Adria Cimino, The Motley Fool Fri, November 13, 2026 at 8:30 AM EST 5 min read NVDA +1.81% Trade NVIDIA on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) has been a surefire winner for investors in recent years. The artificial intelligence (AI) stock soared more than 1,300% from the start of 2023 through the end of October. This is thanks to the company's top AI chips and its charismatic leader, Jensen Huang.
Over the past few days, however, Nvidia has experienced a reversal of fortune. Allegations emerged of affairs concerning Huang -- one alleged affair being with a person U.S. intelligence says is a Chinese spy. Nvidia's board opened an investigation, then met to discuss the company's future, and Huang subsequently resigned.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Now investors are asking: How much is Nvidia stock worth without Jensen Huang at the helm? Let's find out.
First, let's consider the recent turmoil in more detail. Last weekend, Nvidia's board announced an investigation "in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort."
In an email to employees obtained by CNBC, Huang apologized for being unfaithful to his wife and expressed his commitment to Nvidia and his willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
Days later, The New York Times reported that Huang also had an affair with Nvidia executive Kimberly Powell. Nvidia's board called a meeting to discuss the company's future, and Huang resigned early Thursday morning. The board named Colette Kress, Nvidia's chief financial officer, as interim CEO and will search internally and externally for a permanent leader.
Nvidia fell a little more than 4% in the Thursday trading session following the news, bringing the stock to a 10% decline so far this year. This is a sharp departure from the stock's performance over the past few years. As mentioned above, it's roared higher and has been the "go-to" AI stock for many investors. Nvidia's market capitalization even reached beyond $5 trillion at its peak, securing its position as the biggest company.
Now, let's consider how much Nvidia stock is worth without Jensen Huang in charge. Huang offered a significant amount of value since he not only was the founder, but he maintained a solid position in the driver's seat, with 60 employees reporting directly to him. He was seen as a spokesperson for AI around the world, considering his company's AI chip dominance and his focus on innovation. And the world looked to Huang for clues about the next chapters of AI growth.
Nvidia stock closed at about $166 on Nov. 12. Dan Ives of Yorkville Ives and analysts at Citi see the value of the stock at $225 without Jensen Huang. This is down from $300 for Ives and $285 from Citi. So this level still implies a gain from today's price. It's important to note that Nvidia is historically cheap relative to its earnings today, trading at only 21x trailing 12-month earnings.
Chip contracts are set months in advance, and Nvidia's innovation wheels are turning, with updates planned and teams working on the technology. So there's reason to be optimistic about the company's products and earnings over the next few quarters. And that's why the stock's value could continue to advance from here.
But significant risks remain. Investors might question whether the permanent CEO, once named, will have the vision and strategy to keep Nvidia in its leading position in the AI market. Meanwhile, in the near term, Nvidia may come under deeper government scrutiny and could even face renewed export restrictions to China. A Senate committee summoned Huang to testify next month regarding his alleged relationship with the woman U.S. intelligence is calling a spy. Any information from such testimony could have implications for Nvidia.
Considering Nvidia's well-established technology and market position, as well as the placement of Kress, who knows the company well, in the driver's seat, Nvidia could continue to advance toward $225. But the path may be choppy until the uncertainties have lifted and a permanent CEO establishes a clear strategy.
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $348,060!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,067,492!*
Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 849% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of November 13, 2026.
Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
How Much Is Nvidia Stock Worth Without Jensen Huang? was originally published by The Motley Fool
