Broadcom stock (NASDAQ: AVGO) slid sharply following the company’s fourth-quarter results and guidance last week.
The recent crash erased recent gains and triggered a debate on whether this pullback is a tactical buying window or an early warning sign.
The stock tumbled approximately 14% from its early December highs of $400 to the $340 range, despite the company beating revenue estimates and raising its AI outlook.
While the market reacted negatively to margin implications, major Wall Street firms, including Jefferies and UBS, have reiterated high-conviction Buy ratings.
Broadcom stock: What analyst consensus says
Despite the double-digit percentage drop, Wall Street’s most prominent voices remain largely bullish, with updated 12-month price targets implying significant upside from current levels.
Jefferies analysts maintained a Buy rating and a street-high price target of $500, characterizing the company as a top pick for 2026.
The firm’s confidence rests on Broadcom’s dominant position in custom AI silicon, where complexity and volume requirements from hyperscalers like Google and Meta are expected to ramp up significantly.
UBS also raised its price target to $475 (up from $472) following a post-earnings meeting with Broadcom management.
Analyst Timothy Arcuri highlighted a critical acceleration in the company’s order book: Broadcom’s massive $73 billion backlog is now expected to ship over the next 12 months.
This accelerated delivery timeline suggests stronger near-term revenue realization than the market initially priced in.
Other firms have similarly defended the stock. Benchmark lifted its target to $485, citing the company’s “robust” AI semiconductor business, which grew 74% year-over-year.
Bernstein and TD Cowen also reiterated Buy ratings with targets of $475 and $450, respectively, reinforcing the consensus view that the fundamental AI growth story remains intact.
Why the dip happened: margins and sentiment
The primary catalyst was “margin anxiety.”
The investors were spooked by management’s commentary regarding gross margins. Broadcom is selling more complete “AI systems” rather than just standalone chips.
While these systems drive huge revenue growth, they carry lower margins (estimated 45–50%) compared to the company’s traditional core chip business (often 70%+).
While Broadcom guided for a doubling of AI revenue, the lack of an even larger immediate beat left some investors disappointed.
In a market “priced for perfection,” any guidance that wasn’t optimistic was seized upon as a reason to take profits.
The decline was exacerbated by technical selling.
As the stock broke through the $380 and $360 support levels, quantitative funds and option hedging accelerated the downward move, pushing shares into oversold territory relatively quickly.
Analysts largely view this dip as a tactical opportunity for investors with a medium-to-long-term horizon.
The core analysis sees Broadcom as the “picks and shovels” leader for custom AI silicon. The backlog is real ($73 billion) and shipping faster than expected.
However, the near-term risk involves margin compression as the product mix shifts. Investors should watch the next quarter’s gross margin reports closely.
The post Is Broadcom stock’s recent dip a buy opportunity? Here’s what analysts say appeared first on Invezz
