While other tech companies are turning toward equity markets to finance their latest AI investment plans, Nvidia is reportedly about to tap the corporate bond market for the first time since 2021. Per Bloomberg, the world’s most valuable company plans to raise at least $20 billion by selling bonds with maturities ranging from 2 to 30 years. Initial chatter has the 30-year maturities priced at a spread of roughly 90 basis points to US Treasurys.
When Nvidia last issued 30-year debt in 2021, markets were still reeling from Covid-induced lockdowns and the coupon was about 220 basis points above the rate on US 30-year government debt.
Does Nvidia * need *the money? Unequivocally, no. But when you can raise money through the mid-2050s at less than a percentage point above US Treasurys, I suppose you don’t say no. It’s better (and cheaper) to raise money when you don’t have to compared to when you’re in dire straits.
And of course, while there’s been some tiptoeing into stock issuance, the credit market has still been the dominant means by which megacap tech companies look to find extra cash to facilitate their AI outlays. Google, in particular, has gone on a United Nations issuance spree this year.