ZACKSยท2025-08-22 18:17Core Growth Driver - Applied Digital's hyperscale hosting business is the main growth driver, fueled by increasing AI infrastructure demand and commitments from leading hyperscalers [1][2] - The company plans to start construction on Polaris Forge 2, a $3 billion, 280-megawatt AI Factory in September 2025, with initial operations expected in 2026 and full capacity by early 2027 [1][8] Revenue and Financial Performance - In Q4 of fiscal 2025, Applied Digital reported revenues of $38 million, a 41% increase year-over-year, driven by strong capacity additions [3] - Polaris Forge 1 has secured long-term leases with CoreWeave, covering 400 MW and approximately $11 billion in contracted revenues, setting a strong foundation for Polaris Forge 2 [2][8] Competitive Landscape - Applied Digital faces competition from established data center operators like Equinix and Digital Realty Trust, which have significant scale and diversified customer bases [4][5] - Equinix operates over 260 data centers globally, providing a strong interconnection platform, while Digital Realty Trust focuses on hyperscale developments across multiple regions [4][5] Share Price and Valuation - Applied Digital's shares have appreciated 106.4% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the broader Zacks Finance sector and the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry [6] - The company is trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 13.4X, compared to the industry's 3.36X, indicating a premium valuation [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Applied Digital's first quarter fiscal 2026 loss is 6 cents per share, reflecting a decline from the previous year's loss of 3 cents per share [13] - The consensus for fiscal 2026 loss is pegged at 21 cents per share, suggesting a 73.75% year-over-year improvement [13]