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Do Rising Costs Raise Red Flag Despite APLD's Revenue Growth?
ZACKS· 2025-07-02 13:15
Core Insights - Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) reported a 22% revenue growth in Q3 fiscal 2025, reaching $52.9 million, primarily due to expanded data center and cloud capacity [1][11] - The company experienced a widening net loss of $36.1 million, equating to a 16-cent loss per share, raising concerns about sustainability amid aggressive expansion [1][11] Financial Performance - APLD's adjusted EBITDA improved significantly to $10 million, indicating underlying business potential despite short-term challenges [2] - Cost of revenues increased to $49.1 million due to higher facility operations, while interest expenses nearly doubled to $8.9 million, reflecting elevated debt levels of $689.1 million [3] - Seasonal power costs and a shift from single to multi-tenant cloud configurations contributed to margin compression [3] Strategic Developments - APLD is on track to launch its Ellendale campus in Q4 fiscal 2025, supported by strategic financing commitments of $5 billion from Macquarie and $375 million from SMBC [2] - The company plans to divest its Cloud Services business to mitigate competition with hyperscaler clients and prepare for a potential REIT transition, raising questions about long-term strategic coherence [4][5] Market Position - APLD's stock has increased by 27.7% year-to-date, outperforming the industry average gain of 3.2% [10] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 8.64, significantly above the industry average and its five-year median of 1.45, indicating potential overvaluation [12] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APLD's fiscal 2026 earnings suggests a year-over-year increase of 73.6% [13] - Current estimates indicate a projected loss of $0.99 for the current year, with expectations of narrowing losses to $0.27 in the next year [14]
APLD Stock Significantly Beats Industry So Far in June: Is It a Buy?
ZACKS· 2025-06-30 13:25
Core Insights - Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) shares have increased by 52% in June, outperforming the Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry's 9.3% rise, driven by growing demand for AI services and infrastructure progress [1][8] - APLD has entered into two 15-year lease agreements with CoreWeave, expected to generate $7 billion in total revenues, enhancing its AI and HPC infrastructure presence [7][8] Industry Trends - Major tech companies like Microsoft and Meta are signaling increased demand for hyperscale, colocation, and AI workloads, with Meta planning to invest $62.5 billion and Microsoft projecting $80 billion in capital expenditures by 2025 [2] - Other tech giants, including Amazon, Alphabet, and Oracle, are also expanding their AI data center capacities to support cloud services [2] Financial Performance - APLD reported a loss of $0.16 per share for Q3 FY2025, compared to earnings of $0.52 per share a year ago, despite robust sales growth [3] - The company is expected to see a small sales uptick in Q4, with earnings projected to improve by nearly 81% year over year [3] Growth Drivers - APLD has deployed nearly $1 billion in assets over the past year for data center construction, currently operating 286 megawatts of contracted hosting capacity, primarily for Bitcoin miners [9] - The company is building three new facilities expected to add 700 megawatts of capacity by 2027, significantly scaling its footprint for HPC and AI workloads [9] Capital and Funding - APLD secured a $150 million equity facility to raise capital for HPC infrastructure expansion, addressing significant cash burn from elevated capital expenditures [10] - The company ended Q3 with $100 million in cash, down from $308 million in the previous quarter, but the new facility is expected to provide necessary liquidity for growth [10] Sales and Earnings Estimates - Zacks Consensus Estimates project sales of $44.78 million for the current quarter and $46.83 million for the next quarter, with year-over-year growth estimates of 34.25% for the current year [11] - EPS estimates show a year-over-year growth of 80.77% for the current quarter, with expectations of improved profitability in the coming periods [12] Challenges - APLD faces rising costs due to increased depreciation of newly built facilities, which may pressure near-term profitability [13] - Seasonal fluctuations in power costs have impacted margins, and a significant drop in Cloud Services revenues was noted during the transition to a multi-tenant model [13][14] Valuation - APLD stock is currently trading at a premium, with a forward price-to-sales ratio of 9.24X compared to the industry average of 3.86X, indicating a lofty valuation [16] Conclusion - Despite near-term challenges, APLD is strategically positioned for long-term growth in the AI and HPC infrastructure market, with strong partnerships and expansion plans [19] - The outlook remains promising for APLD as it aims to convert investments into sustainable revenue streams [19]
3 Growth Stocks I'm Loading Up On
The Motley Fool· 2025-06-26 09:15
