NEW YORK, Jan 20, 2026, 09:40 EST — Regular session
- Shares of Super Micro Computer dropped roughly 7% in early Nasdaq trading, erasing some of Friday’s strong rally.
- U.S. stocks dipped at the open, pressured by new tariff threats from President Donald Trump.
- Investors are focused on earnings reports this week and the Feb. 1 tariff deadline highlighted by Trump.
Shares of Super Micro Computer (SMCI) dropped roughly 7% to $30.35 early Tuesday, following a holiday pause and a solid rally last week. The stock swung between $30.26 and $31.39, closing previously at $32.64. 1
Timing played a role. After Monday’s holiday closure, U.S. markets reopened with cash equity trading resuming, only to see a risk-off mood take hold. Tech stocks and other volatile sectors led the decline. 2
SMCI has emerged as a quick barometer for the market’s appetite in AI-related hardware. Once sentiment shifts, it tends to stick.
Futures were down ahead of the open after Trump revived tariff threats connected to a spat over Greenland, with a 10% tariff scheduled to kick in on Feb. 1 targeting goods from certain European nations, and set to jump to 25% on June 1, according to Reuters. “We’re seeing the weakness because the headlines are sparking angst and uncertainty about what’s next,” David Lundgren, chief market strategist at Little Harbor Advisors, told Reuters. 3
Monday saw megacap tech stocks take a hit overseas, as U.S. giants like Nvidia and Microsoft dropped in European markets following Trump’s weekend remarks, Reuters reported from London. 4
Super Micro builds servers and racks for data centers, including setups centered on AI accelerators. Its stock tends to move sharply on capex news, chip supply updates, and any hardware supply chain developments.
The stock slipped Tuesday after soaring on Friday, when SMCI ended at $32.64, up from $29.42 the previous day. 5
Super Micro fell short of estimates in its latest quarterly report and lowered its near-term outlook, citing customer delivery delays. It now expects fiscal second-quarter revenue between $10 billion and $11 billion, according to a November Reuters report. 6
Governance and reporting concerns have remained in focus for investors. Reuters reported in August that the company admitted its internal control over financial reporting was ineffective, and its chief financial officer stepped down.
Management remains focused on growing demand. In a Jan. 11 statement about AI-driven retail projects, CEO Charles Liang commented, “AI is reshaping shopping experiences.” 7
There’s a clear risk here. Should tariff threats turn into actual policy, hardware firms could face pressure on two fronts—rising component costs and tighter enterprise budgets. Super Micro has flagged in previous cycles that shifts in customer timing can impact reported revenue. 8
Traders are now eyeing a packed week of earnings and U.S. economic reports, seeking clues on the tariff plan as Feb. 1 looms large on their screens.
