Buy The Basket or Gamble That You Can Find The ‘Clear Winner’: Why Choosing MAGS Is a No-Brainer
NVIDIA just posted one of the most staggering quarters in semiconductor history, but owning the chipmaker alone means betting everything on one side of a trade that has two very different ways to win.
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NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) reported Q2 fiscal 2027 revenue of $96.22B, up 105.8% YoY. The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (CBOE:MAGS) holds NVIDIA and six megacaps that are its biggest customers. That overlap matters because most of NVIDIA’s quarter came from customer spending.
NVIDIA Sells the AI Factories, and MAGS Also Owns the Buyers
Data Center revenue reached $89.02B, up 117%. Networking grew to $40.31B, up 138%, which puts it close to compute in size. NVIDIA now sells entire systems. Jensen Huang said it directly: “We’re selling a full-stack AI factory platform.”
Who pays for it? Management expects the top five hyperscalers to spend nearly $800 billion in 2026 and $1.3 trillion in 2027 on capex. NVIDIA books that as revenue; Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta carry it as cost. MAGS has both sides. As of June 30, NVIDIA was the fund’s largest position at about 3.5% of net assets. Treasury bills made up about 55% of net assets, suggesting the fund uses derivatives for much of its exposure.
| Business Driver | NVIDIA | MAGS |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Engine | Blackwell Ultra, Vera Rubin | Cloud, devices, ads, EVs, e-commerce |
| Customers | Hyperscalers, AI labs, governments | Consumers, advertisers, enterprises |
| Key Risk | Supply, China, customer credit | Concentration in megacap tech |
Huang Stretches the Balance Sheet While the Basket Spreads the Risk
NVIDIA is funding its own demand. Supply commitments rose to $279.0B, and partner guarantees are capped at $108.5B. The company committed nearly $50 billion in frontier AI labs. Management acknowledged the concern: “We know some will call this circular financing.” Days sales outstanding extended to 60 days from 45, adding lender-style risk.
| Return | NVDA | MAGS |
|---|---|---|
| Year to Date | 20.96% | 10.13% |
| One Year | 26.97% | 14.99% |
| Since Earnings (One Month) | 7.47% | 7.5% |
NVIDIA has outpaced MAGS over the past year. Since earnings, both have moved nearly in step, though NVIDIA’s beta of 2.217 means it swings harder.
Vera Rubin’s Ramp Will Show Whether NVIDIA Keeps Its Lead
Management expects Vera Rubin to represent about 20% of data center revenue in Q3, with Q3 revenue guided to $108.0B ±2%. Gross margin should bottom at 71% to 72% in Q4 as memory costs rise. Watch whether price increases offset that. Retail sentiment on NVDA swung between 22 and 88 in September, driven by short-dated options posts.
Why I’d Rather Own the Basket Than Crown a Champion
NVIDIA’s quarter was exceptional, but repeat is uncertain. MAGS has the company selling the gear and the companies buying it. If capex pays off, hyperscalers benefit. If NVIDIA hits supply problems, six other businesses cushion the impact. The same expansion also feeds a wider group of suppliers outside the chipmakers, which we covered for free on seven stocks powering the AI boom.
If you believe in the growth story and can live with that volatility, NVIDIA on its own fits. The basket covers that for investors seeking exposure to the AI expansion without needing to pick the one winner. I would rethink my view if Vera Rubin scales smoothly and the fund’s derivative structure starts to drag on returns.
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Alex Sirois is a financial writer with experience spanning both retail and institutional investing. He has written for InvestorPlace and held roles at BNY Mellon and Bernstein, giving him a perspective that bridges Main Street portfolios and Wall Street analysis.
Alex holds an MBA from George Washington University and has built his career across multiple industries, including e-commerce, education, and translation — a breadth of experience that informs how he breaks down complex financial topics for everyday investors. His writing is conversational, actionable, and grounded in long-term, buy-and-hold investing principles.
At 247 Wall St., Alex focuses on delivering analysis that is both accessible and useful, with a clear emphasis on helping readers make more informed decisions with their money.