Group 1: Growth Stocks Overview - Growth stocks are experiencing significant momentum, with several small- and mid-cap stocks rising 40% or more in the past 30 days due to investor interest in innovative growth companies and the impact of AI development [1] - The Trump administration's efforts to roll back regulations are also contributing to this trend [1] Group 2: Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) - Viking Therapeutics has initiated its VANQUISH Phase 3 clinical program for VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist targeting obesity, which could transform the company into a pharmaceutical powerhouse [4] - The Phase 2 VENTURE study showed patients achieving up to 14.7% body-weight reduction after 13 weekly doses, with 95% of gastrointestinal side effects being mild or moderate [5] - The obesity market is projected to reach $150 billion by 2035, and Viking's oral formulation could significantly expand its addressable market compared to competitors requiring weekly injections [6] - Viking's comprehensive approach in trials for obesity and diabetes could support premium pricing, and if VK2735 meets its endpoints, the stock could potentially double or triple [7] Group 3: Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) - Applied Digital Corporation secured a $7 billion, 15-year hosting agreement with CoreWeave, validating its high-performance computing strategy [9] - Despite missing revenue expectations in Q3 FY2025, management anticipates significant growth as the Ellendale facility comes online starting Q4 2025 [10] - The AI boom is driving demand for high-performance computing infrastructure, positioning Applied Digital well to capture this growth [11] Group 4: Palantir Technologies (PLTR) - Palantir Technologies' stock is considered overvalued at 263 times forward earnings, yet it has risen 90% this year, indicating strong market confidence [12] - The Pentagon increased Palantir's Maven Smart System budget to $1.3 billion over four years, and the company is negotiating new contracts with various government agencies [13] - Commercial revenue grew 33% year over year to $397 million, contributing to total revenue of $884 million, a 39% increase, suggesting Palantir's software is becoming a standard for AI deployment [14] Group 5: Market Trends and Strategies - The market often overlooks companies with innovative solutions to significant problems, focusing instead on predictable business models [15] - Viking's oral alternative could attract patients averse to injectables, Applied Digital is developing AI infrastructure, and Palantir is establishing a recurring revenue stream from government contracts, all indicating a shift in market focus [16]
2 Brilliant Stocks to Profit from the AI Infrastructure Boom
The Motley Fool· 2025-06-26 08:05
Core Insights - The global technology infrastructure is undergoing significant development, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), leading to a substantial increase in data center construction [1] - The data center construction market is projected to grow from $240 billion in 2024 to $456 billion by 2030, while the AI server market could increase to $430 billion by 2033 [1] Company Analysis: Applied Digital - Applied Digital is a small company with $221 million in trailing-12-month revenue and a market cap of $2.2 billion, focusing on building and operating data centers [4] - The company has 286 megawatts of capacity for crypto mining at two locations in North Dakota, currently operating at full capacity [5] - Although not yet profitable, Applied Digital is expected to achieve profitability as new facilities open and revenue increases, with a new facility in Ellendale, North Dakota, scheduled for Q4 2025 [6] - A partnership with Macquarie Asset Management involves an investment of up to $5 billion to expand its Ellendale campus, allowing for over 2 gigawatts of data center capacity [7] - The potential sale of its cloud hosting business, which constitutes a third of its revenue, could enable Applied Digital to focus on its data center business and possibly transition to a data center real estate investment trust (REIT) [8] - Revenue grew by 22% year over year in Q1, indicating a positive outlook for the company [8] Company Analysis: Dell Technologies - Dell Technologies is a leading supplier of servers globally, with its server business expected to surpass its PC business in the coming years [9] - Revenue from infrastructure solutions, including AI-optimized servers, grew by 12% year over year in Q1, making up 44% of total revenue [10] - The server and networking revenue increased by 16%, with segment operating income rising by 36% compared to the previous year [10] - Order bookings for AI servers reached $12 billion last quarter, exceeding all shipments from the previous fiscal year, with a backlog of $14.4 billion [11] - Despite a total revenue growth of only 5% year over year, improving margins in the infrastructure segment led to a 17% increase in earnings per share [13] - The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of around 12.5, reflecting sluggish growth in the PC business but indicating potential for higher returns as the infrastructure business expands [12][14]
APLD: A Turnaround in Profitability or Mirage Behind Adjusted EBITDA?
