The AI trade has been one of the market’s biggest winners. But is now really the time to jump in?
Jim Cramer, one of Wall Street’s most recognizable voices thanks to CNBC and co-founder of TheStreet, says investors should think twice before rushing into Nvidia (NVDA).
The longtime host of Mad Money has seen market cycles play out before. From panic selling to euphoric buying. And right now, he believes investors need to slow down and ask a critical question:
Is Nvidia a buy here, or a stock to wait on?
Cramer says Nvidia requires a different investing approach
Cramer isn’t bearish on Nvidia. Far from it. But he is cautious in the current environment.
“I’d wait on Nvidia right now,” he said on Mad Money on 26th March, as per CNBC. Jim said this, urging investors to take a step back and evaluate the bigger picture before making a move.
Instead of chasing momentum, Cramer recommends using a checklist. Especially as geopolitical tensions reshape market behavior.
“We know we can’t predict the outcome of the war,” he said. “But what we can gauge is whether the stocks we like have much of a connection to it.”
Related: Nvidia CEO delivers curt 10-word message to investors
That’s where Nvidia becomes interesting. The stock has slipped slightly since tensions escalated, but Cramer says it’s not necessarily because of direct exposure to the conflict.
“Nvidia is a big part of the stock market itself,” he explained. “It’s the easiest stock in the world to trade.”
In other words, when uncertainty rises, traders often sell what they can. And of course, Nvidia is one of the most liquid names in the market.
Photo by Cheng Xin/Getty Images
Strong demand remains for Nvidia, but risks are building
Despite the recent hesitation, Nvidia’s fundamentals remain hard to ignore. The company continues to dominate the AI chip space, powering everything from data centers to advanced computing systems.
Recent Q4 and Fiscal 2026 results highlight that strength:
- Quarterly revenue surged 73% year over year to $68.1 billion
- Data center revenue jumped 75%
- Full-year revenue climbed 65% to $215.9 billion
We both can see how impressive that is. Few top companies can do this. CEO Jensen Huang has also made it clear that demand isn’t slowing.
“Computing demand is growing exponentially,” he said, pointing to what he calls an “AI inflection point.”
But even with that backdrop, Cramer says investors need to consider several risks:
- Higher interest rates could slow data center expansion
- Rising memory costs may pressure customer budgets
- Geopolitical uncertainty could weigh on sentiment
There’s also the question of funding
Cramer noted that sovereign investment, particularly from the Gulf, has played a role in financing large AI infrastructure projects.
If that slows, it could impact demand at the margin.
Still, he emphasized that Nvidia’s products remain “mission critical,” meaning demand is unlikely to disappear.
What Cramer expects next for Nvidia stock
Cramer’s message isn’t about avoiding Nvidia. It’s about timing. If the geopolitical situation stabilizes and macro conditions improve, the stock could quickly regain momentum.
“If the war ends soon… you’ll feel like a moron for staying away from Nvidia,” he said bluntly.
More Nvidia:
- Goldman Sachs sends blunt message on Nvidia stock after GTC
- Nvidia CEO makes bombshell call on AI’s next big thing
- Bank of America resets Nvidia stock forecast after meeting with CFO
At the same time, he warned that if uncertainty lingers, there could be more downside in the near term. That puts you and me in a difficult position. Wait too long, and you risk missing the next leg higher. Move too early, and you could face short-term losses.
Cramer’s broader takeaway? Nvidia is still a high-quality company. But it’s also a stock that can be volatile in uncertain markets.
Historically, the performance speaks for itself, as per Yahoo Finance.
- Up 51% over the past year
- Gained over 537% in three years
- Surged 1,220% over five years
Even so, Cramer believes the best strategy may not be trading the stock at all. In fact, he has previously said the smartest move is to “own Nvidia, don’t trade it.”
So where does that leave you now? With a simple but important decision:
Do you chase one of the market’s strongest long-term winners, or wait for a better entry point as uncertainty plays out? For now, Cramer is leaning toward patience.
And what are the technicals saying?
Beyond the fundamentals, the chart is starting to tell its own story. In fact, it lines up with Cramer’s cautious tone.
Shares of NVDA dropped more than 4% on March 26, 2026, pushing the stock deeper into a short-term downtrend. The pullback now leaves Nvidia trading roughly 20% below its all-time high of $212, set in late October 2025.
Right now, all eyes are on a key support zone. NVDA is now around $170, a level that has now been tested four times. And in technical analysis, that matters. Why? Because each additional test of support weakens buyer conviction and increases the probability of a breakdown.
NVDA Via Trading View
If the stock holds $170, it could stabilize and attempt a bounce. But if it breaks lower? The next key level sits around $165, making $165–$170 a critical support zone I am watching closely.
Below that (which I think it will), the downside could accelerate.
Trend indicators aren’t offering much comfort either. It’s trading below its major moving averages:
- 100-day moving average: $184
- 200-day moving average: $179
This setup clearly shows a bearish short-term structure, suggesting that momentum is still tilted to the downside unless the stock can reclaim those levels.
Where could buyers step in next?
If selling pressure continues, $150 stands out. That’s where some investors may begin looking for a bounce opportunity, especially if it confluences with improving market sentiment and easing geopolitical tensions.
But until then, the technicals also support Cramer’s wait-and-see approach.
So now, here is a question for you. Do you just buy the dip, or wait for confirmation? Well, I’d suggest waiting for confirmations if you don’t. You will make more money that way. For now, both the charts and Cramer suggest the same thing. Patience might pay off here.
Related: Jim Cramer says ‘sit on your hands’ as war rattles stocks