Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The discussion centers around the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) industry and liquid cooling technologies, particularly in relation to NVIDIA's new Vera Rubin chip platform [1][2]. Core Insights 1. **Advancements in Liquid Cooling**: NVIDIA's CEO announced that the new Vera Rubin chips can be cooled using liquid cooling systems instead of traditional water chillers, which has implications for HVAC OEMs [1]. 2. **Market Reaction**: Following the announcement, HVAC OEMs such as Johnson Controls (JCI), Trane Technologies (TT), and Carrier Global (CARR) experienced a sell-off, while liquid cooling companies like nVent Electric (NVT) and Vertiv (VRT) saw modest gains [1]. 3. **Continued Need for Traditional Chillers**: Despite the advancements, traditional chillers remain essential for cooling data centers, especially during peak temperature days, indicating that the sell-off of HVAC OEMs may have been unwarranted [2]. 4. **Collaboration with Chip Manufacturers**: HVAC OEMs are actively collaborating with chip manufacturers on next-generation technology roadmaps, exemplified by TT's partnership with NVIDIA on a thermal management system for AI infrastructure [2]. 5. **Future of Liquid Cooling**: The need for advanced liquid cooling technologies is expected to grow as next-generation chips will have significantly higher compute capacities, necessitating continued innovation in cooling solutions [2]. 6. **Two-Phase Cooling Adoption**: The CES announcement may accelerate the adoption of two-phase cooling technologies, which are anticipated to be more energy-efficient than current single-phase systems [2]. 7. **Investment Activity**: JCI's investment of approximately $25 million in Accelsius, a leader in dual-phase cooling, highlights the industry's shift towards more advanced cooling solutions [2]. Additional Considerations 1. **Short-Term Market Volatility**: The industry has seen several short-term sell-offs due to new technology developments, which have historically provided "buy the dip" opportunities for investors [2][6]. 2. **Earnings Outlook**: The upcoming 4Q earnings reports are expected to address the resilience and growth potential of both HVAC OEMs and liquid cooling companies, which could influence market sentiment [2]. 3. **Valuation and Risks**: - nVent Electric (NVT) is rated as a Buy with a 12-month price target of $145, based on a multiple of 21.0x EBITDA [10]. - Vertiv (VRT) is also rated as a Buy with a price target of $204, based on a multiple of 23x EBITDA [11]. - Carrier Global (CARR) and Johnson Controls (JCI) are rated as Buy with price targets of $68 and $137, respectively, while Trane Technologies (TT) is rated Neutral with a price target of $458 [13][15][16]. Conclusion - The developments at CES 2026 signal a transformative period for the HVAC and liquid cooling industries, with significant implications for market dynamics and investment opportunities. The ongoing collaboration between HVAC OEMs and chip manufacturers, along with advancements in cooling technologies, will be critical in shaping the future landscape of the industry [2].

Core Insights - Tesla has officially lost its title as the world's largest electric vehicle maker to BYD, a Chinese automotive company [1] - Despite the news, Tesla's share price remains above $425, close to its all-time high [1] - The article questions whether investing in Tesla shares is advisable or if funds would be better allocated to AI stocks [1] Tesla's Performance - Tesla's stock price has dipped following the loss of its title, with a reported 8.5% increase in share price for the year, which is significantly lower compared to AI stocks [4][7] - Tesla's revenue decreased by 2.1% and profits fell by 27.8% over the past year [6][7] AI Stocks Performance - In 2025, AI stocks experienced remarkable growth: Vertiv's stock rose by 54.5%, Alphabet's by 66.5%, and Micron's by 275% [4] - Revenue growth for AI companies was modest: Alphabet's revenue increased by 10.2%, Vertiv's by 21%, and Micron's by 35.1% [5] - Profit growth for AI companies was substantial: Alphabet's net income rose by 24.1%, Vertiv's by 108.6%, and Micron's by 154.9% [6] Investment Comparison - For the cost of two Tesla shares (over $800), investors could purchase one share each of Alphabet, Micron, and Vertiv, totaling approximately $805 [3] - The article suggests that the AI stocks are more reasonably valued compared to Tesla, despite their significant price growth [7][8] - Overall, the performance of AI stocks appears to be a better investment option compared to Tesla, given their growth in both revenue and profits [8]