ZACKS· 2025-06-24 13:21
Core Insights - Applied Digital's fiscal Q3 2025 results show a significant 878% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA to $10 million, indicating operational strength, but a net loss of $36.1 million or 16 cents per share raises concerns about profitability and capital structure [1][9] - The company reported a 22% increase in revenue to $52.9 million, but this fell short of expectations by nearly $10 million due to operational issues in transitioning GPU clusters and seasonal margin pressures in the Data Center Hosting segment [2][9] Strategic Developments - Applied Digital secured a $5 billion capital commitment from Macquarie and a $375 million loan from SMBC, enhancing liquidity for its Ellendale campus expansion [3] - The company is reviewing strategic alternatives for its AI Cloud Services business, considering potential benefits from a REIT conversion and conflicts with hyperscaler leasing prospects [3][4] Financial Position - The company's debt has risen to $689.1 million, leading to increased interest expenses, prompting investors to question the sustainability of its growth and reliance on adjusted metrics [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings suggests a 73.6% year-over-year increase, with current estimates indicating a net loss of $0.99 per share for the current year [13][14] Market Performance - APLD shares have increased by 29.2% year-to-date, contrasting with a 3.7% decline in the industry [8] - The company's forward price-to-sales ratio stands at 8.97X, significantly above the industry average and its five-year median of 1.44X, reflecting a Value Score of F [11]
Applied Digital: Now the High-Stakes Race to Build Begins
MarketBeat· 2025-06-17 17:02
Core Insights - The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is driving demand for digital infrastructure, positioning Applied Digital Corporation as a key player in this space [1][2] - The company secured a long-term agreement with CoreWeave, which is expected to generate approximately $7 billion in revenue over 15 years [3][4] Strategic Developments - Applied Digital will lease 250 megawatts (MW) of datacenter capacity to CoreWeave at its Ellendale, North Dakota campus, with the first 100 MW facility expected to be operational by Q4 2025 [3][4] - The partnership with ABB aims to enhance power efficiency, addressing the operational complexities of AI data centers [11] Competitive Landscape - The data center market is highly competitive, with significant investments from established REITs and tech giants, creating pressure for Applied Digital to execute its projects effectively [6][7] - The company faces a high short interest of 39.55%, indicating a divided investor sentiment regarding its future performance [8][9] Financial Considerations - Applied Digital has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, and a recent S-3 filing allows for potential capital raising, which may dilute existing shares [11] - The stock has a 12-month price forecast of $12.73, reflecting a potential upside of 12.53% from its current price [5] Operational Challenges - The company must meet strict construction timelines to avoid revenue impacts and maintain investor confidence [4][12] - Achieving sustained profitability will be crucial for the company's long-term success, as operational execution becomes the focus following the secured contract [12][13]
$2.7 Billion in Data Center Savings: New Applied Digital Report Positions North Dakota as the Epicenter for AI Infrastructure
Globenewswire· 2025-06-17 12:05
Core Insights - The article discusses the launch of a white paper by Applied Digital Corporation, detailing how smart site selection and cooling design can significantly reduce costs for generative AI infrastructure, potentially saving up to $60 million annually per campus [1][8]. Group 1: Company Overview - Applied Digital Corporation specializes in designing, building, and operating next-generation digital infrastructure for High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications [1]. - The company has introduced Polaris Forge as its North Dakota-based data center region, which is optimized for AI workloads and driven by renewable power [2]. Group 2: Key Findings from the White Paper - The white paper highlights that site selection can lead to annual electricity cost reductions of $50 to $60 million compared to existing 100MW data centers, amounting to potential savings of up to $2.7 billion over a 30-year lifespan [8]. - Polaris Forge 01 is designed to support 400 MW of critical IT load and is built to take advantage of stranded power and favorable climate conditions for cooling [4][8]. Group 3: Infrastructure and Community Impact - The design of Polaris Forge 01 includes a closed-loop, waterless, direct-to-chip cooling system, achieving a projected Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.18 and a Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) near zero [8]. - The company is committed to supporting local economies through initiatives that integrate community priorities, such as workforce housing and job creation [5]. Group 4: Market Confidence and Agreements - Applied Digital has signed a 250 MW, 15-year lease agreement worth $7 billion with CoreWeave for deployment at Polaris Forge 01, indicating strong market confidence in the company's capabilities [6].
