New York, Jan 13, 2026, 09:50 ET — Regular session
- Shares of Super Micro slipped roughly 2.6% in early trading in New York
- At the NRF retail conference, the company is unveiling “intelligent store” systems alongside its partners
- U.S. inflation held steady, keeping rate expectations sharp for growth and AI-driven stocks
Shares of Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI.O) slipped 2.6% to $29.33 Tuesday morning, surrendering earlier gains as investors pulled back from higher-growth hardware stocks.
The move followed U.S. consumer prices ticking up as forecast in December, reinforcing the idea the Federal Reserve can hold rates steady. The CPI climbed 0.3% for the month, with core CPI — excluding food and energy — up 0.2%, according to Reuters. (Reuters)
Here’s why it matters for Super Micro at the moment: the stock moves like a high-beta play tied to AI server spending and related hardware, which fluctuates with shifts in rate forecasts and investor risk appetite.
Super Micro revealed on Sunday a lineup of AI-driven “intelligent in-store” retail solutions, which it is showcasing this week in New York. These edge systems leverage NVIDIA’s RTX PRO accelerated computing. “AI is reshaping shopping experiences,” CEO Charles Liang said in the announcement. (Super Micro Computer)
The company explained that the demos use “edge” computing, which means processing data close to its source, like in stores, to reduce lag in activities such as video analytics and loss prevention. (Supermicro)
Super Micro also leaned on partner software to round out its offering. Everseen CEO Joe White described its computer-vision tool as a way to turn checkout data into “intelligence retailers can act on immediately.” Meanwhile, Wobot AI President Will Kelso highlighted the aim for “real-time operational insight.” (PR Newswire)
Peers showed a mixed picture: Nvidia slipped 0.3%, Dell Technologies climbed 1%, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise added roughly 2% in early trading.
At the NRF show, traders are keenly awaiting any solid updates on demand, timelines, and customer uptake. Super Micro is set to join Nvidia, PepsiCo, and Kinetic Vision in a Tuesday afternoon panel. (NVIDIA)
Bulls face the risk that the retail showcase remains exactly that—a showcase—while budgets shrink or deployments drag, especially as competition heats up in servers and edge equipment.
Later Tuesday, all eyes turn to the NRF panel running from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. ET. This session will be the first real gauge of whether the pitch resonates with investors as strongly as it does with retailers. (NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show)
