This week, Cowen & Co. analyst Matthew Ramsay named semiconductor firm Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:¶¶Òõ×îаæ) as one of the “Best Ideas” for 2019. Ramsay believes ¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock price will make its way to $26 per share in the coming year, suggesting a 24% upside for investors who jump in now.
The positive attention took the stock 3% higher and gave investors a reason to reconsider ¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock after its fall from grace in October. While the $26 price target wouldn’t bring ¶¶Òõ×îаæ’s stock price back to its highs above $40 per share reached back in 2000, it does offer a significant upside to those looking to shore up their portfolios before year-end.
Why the Praise for ¶¶Òõ×îаæ Stock?
Ramsay higher profitability in the year ahead as reason for his optimism regarding ¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock. He pointed to ¶¶Òõ×îаæ’s move to manufacture 7-nanometer products as a huge catalyst for the stock and I’d tend to agree.
If ¶¶Òõ×îаæ is able to bring 7-nanometer chips to market quickly, it would mark a huge turning point in the company’s efforts to compete with Intel (NASDAQ:INTC). As ¶¶Òõ×îаæ works to bring out 7nm chips, Intel is still struggling with 10nm CPUs. This is a big deal because it will be the first time ¶¶Òõ×îаæ has gotten out in front of Intel.
Aside from that, ¶¶Òõ×îаæ is making solid progress against NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) in the graphics card space, especially after NVDA’s GeForce RTX graphics cards when they hit the shelves this year. That has opened a window of opportunity for ¶¶Òõ×îаæ and if the firm is able to dazzle with its next graphics release, we could see ¶¶Òõ×îаæ steal a notable chunk of NVIDIA’s marketshare.
What ¶¶Òõ×îаæ Cryptocurrencies?
To be sure, ¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock is hurting from the decline of cryptocurrencies. The company’s chips are widely used by cryptocurrency miners, so when Bitcoin took a nosedive ¶¶Òõ×îаæ was pulled down for the ride. However, that doesn’t mean ¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock can’t rise independently from cryptocurrencies; the firm has plenty of other businesses that are growing rapidly.
Downside
Of course, it’s not all roses for ¶¶Òõ×îаæ: investing in the stock in the hopes of long-term gains will take nerves of steel when you consider the likelihood of wild swings along the way.
As fellow InvestorPlace writer James Brumley pointed out earlier this month, ¶¶Òõ×îаæ is caught in a yo-yo effect that seems to go up and down on a flicker, or more aptly, a headline. ¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock has been extremely susceptible to the news cycle, which has caused the stock to rise and fall on the whims of commentators — something long-term investors would have to take in stride.
Plus, there’s some question as to whether or not ¶¶Òõ×îаæ’s rosy projections are actually accurate. ¶¶Òõ×îаæ CFO Devinder Kumar said the firm will likely deliver a mid-20% growth rate this year, but in order to make good on that promise, MAD will need to post fourth-quarter results at the top end of management’s guidance. Even a mild stumble could be devastating for ¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock price.
On top of that, some analysts see ¶¶Òõ×îаæ considerably in the years ahead. That’s important to consider because with interest rates on the rise, taking out loans is a much greater financial obligation than it has been in the past.
Finally, there’s the fact that the tailwinds that ¶¶Òõ×îаæ enjoyed from a boom in cryptocurrency mining could hurt the firm in the year ahead as it tries to clear out inventory in the coming quarters.
The Bottom Line on ¶¶Òõ×îаæ Stock
¶¶Òõ×îаæ stock has its baggage, but overall I think the company looks poised to grow steadily in the year ahead.
The stock will likely be helped by encouraging news regarding ¶¶Òõ×îаæ’s rivalries with Intel and Nvidia. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see the share price make its way to $26 per share in the months to come. If you can stomach some ups and downs along the way, ¶¶Òõ×îаæ isn’t a bad pick for your 2019 buy list.
As of this writing, Laura Hoy did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.