in AI chip revenue following the stock’s recent gains.
CEO Lisa Su Raises AI Revenue Forecast for 2024
On a positive note, AMD CEO Lisa Su announced an increased revenue outlook for AI chips in 2024, with expectations now set to exceed $5 billion—a notable increase from the $4.5 billion projection shared in July and the $4 billion forecast from April. The demand for AMD’s Instinct GPUs continues to grow as the company ramps up production to meet AI-driven data center needs, making AMD a strong competitor to Nvidia in this rapidly expanding sector.
Investor Sentiment and Long-Term Prospects
AMD’s stock has risen approximately 72% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500, as the company positions itself as a key player in AI technology. While Tuesday’s after-hours drop may reflect investors’ high expectations, some analysts view this as a buying opportunity, emphasizing AMD’s long-term potential in the AI chip market alongside rivals like Nvidia.
With strong quarterly results and a raised AI revenue forecast, AMD remains a valuable stock to watch for investors focused on the AI and data center sectors.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial advisor or conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