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's remarks at CES 2026 have significantly impacted the stock market, leading to a surge in storage-related stocks while causing declines in data center cooling stocks [1][2]. Group 1: Storage Stocks Surge - SanDisk's stock price soared nearly 28% to $349.63 per share, reaching a market cap of $51.24 billion, marking a tenfold increase since February of the previous year [2][4]. - Huang emphasized the untapped potential of the storage market, predicting it could become the largest global storage market to support AI workloads, with current demand exceeding existing infrastructure capabilities [4]. - Other storage companies like Western Digital, Seagate, and Micron also saw significant stock price increases, with Western Digital up 16.77% to $219.38, Seagate up 14% to $330.42, and Micron up 10% to $343.43, all achieving double-digit percentage gains [6][7]. Group 2: AI-Driven Hardware Spending - The growth in AI training and inference demand is leading to tight memory supply and rising prices, boosting digital storage stocks [12]. - Analysts predict that companies will retain more data for training, analysis, and compliance, driving a surge in storage demand, particularly in sectors like drones, surveillance, and automotive technology [14]. - The focus on AI investment has shifted towards hardware spending, with expectations that AI inference will dominate beyond 2026 [14]. Group 3: Cooling Stocks Decline - Huang's comments raised concerns about the demand for data center cooling products, leading to declines in cooling-related stocks [15]. - Johnson Controls' stock fell 6.24%, Modine Manufacturing dropped 7.46%, and Trane Technologies decreased by 2.52%, with significant intraday losses [15][19]. - Analysts noted that the shift towards liquid cooling technology could impact traditional cooling systems, although some believe the recent sell-off may be excessive [21].

Core Viewpoint - Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) is gaining attention as a significant player in the AI sector, with Barclays upgrading its stock rating to "Overweight" and increasing the price target to $200, driven by improved earnings outlook and alignment with AI trends [1][4]. Earnings Expectations - The rating change reflects revised earnings expectations for 2026 and 2027, with earnings per share estimates 8% above consensus for 2026 and 12% above for 2027, primarily influenced by revenue assumptions [2]. Revenue Exposure - VRT's revenue is heavily tied to data centers, with 80% of sales coming from this end market. The company's organic sales growth has closely followed U.S. data center physical infrastructure trends, surpassing the multi-industry average in recent years [3]. Analyst Insights - Analysts believe that VRT is positioned for significant gains in 2026, potentially catching up with other Overweight-rated AI companies despite previous underperformance. The stock's recent volatility has created an attractive entry point [4][5]. Competitive Positioning - VRT has underperformed compared to other Overweight-rated AI stocks year-to-date, but its PEG ratio is now at parity with peers, suggesting a potential for performance catch-up in 2026 [5].

Core Viewpoint - Vertiv has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 over the past five years, but smaller AI stocks like Iren may present better investment opportunities due to their higher growth potential [1][2]. Company Performance - Vertiv's stock has increased by 39% over the past year and over 550% in the last five years, driven by investor interest in its liquid cooling solutions for data centers [1]. - In Q3, Vertiv reported a year-over-year revenue growth of 29%, but guidance for Q4 suggests a slowdown with expected growth of 18% to 22% [6]. Comparison with Iren - Iren's stock price has more than quadrupled in the past year, indicating a strong growth trajectory, and it has a market cap of $12 billion compared to Vertiv's $67 billion [2][7]. - Iren is projected to generate $20 billion in annual recurring revenue within five to ten years, supported by a significant deal with Microsoft worth $9.7 billion [3][4]. Revenue Projections - Iren aims for $3.4 billion in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2026, up from $3.1 million in fiscal 2024 and $16.4 million in fiscal 2025 [4]. - Management has indicated expectations of reaching $200 million to $250 million in annual recurring revenue by December 2025, suggesting potential to exceed the $3.4 billion target [5]. Market Dynamics - The smaller market cap of Iren allows for potentially greater stock price movements, which could benefit investors seeking faster growth compared to Vertiv [7].

