Nvidia tops Q1 estimates, offers upbeat outlook on strong chip sales

May 20, 2026 - 17:24

Nvidia reported its first-quarter earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday, surpassing analyst estimates and offering a bullish outlook for the coming months. The company's strong performance was fueled by continued robust sales of its data center chips, which power the booming artificial intelligence industry.

Revenue for the quarter came in at $26 billion, well above the $24.6 billion analysts had projected. Adjusted earnings per share hit $6.12, beating the consensus estimate of $5.65. The data center segment, which includes its high-end AI processors, saw revenue more than triple compared to the same period last year, reaching $22.6 billion.

Looking ahead, Nvidia forecasted revenue of approximately $28 billion for the current quarter, plus or minus 2%. This guidance comfortably exceeded Wall Street's average target of $26.6 billion. The company cited accelerating demand for its next-generation Blackwell architecture chips, which are expected to begin shipping in the second half of the year.

"We are at the beginning of a major industry transformation," said Nvidia's CEO in a prepared statement. "The demand for AI computing is growing exponentially, and we are well positioned to meet it." The upbeat report sent shares higher in after-hours trading, extending the stock's remarkable run over the past year.