Not long ago, Today, it is the world’s most valuable company, worth $5.39 trillion, more than Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon. Investors are increasingly treating it as one of the safest companies in the world.
Its stock has risen over 62% in the past year alone, powered by the global AI boom. But market value isn’t the only thing setting Nvidia apart. Recent market signals suggest investors may be rewarding Nvidia with something even harder to earn than a soaring share price: trust.
The company’s five-year Credit Default Swap (CDS) recently traded at roughly 38 basis points, slightly below the US government’s 40 basis points.
In simple terms, credit markets are pricing Nvidia’s debt risk at levels comparable to one of the safest borrowers in the world. That has sparked a bigger question: how did a chipmaker become one of the most trusted companies on the planet?
For most investors, CDS is not a term that comes up often. A Credit Default Swap is essentially insurance against a borrower failing to repay its debt.
The higher the CDS, the riskier the borrower is perceived to be. The lower the CDS, the safer investors believe that borrower is.
Historically, governments such as the US have been considered among the safest borrowers because they can raise taxes, issue debt and support the financial system. Companies rarely trade anywhere near sovereign CDS levels.
That is why Nvidia’s recent CDS reading attracted attention. It does not mean investors think Nvidia is literally safer than the US government. It means markets see the company’s ability to meet its financial obligations as exceptionally strong.
The CDS signal becomes more interesting when viewed alongside Nvidia’s extraordinary rise.
With a market capitalisation of roughly $5.39 trillion, Nvidia has overtaken Apple ($4.63 trillion), Alphabet ($4.54 trillion), Microsoft ($3.28 trillion) and Amazon ($2.76 trillion).
Its stock has also continued its remarkable climb:
Usually, investors associate high-growth companies with higher risk. Nvidia appears to be breaking that rule by delivering both explosive growth and extraordinary financial strength.
The strongest argument for Nvidia’s safety is not its share price. It is its earnings.
For the quarter ended April 26, 2026, , up 85% year-on-year.
Net income came in at $58.3 billion, more than three times higher than a year earlier.
Even more striking was the performance of its Data Centre division, which generated $75.2 billion in revenue, up 92% from a year ago.
The company also comfortably beat Wall Street expectations, which had projected revenue of $78.86 billion.
For credit investors, these figures matter because they indicate Nvidia is generating enormous amounts of cash. The company reportedly carries only around $8.5 billion in debt while holding more cash than debt on its balance sheet and producing close to $100 billion in annual free cash flow.
That combination dramatically reduces concerns about its ability to repay obligations.
Shareholders focus on growth. Credit investors focus on survival.
Their questions are simple:
Nvidia’s current financial profile gives reassuring answers to all three.
Even if growth slows, the company remains one of the most profitable businesses in the world. The scale of its cash generation provides a significant cushion against economic shocks, competition or temporary weakness in AI spending.
Another reason investors have confidence in Nvidia is its unique position in the AI ecosystem.
While many companies are trying to monetise AI applications, Nvidia sits at the infrastructure layer. From OpenAI and Microsoft to Amazon and Meta, many of the world’s largest AI developers rely on Nvidia’s chips and systems.
Investors increasingly view Nvidia not just as a technology company but as a critical supplier to the AI economy itself.
That perception helps explain why markets continue to reward the company with premium valuations and unusually strong credit confidence.
Nvidia’s latest shareholder announcement also reinforced investor confidence.
The company raised its quarterly dividend 25-fold, from $0.01 per share to $0.25 per share. It also announced an additional $80 billion share buyback authorisation.
Neither move was necessary.
But both sent a powerful message: management believes Nvidia’s cash-generating ability is sustainable enough to support significantly larger capital returns.
For investors, that is another sign of confidence in the company’s future.
The story is not without risks.
Competition from rival chipmakers, geopolitical tensions involving China, potential AI spending slowdowns, and customers developing their own chips remain important threats.
Yet for now, the message from credit markets is clear.
Nvidia is no longer being judged solely on how fast it can grow. It is increasingly being judged on how reliably it can endure.
And that may be an even bigger achievement than becoming the world’s most valuable company.
(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)