Nvidia lags semiconductor sector despite bullish outlook; Goldman Sachs sees buying opportunity.

Nvidia's stock is underperforming the broader semiconductor sector by the widest margin in over two years, rising only 10% year-to-date in 2026 compared to the sector's 55% gain. This contrasts sharply with Nvidia's 171% surge in 2024 during the AI boom. Meanwhile, Alphabet is gaining ground as a top market cap contender, rising 45% this year and challenging Nvidia's dominance in AI hardware. Despite this, Goldman Sachs maintains a 'Buy' rating on Nvidia with a $250 price target, viewing the current lag as a potential buying opportunity ahead of Nvidia's upcoming earnings report and its $1 trillion data center market potential.