Nvidia (NVDA): A bad start for tech earnings

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), the big graphics chip maker, warned on profits. It was an inauspicious beginning to the earnings season for tech stocks. Many of the world's PCs use Nvidia chips. One of the reasons the company gave for its trouble is slowing demand combined with lower prices. The news was considered so bad that NVDA shares fell over 20% after hours.

According to MarketWatch, the company "expects its second-quarter revenue and gross margin to be lower than its previously announced forecast. The company now expects revenue from $875 million to $950 million." The consensus among analysts was that the company would have revenue of $1.1 billion.

Because the firm's products are so closely associated with PC sales, shares in other chip companies like Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) and computer makers like Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) are almost certain to be viewed as candidates for earnings downgrades of their own.

Nvidia's forecast could be the start of a very hard quarter for tech companies. And they may have been Wall Street's last significant hope.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.