Core Industry Insights - Applied Digital (APLD) and Vertiv Holdings (VRT) are central to the digital infrastructure expansion, driven by increasing demand for data center capacity due to AI, cloud computing, and high-performance computing workloads [2][3] - Global data center capital expenditures are projected to grow at a 21% CAGR through 2029, reaching approximately $1.2 trillion, benefiting both APLD and VRT [3] Company Performance: Applied Digital (APLD) - APLD has shifted from cryptocurrency mining to becoming a dedicated AI infrastructure provider, capitalizing on the growth of AI and machine learning workloads [5] - In Q4 fiscal 2025, APLD reported revenues of $38 million, a 41% increase year over year, and achieved positive adjusted EBITDA of $1 million [6] - APLD's partnership with CoreWeave is expected to generate around $7 billion in contracted revenue over 15 years for 250 megawatts of critical IT load [7] - The company has improved construction efficiency, reducing deployment timelines from 24 months to 12-14 months [7] - APLD's North Dakota locations provide low-cost energy and innovative cooling systems, enhancing its competitive position in the market [8] Company Performance: Vertiv Holdings (VRT) - VRT is a leading provider of thermal and power management solutions for high-density data centers, with a broad product portfolio addressing critical infrastructure needs [9] - In Q2 2025, VRT's net sales rose 35% year over year to $2.64 billion, with quarterly orders surpassing $3 billion for the first time [10][11] - VRT's strategic partnerships and acquisitions, including the $200 million acquisition of Great Lakes, enhance its capabilities in AI data center offerings [12] Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, APLD shares have increased by 95.9%, while VRT shares have appreciated by 26.5% [13] - Both companies are currently considered overvalued, with APLD trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 12.98X compared to VRT's 5.07X [16] - Earnings estimates show APLD's first quarter fiscal 2026 loss is expected to be 6 cents per share, improving by 33.33% over the past 30 days [19] - VRT's third-quarter 2025 earnings estimate is pegged at 98 cents per share, reflecting a 28.95% year-over-year increase [20] Conclusion - Both APLD and VRT are well-positioned to benefit from the AI-driven expansion in data center infrastructure, with APLD showing a more accelerated growth path [21][22] - VRT maintains strong growth visibility through its product portfolio and industry partnerships, but its expansion is less aggressive compared to APLD [22]

Core Insights - The market is signaling a significant transformation for Applied Digital Corporation, indicating a pivotal moment as it shifts focus from cryptocurrency hosting to becoming an essential infrastructure provider for the AI industry [2][10] - The company is transitioning into an "AI Landlord," building and leasing high-value digital real estate to major AI players, which is a durable investment strategy backed by physical assets and predictable rental income [3][4] Strategic Developments - Applied Digital has secured a landmark agreement with CoreWeave, involving a total capacity of 400 megawatts at its Polaris Forge campus, with a projected contract value of approximately $11 billion over 15 years [4][5] - This contract provides unprecedented revenue visibility, transforming the financial outlook for Applied Digital and prompting a reevaluation of its market value by investors [5][9] Financial Positioning - The company has raised approximately $270 million in new capital to strengthen its balance sheet, ensuring it can support its capital-intensive data center construction [7][8] - Management has reduced projected data center build times from 24 months to 12-14 months, enhancing operational efficiency and accelerating revenue generation [8][9] Market Sentiment - The surge in call options trading, up 220.9% over the daily average, reflects growing investor confidence in Applied Digital's future as a key player in the AI sector [1][10] - Analysts are increasingly bullish, with several firms raising price targets, some as high as $18.00, indicating a strong belief in the company's growth potential [9]

Since I published my pre-earnings note last week, Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD ) stock is up almost 24%. I was prompted to write an earnings preview on the stock after it traded down from its post-CoreWeave ( I'm a retired Wall Street PM specializing in TMT; since kickstarting my career, I've spent over two decades in the market navigating the technology landscape, focusing on risk mitigation through the dot com bubble, credit default of '08, and, more recently, with the AI boom. In one word, what I'd like ...