Applied Digital (APLD) Earnings Call Presentation
2025-06-17 09:31
Company Overview - Applied Digital develops and operates next-generation data centers and cloud infrastructure, focusing on accelerated compute and secure digital hosting[16] - The company supports AI/ML, blockchain, and high-performance computing workloads[17] - Applied Digital operates two blockchain data centers with a combined capacity of approximately 286 MW[72] - The company is constructing a 100 MW HPC data center in Ellendale, ND, with plans to expand into a 400 MW campus[46] HPC Data Centers and AI Demand - Hyperscalers are projecting total capital expenditures of $335 billion in 2025[103] - HPC data centers now average 200 MW, with capacity expected to triple by 2030, driving a projected 125% rise in electricity consumption[98] - Applied Digital's Ellendale HPC data center is being built with a peak rack load of 120kW/rack[142] Macquarie Transaction - Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) may invest up to $5 billion in Applied Digital's HPC data center development[50] - MAM's initial investment is up to $900 million in Applied Digital's Ellendale HPC Campus, with over $225 million payable at the initial closing[149] - At closing, Macquarie will receive a 15% common equity interest in APLD HPC Holdings, a subsidiary of APLD[159] Convertible Notes - Applied Digital issued $450 million in convertible notes at a 2.75% interest rate[48, 171]
Applied Digital's Cloud Services Business Divestment Looks Promising
ZACKS· 2025-06-16 14:16
Core Insights - Applied Digital (APLD) plans to divest its cloud services division, which constitutes about one-third of its FY2025 revenues, to focus on becoming a pure-play data center REIT [1][8] - The divestiture aims to resolve customer conflicts with hyperscale clients and enhance market positioning for its primary leasing business [1][4] Financial Performance - APLD's cloud revenues dropped by 32-36% quarterly, leading to a revenue miss of $52.9 million compared to the estimated $64 million, which negatively impacted stock performance [2][8] - Despite cloud challenges, APLD secured significant deals, including a $7 billion, 15-year lease with CoreWeave and a nearly $5 billion investment from Macquarie, indicating strong demand for its HPC infrastructure [3][4] Strategic Moves - The sale of the cloud unit is seen as a corrective measure to streamline operations for a REIT transition and to stabilize balance sheets while unlocking long-term shareholder value [4] - APLD's stock has increased by 46.3% year-to-date, contrasting with a 6.8% decline in the industry [7] Valuation Metrics - APLD trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.44, which is above the industry average and its five-year median of 1.43, indicating a potentially overvalued position [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APLD's fiscal 2026 earnings suggests a significant year-over-year increase of 73.6% [10]
ABB and Applied Digital accelerate AI-ready data centers
Globenewswire· 2025-06-11 13:53
Core Insights - Applied Digital has launched an infrastructure partnership with ABB to develop a 400 MW data center campus in North Dakota, focusing on energy-efficient solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities [1][12] - The partnership introduces a new medium voltage power architecture utilizing ABB's HiPerGuard Medium Voltage Static Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which enhances power density and energy efficiency for AI data centers [2][5] Group 1: Partnership Details - The collaboration aims to innovate fast, reliable, and energy-efficient solutions to support the growing demands of AI [1][12] - Initial orders for the partnership were booked in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, although further financial details were not disclosed [1] Group 2: Technological Advancements - The new medium voltage UPS system allows data centers to scale more efficiently in 25 MW blocks, simplifying installation and increasing reliability [3] - The shift to medium voltage reduces conversion losses and heat generation, thereby improving overall energy efficiency [3] Group 3: Industry Impact - The partnership is expected to redefine the electrical infrastructure landscape for large-scale data centers, addressing the increasing power demands of AI factories [4][5] - ABB's early investment in medium voltage UPS technology is already benefiting large-scale data centers in North America and Europe, enhancing energy efficiency and power density [5]