Group 1: Market Overview - Global markets are buoyed by enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) and the expansion of data center infrastructure, with data center M&A projected to reach approximately $61 billion through 2025, surpassing the previous year's record [1] - Demand for physical infrastructure continues to drive investment themes, despite some concerns about potential overvaluation in parts of the AI sector [1] Group 2: Company Positioning - Vertiv (VRT) is well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing data center investment trend, with Barclays upgrading the stock to "Overweight" due to recent price weakness presenting an attractive entry point [2] - Approximately 80% of Vertiv's sales are derived from data centers, and the company is expected to exceed Street earnings estimates for 2026 [2][3] Group 3: Financial Performance - Vertiv's stock experienced significant growth in 2025, more than doubling early in the year due to increased data center demand and expanded business with hyperscale AI customers, reaching a record price above $202 before a year-end pullback to around $165 to $170, approximately 15% off its peak [5] - The stock trades at a premium, with a forward price/book ratio of 17.19 compared to the sector median of 3.34, indicating a higher valuation, but analysts suggest this reflects anticipated revenue and earnings growth of about 25% to 30% [6]

Core Viewpoint - The cooling stocks for data centers experienced a significant decline following Jensen Huang's comments regarding data center cooling solutions at the CES event, indicating a potential shift in technology that could impact the market dynamics for these companies [1] Group 1: Market Reaction - Data center cooling stocks collectively dropped, with Johnson Controls and Trane Technologies falling by 10% at one point [1] - Modine experienced a decline of up to 20% [1] - Carrier and Vertiv Technologies saw declines exceeding 5% [1] Group 2: Technological Implications - Jensen Huang stated that servers equipped with the new Rubin chip could utilize cooling methods that do not require water, suggesting a significant change in cooling technology [1] - The airflow requirements for the new Rubin chip servers are comparable to those of the existing Blackwell chip servers, indicating a potential for reduced cooling costs and infrastructure changes [1]

Core Viewpoint - Data center cooling stocks experienced a significant decline, with major companies like Modin Manufacturing, Johnson Controls, Trane Technologies, and Vertiv Technologies facing substantial drops in their stock prices following comments made by Jensen Huang at the CES event regarding new cooling technologies [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Modin Manufacturing (MOD.US) saw a drop of over 13% [1] - Johnson Controls (JCI.US) and Trane Technologies (TT.US) both fell by more than 7% [1] - Vertiv Technologies (VRT.US) experienced a decline of over 3% [1] Group 2: Technological Developments - Jensen Huang announced that servers equipped with the new Rubin chip will be able to operate without water cooling, requiring airflow comparable to that of racks using the Blackwell chip [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights a significant decline in the stock prices of data center cooling concept stocks, with notable drops in companies such as Trane Technologies (TT), Carrier Global (CARR), Johnson Controls (JCI), Modine Manufacturing (MOD), and Vertiv Holdings (VRT) [1] Group 2 - Trane Technologies (TT) experienced a drop of over 10% in early trading [1] - Carrier Global (CARR) saw a decline of approximately 6.6% [1] - Johnson Controls (JCI) fell by 10.8% [1] - Modine Manufacturing (MOD) reported a decrease of 13.5% [1] - Vertiv Holdings (VRT) declined by 6% [1] - Investors are paying close attention to the latest remarks from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang [1]

Group 1 - Data center cooling stocks experienced a significant decline on January 6, with major companies like Johnson Controls and Trane Technologies dropping by 10% at one point [1] - Modine Industries saw a more severe decline, with its stock falling by 20% during the trading session [1] - Carrier and Vertiv Technologies also faced losses, with both companies' stocks decreasing by over 5% [1]