Core Insights - Applied Digital's stock experienced a significant increase of 16.5% over the week, despite a pullback due to negative macroeconomic news [1] - The surge in stock price was driven by better-than-expected fiscal Q4 results and a major contract announcement with CoreWeave [2][4] Financial Performance - For fiscal Q4, Applied Digital reported a non-GAAP loss of $0.03 per share, outperforming analyst expectations of a loss of $0.16 per share [4] - The company's sales for the quarter reached $38 million, exceeding analyst estimates by approximately $880,000, and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 41% [5] Strategic Partnerships - Applied Digital announced a significant contract with CoreWeave, which included a $7 billion agreement for 250 megawatts of data center capacity, with CoreWeave exercising an option for an additional 150 megawatts [6]

Core Viewpoint - Applied Digital stock is experiencing a decline after significant gains, influenced by macroeconomic factors and recent earnings performance [1][2][6] Stock Performance - Applied Digital stock fell by 6.58% on Friday, with a notable drop of 3.7% at 2:10 p.m. ET, while major indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also faced declines [1] - The stock initially dropped as much as 13.2% after market opening but recovered some ground due to a strong earnings report [2] Macroeconomic Factors - The July jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated only 73,000 nonfarm jobs were added, significantly below the expected 100,000, with prior months' figures also revised downward [4] - An executive order signed by President Trump introducing new tariffs is adding bearish pressure to the market, set to take effect on August 7 [5] Future Outlook - Macroeconomic developments are expected to continue influencing Applied Digital's performance and the broader market, with concerns about the economy's health and potential delays in interest rate adjustments by the Federal Reserve [6][7] - Despite the challenges, Applied Digital has positive developments, such as CoreWeave's exercise of an option for an additional 150 megawatts of data-center processing, indicating a promising long-term outlook [8]

Group 1 - The Pragmatic Investor focuses on global macro, international equities, commodities, tech, and cryptocurrencies, aiming to guide investors of all levels [1] - The platform offers features such as a portfolio, weekly market updates, actionable trades, technical analysis, and a chat room for investor engagement [1] - James Foord, an economist with a decade of experience in global market analysis, leads The Pragmatic Investor, emphasizing the creation of diversified portfolios to preserve and increase wealth [1]

Core Insights - Applied Digital reported a significant revenue miss in fiscal Q4 2025, with GAAP revenue of $38.0 million compared to the expected $79.4 million, but a narrower non-GAAP net loss per share of $(0.03) versus the anticipated $(0.09) [1][2] - The company is undergoing a strategic shift towards long-term AI data center leasing, moving away from its Cloud Services Business to attract large enterprise customers and potential REIT investors [4][9] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP EPS improved by 78.6% year-over-year, from $(0.14) in Q4 FY2024 to $(0.03) in Q4 FY2025 [2] - GAAP revenue increased by 41.3% year-over-year, from $26.9 million in Q4 FY2024 to $38.0 million in Q4 FY2025, despite missing market expectations [2][6] - Net loss attributable to common stockholders decreased by 24.7% year-over-year, from $(35.3) million in FY2024 to $(26.6) million in FY2025 [2] Business Model and Strategy - Applied Digital operates data centers for cryptocurrency mining and high-performance computing, focusing on AI workloads with purpose-built facilities [3][10] - The company signed two major 15-year leases with CoreWeave, projected to generate $11 billion in revenue over their term, indicating a strong commitment to the AI sector [5][6] - The transition to leasing infrastructure rather than providing cloud services is aimed at stabilizing revenue streams and reducing operational friction [4][9] Operational Developments - Selling, general, and administrative expenses rose significantly to $28.1 million in Q4 FY2025, up from $13.1 million in the same period of FY2024, primarily due to increased stock-based compensation and personnel costs [7] - Adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $1.0 million, reflecting some operational improvements despite substantial non-cash charges impacting GAAP losses [8] Market Position and Risks - The company faces competitive pressures from larger players like Digital Realty and Equinix, and is exposed to regulatory risks related to energy consumption and AI hosting practices [12] - Heavy reliance on a few major customers poses a concentration risk, with total debt at $688.2 million as of May 31, 2025, raising concerns about financial stability [11] Future Outlook - Management highlighted a ramp-up schedule for new facilities, with the first 100 MW building expected to be operational in Q4 2025, followed by further expansions in 2026 and 2027 [14] - Cash and equivalents stood at $120.9 million as of May 31, 2025, with additional capital raised through equity and preferred share sales, providing some financial flexibility for future growth [14]

