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Barclays Boosts ARM to $145: What Ken Griffin’s Trades Reveal About AI Stocks

Hannah Perry | November 13, 2024

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Barclays Raises ARM Price Target to $145 – What Traders Need to Know

AI Buzz: Ken Griffin’s Strategic Moves

In the world of high-stakes trading, timing is everything, and what a time to be observing Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel! Citadel, acclaimed as the most profitable hedge fund in history, has made headlines once again with its latest trading maneuvers that could shape investor sentiment for weeks to come. While his buying and selling habits give us valuable insights into market trends, the spotlight is on the recent price target increase by Barclays for Arm Holdings plc (ARM), now set at $145. This price adjustment poses intriguing questions for traders, and you won’t want to miss this.

Why ARM Holdings is Gaining Traction

Barclays has raised its price target for Arm Holdings plc (ARM) to $145, buoyed by an optimistic outlook and notable growth potential. As traders passionate about identifying trends, it’s essential to grasp why ARM is capturing the attention of analysts and investors alike. The semiconductor space, especially in AI applications, has shown explosive growth, and ARM lies at its heart.

Investors should consider that Arm Holdings plays a critical role not only in the chip market but also in artificial intelligence. The company is becoming an increasingly influential player due to its chip architecture that enables optimized performance in various applications, particularly those surrounding AI advancements.

The Nvidia and Amazon Trade: Griffin’s Indicator

The big twist in Griffin’s trading activity has been his noteworthy decisions to sell Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) while accumulating Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). In the first quarter, Griffin drastically reduced his Nvidia position by a whopping 68%, selling 2.4 million shares. He didn’t stop there; by the second quarter, he nearly wiped out his Nvidia stake, shedding 9.2 million shares, amounting to a staggering 79% reduction. On the flip side, he has been bullish on Amazon, upping his position by 6% in Q1 and another 17% in Q2, culminating in Amazon becoming Citadel’s largest holding as of June 30.

For momentum traders, this kind of analysis is gold. If Griffin is selling Nvidia – the titan in AI GPUs – it raises a red flag about potential headwinds in the company, despite its remarkable growth.

Nvidia: A Deep Dive

Nvidia took a commanding lead in the AI space, with revenues skyrocketing. Its GPUs are integral to data centers across industries, particularly AI development. The company has been making headlines with impressive earnings results, including a staggering 122% sales increase in Q2 of fiscal 2025, alongside a robust 152% rise in non-GAAP net income. Yet, the valuation sits at 66.5 times adjusted earnings.

Despite Griffin’s selling actions, there’s an argument for long-term investors to consider accumulating Nvidia shares ahead of its upcoming earnings report on November 20. Expect volatility; when the earnings report drops, shares could dance sharply.

Amazon: The Bullish Bet

On the contrary, Amazon is making waves with three powerful growth engines – e-commerce, digital advertising, and cloud services. With AI in the driver’s seat, Amazon is optimizing every element, from logistics to advertising techniques. The juggernaut is not only the top online marketplace but is also fostering rapid growth in its advertising revenue, which is outpacing heavyweights like Alphabet and Meta.

Amazon’s third-quarter results were impressive, with an 11% revenue increase to $159 billion, driven largely by robust performance in advertisement and cloud services. Its operating margins expanded significantly and its GAAP net income soared by 52%. With strong projected earnings growth, the current valuation of 44.5 times earnings feels relatively palatable.

However, be vigilant! The stock could see a pullback of up to 20%. This potential dip provides traders a golden opportunity to re-enter at more lucrative prices.

What’s Next?

As traders, staying attuned to these significant market moves is critical. With the price target for ARM Holdings raised to $145, it certainly stands out as a potential trading opportunity. Meanwhile, Griffin’s pivot away from Nvidia and towards Amazon offers a lesson: sometimes, it’s not just about growth metrics but about the underlying sentiment and expectations for the future.

Stay alert, execute proper risk management, and use these insights to sharpen your trading strategies. Keep an eye on ARM’s momentum as the AI race heats up, and watch Nvidia’s earnings that could lead to wild price swings. The trends are thick, and it’s time to navigate them wisely!

Embrace the power of information, and remain savvy out there!