BlueChip Breakdown: August 2025 Recap

By Will Svendsen

August was a big month for BlueChip Breakdown. I released four evaluations covering different corners of the market - from AI leaders to global banks. While market data moves quickly, this recap serves as a snapshot of my analysis and a way to check in on how each stock has evolved since my coverage.

📊 The Categories Framework

Each company I cover is tagged into one of six categories to help investors quickly place it in context:

• High Growth

• Speculative Picks

• Undervalued

• Dividend & Defensive

• Fairly Valued

• Blue Chip Core

This month’s lineup shows how diverse market leadership can be: two AI leaders, a global consumer tech giant, and the world’s biggest bank.

🔹 NVIDIA (NVDA)

Category: High Growth

• Snapshot (Aug 7): Trading around $181, P/E (FWD) ~47x, fueled by explosive data center demand.

• BCB Verdict: ✅ Buy

• Why: Dominance in AI hardware/software, unmatched growth trajectory, though priced at a premium.

Since then: NVDA has continued to benefit from AI tailwinds, validating its place as the clearest “pure play” on the space.

🔹 Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)

Category: High Growth / Fairly Valued

• Snapshot (Late July): Riding momentum from its AI chip roadmap and competitive positioning vs NVIDIA.

• BCB Verdict: ⚖️ Hold (High Growth, but not undervalued)

• Why: Strong AI positioning but valuation already pricing in much of the growth.

Since then: AMD remains a long-term AI competitor, but execution in data center adoption will be the key driver.

🔹 Apple (AAPL)

Category: Blue Chip Core / Fairly Valued

• Snapshot (Early August): Solid earnings, consistent ecosystem strength, modest revenue growth.

• BCB Verdict: ⚖️ Hold

• Why: AAPL remains a core blue chip with strong cash generation, but valuation is fair at current levels.

Since then: Investors are watching Apple’s AI strategy and services growth for the next leg of upside.

🔹 JPMorgan Chase (JPM)

Category: Blue Chip Core / Dividend & Defensive

• Snapshot (Aug 19): ~$291/share, FWD P/E ~14.9x, strong trading and IB fees, $50B buyback.

• BCB Verdict: ⚖️ Hold / ⏳ Wait

• Why: Best-in-class management and capital returns, but valuation is full vs peers.

Since then: JPM continues to show resilience, but macro risks (tariffs, deficits, regulation) remain in focus.

⚖️ Takeaways

• AI remains dominant - NVDA and AMD lead the High Growth category, though valuations diverge.

• Blue chips still matter - Apple and JPM both reinforce that “fairly valued” stocks can still anchor portfolios.

• Process over timing - While prices move daily, these evaluations show the framework: analyzing fundamentals, categorizing risk, and weighing valuation against catalysts.

📉 Market Context: Tariffs & Fed Policy

The past couple of weeks have seen a market pullback driven by tariff headlines and uncertainty around Fed policy. Investors are weighing the impact of potential trade disruptions on corporate earnings while also bracing for a possible shift in monetary policy if inflation proves sticky.

For companies like JPM, tariff-related macro risks and rate policy directly affect loan demand and trading activity. For NVDA, AMD, and AAPL, global trade tensions raise supply chain questions and could impact demand in international markets. This backdrop reinforces why valuation discipline and category-based positioning are critical - markets can shift quickly, but a sound process helps navigate the noise.

✅ What’s Next

In September, I’ll continue to expand coverage across new sectors while refining these categories. Expect deeper dives into Dividend & Defensive names and a few fresh High Growth opportunities.

BlueChip Breakdown is about helping investors cut through noise with clear, category-driven analysis. Thanks for following along - let’s build from here.