Core Insights - Applied Digital's stock surged 31% to close at $13.14, driven by a strong fiscal Q4 earnings report and an expansion of its lease with CoreWeave [2][4] - The company reported $38 million in revenue for fiscal Q4, a 41% increase year over year, and an adjusted EPS loss of $0.03, surpassing analyst expectations [4] - CoreWeave exercised a 150-megawatt lease option, increasing total contracted capacity to 400 MW, potentially unlocking up to $11 billion in revenue over the next 15 years [4][5] Market Performance - Applied Digital significantly outperformed broader market indices, with the S&P 500 declining 0.4% and the Nasdaq Composite effectively flat [3] - The trading volume for Applied Digital was more than 2.5 times its recent average, indicating strong institutional interest [2] Future Outlook - CEO Wes Cummins highlighted plans to generate $1 billion in annual NOI within 3–5 years, driven by demand from hyperscale cloud customers [5]

Core Insights - Applied Digital (APLD) reported a fiscal fourth-quarter loss of 12 cents per share, consistent with expectations, compared to a loss of 52 cents per share in the same quarter last year [1][9] - The company achieved revenues of $38 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 41.3%, driven by enhanced capacity in its Data Center Hosting facilities [2][9] - APLD shares rose by 23.93% in pre-market trading following the earnings announcement [2][9] Financial Performance - Selling, general and administrative expenses surged by 114.8% year over year to $28.1 million [3] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $1 million, a significant improvement from a loss of $0.2 million in the previous year [3] - The adjusted operating loss narrowed to $3.1 million from $3.7 million year over year [3] Operational Developments - APLD's High-Performance Computing (HPC) Data Center Hosting business focuses on advanced data centers for high-performance computing and AI applications [4] - The company secured 15-year lease agreements with CoreWeave for 250 megawatts of capacity, projected to generate around $7 billion in revenue over the lease term [5] - Following the quarter's end, CoreWeave expanded its lease to 400 megawatts, with anticipated revenue reaching approximately $11 billion [5] Capacity and Infrastructure - As of May 31, 2025, APLD's Jamestown and Ellendale facilities were operating at full capacity, providing a total of 286 megawatts for crypto mining operations [6][9] - APLD has made progress in securing project financing for its Polaris Forge1 campus, raising approximately $268.9 million through various offerings [7] - The company has reduced projected build times for new facilities from 24 months to 12-14 months through process improvements [8] Financial Position - As of May 31, 2025, APLD had cash and cash equivalents totaling $120.9 million against a debt of $688.2 million [10]

Group 1 - Nvidia-related stocks showed strong performance, with Applied Digital (APLD.US) soaring nearly 38%, CoreWeave (CRWV.US) rising nearly 15%, NEBIUS (NBIS.US) increasing over 8%, and WeRide (WRD.US) up over 5% [1] - Major tech companies like Google, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft reported better-than-expected earnings, revitalizing confidence in AI investments [1] - Google raised its full-year capital expenditure forecast by 13% to $85 billion, up from an earlier prediction of $75 billion [1] Group 2 - Meta Platforms increased its lower limit for capital expenditure in 2025, now expecting total spending to be between $66 billion and $72 billion, up from a previous lower limit of $64 billion [1] - Microsoft reported a record total capital expenditure of $24.2 billion for Q4 of fiscal year 2025, a nearly 13.1% quarter-over-quarter increase, with expectations for the next quarter's capital expenditure to exceed $30 billion [1] - The market sentiment towards the future of AI is currently very optimistic based on these developments [1]