Last week, stocks generally struggled. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ( NYSEARCA:SPY ) fell 1.5% from March 6 to March 13, and Invesco QQQ Trust ( NASDAQ:QQQ ) dropped 1.01% over the same stretch. ...

IREN Is Making Moves in AI and Bitcoin. Technicals Point to Strong Growth Ahead. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.IREN Is Making Moves in AI and Bitcoin. Technicals Point to Strong Growth Ahead.By Doug BuschShareResizeReprintsI ...

Core Insights - Nebius announced a five-year AI infrastructure agreement with Meta Platforms valued at up to $27 billion, indicating a significant acceleration in hyperscaler AI spending [2][5] - Stocks of Lumentum, SanDisk, and IREN have rallied due to the validation of AI infrastructure buildout linked to the Meta-Nebius deal [2][6] Lumentum Holdings (LITE) - Lumentum's stock increased by approximately 6%, trading around $657, and has risen 69% year to date [9][11] - The company reported Q2 FY2026 revenue of $665.5 million, up 65.5% year over year, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.67, exceeding estimates by 18.57% [11] - Q3 guidance suggests revenue of $780 million to $830 million, indicating over 85% year-over-year growth [12] - Lumentum's products are critical for AI data centers, benefiting from increased commitments to AI infrastructure [10][12] SanDisk (SNDK) - SanDisk's stock surged approximately 8% to around $715, with a 202% increase year to date [13][15] - The company reported Q2 FY2026 revenue of $3.03 billion, up 61.2% year over year, with data center segment revenue increasing by 76% [15] - Q3 guidance anticipates revenue of $4.4 billion to $4.8 billion, with non-GAAP EPS projected between $12 to $14 [15][16] - SanDisk's strategic shift to multi-year data center supply deals positions it well in the AI era [16] IREN (IREN) - IREN's stock rose approximately 7% to around $44.58, building on a 13.3% gain over the past week [17] - The company operates renewable-powered data centers supporting both Bitcoin mining and AI workloads, with a $9.7 billion GPU cloud services contract secured with Microsoft [18] - IREN's AI Cloud revenue nearly tripled sequentially to $17.3 million, indicating rapid growth [19] - Analysts have a consensus target of $80 for IREN stock, with 10 buy ratings against one strong sell [19] Industry Overview - The $27 billion commitment from Meta Platforms signals a multi-year trend in AI infrastructure spending, impacting various sectors from optical interconnects to GPU-powered cloud compute [20] - The deal is seen as a confirmation of a sustained AI infrastructure supercycle, although some analysts caution that it does not guarantee long-term returns for adjacent companies [21]

Lumentum is the kind of company that benefits quietly until suddenly it doesn't. It manufactures the optical and photonic components that physically move data inside AI data centers, the fiber-optic interconnects that let thousands of GPUs talk to each other at the speed of light. Every new hyperscaler commitment to AI infrastructure is, indirectly, a commitment to buying more of what Lumentum makes.Lumentum stock is up approximately 6% today, trading around $657. The stock is already up 11% over the past w ...

Core Insights - IREN Limited is recognized for its early understanding that AI infrastructure will significantly drive power-dense data centers, leading to a bullish outlook on the stock since it traded around $14 [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - Pythia Research focuses on identifying multi-bagger stocks, particularly in the technology sector, by combining financial analysis with behavioral finance and alternative metrics [1] - The investment approach aims to uncover breakout opportunities before they gain mainstream attention, leveraging both traditional and unconventional insights [1] - The strategy emphasizes understanding market sentiment and identifying emerging trends to invest in transformative businesses poised for exponential growth [1] Group 2: Market Behavior Analysis - The company acknowledges that markets are influenced not only by fundamentals but also by perception, emotion, and bias, which can create persistent inefficiencies [1] - Psychological factors such as herd mentality and recency bias can lead to mispricing, marking the beginning of breakout opportunities [1] - The analysis of investor behavior, including status quo bias and fear of uncertainty, is crucial for recognizing companies that are redefining their categories [1] Group 3: Research Methodology - The research process involves deep analysis and signals that others may overlook, such as shifts in narrative, early social traction, and underappreciated momentum in user adoption [1] - The focus is on conviction plays with a favorable risk/reward profile, aiming for limited downside and explosive upside potential [1] - The belief is that the best returns come from understanding where investor belief lags behind reality [1]

Core Insights - IREN is positioning itself as a vital infrastructure partner in the global AI sector by securing a significant contract with Microsoft for GPU computing power [1] - The increasing demand for AI training is expected to enhance IREN's competitive edge due to its access to essential resources such as power, land, and large-scale data centers [1] - The AI compute market is becoming increasingly competitive, and IREN's capabilities may provide a substantial advantage [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" investment rating for the industry [1]. Core Insights - The AI-driven demand for electricity in the U.S. is significantly increasing, with a projected net increase of 13.65GW in the basic load by 2025, corresponding to approximately 4.3225 million GB300 GPUs [4][8]. - The five major grid regions (ERCOT, PJM, MISO, SPP, NYISO) account for 76% of the total load increase in the U.S., indicating a concentration of AI data center expansion in these areas [15][19]. - The DOM region is experiencing a severe power supply shortage, with the frequency of shortages rising dramatically from 3 times in 2023 to 19 times in 2025, leading to significant price increases [24][28]. - The report highlights the urgent need for grid upgrades, which are lagging behind demand growth, with only 1393 out of 5815 proposed projects completed since 2020 [4][19]. Summary by Sections Industry Overview - The industry consists of 131 listed companies with a total market value of 17,552.33 billion yuan and a circulating market value of 16,261.98 billion yuan [1]. Demand Trends - The average load during the early morning hours (2 AM to 4 AM) is expected to reach 432.05GW in 2025, reflecting a 13.65GW increase from 2024 [10][11]. - The average peak load for 2025 is projected to be 557.5GW, indicating a strong upward trend in demand driven by AI data centers [11][14]. Regional Analysis - The DOM and AEP regions contribute 53.8% of the PJM region's load increase, with DOM's average load expected to reach 13.44GW in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 8.6% [24][26]. - The ERCOT region shows the highest growth rate at 6%, followed by SPP at 5.2% and PJM at 4.9%, making Texas a preferred location for AI data center expansion [20][21]. Pricing Dynamics - Electricity prices in the DOM region have surged from $36.8 to $59.3/MWh, with congestion fees rising from 13% to 33% of the total price, indicating structural pricing changes due to transmission bottlenecks [4][41]. - The average LMP (Locational Marginal Price) in the DOM region is projected to reach $150.63/MWh in 2026, with congestion fees significantly impacting overall electricity costs [38][41].

Core Insights - The current stock market is experiencing extreme fear among investors despite the S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq being within 6% of all-time highs, indicating a potential market bottom is near [1] Market Indicators - The McClellan Oscillator is extremely oversold, suggesting panic selling is occurring, with historical data showing that the S&P 500 has risen every time this condition was met, averaging a gain of 3.2% one month later [2] - The NYSE McClellan Oscillator recently reached its lowest level since the 'Liberation Day' market bottom in April 2025, indicating significant selling exhaustion [2] - The CNN Fear & Greed Index has registered its first "Extreme Fear" reading in 2026, reflecting a major disconnect between market price and investor sentiment [4] Investor Behavior - Active investors have reduced equity exposure to levels not seen since mid-2025, as reported by the National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM) [5] Investment Opportunities - The article suggests that investors should consider buying stocks with strong fundamentals that have performed well during the market downturn, particularly in the AI infrastructure sector, including companies like Nebius, IREN, Sandisk, Micron, and Bloom Energy [9] Conclusion - Historical market patterns indicate that significant investment opportunities arise when technical indicators show extremes and investor sentiment is overly fearful, suggesting that now may be an opportune time for investment [10]

IREN Ltd (NASDAQ:IREN) shares are trading lower Thursday afternoon as broader market pressure tied to geopolitical tensions weighed on stocks, though investors are also continuing to digest the company's recently announced $6 billion at-the-market equity program. Here’s what investors need to know.IREN stock is feeling bearish pressure. Why is IREN stock dropping?Why IREN's $6 Billion Equity Program Is a Key Issue for InvestorsLast week's debate around IREN's massive $6 billion at-the-market equity program ...

Bitcoin held a $70,000 price floor in early morning trading hours on Thursday amid geopolitical conflict in Iran, while bitcoin mining stocks dropped at the market open. Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) dropped 5.50%, Hut 8 (NASDAQ: HUT) fell 5.44%, and IREN (NASDAQ: IREN) decreased 4.76% to start the Thursday session. The broader week remains green for the sector despite the morning pullback. The #1 podcast for emerging tech stocks, Bitcoin, and weekly news analysis. Subscribe to the Blockspace Podcast he ...