Jitters over AI spending set to grow as US tech giants flood bond market

Core Insights - Big tech firms are increasingly turning to public debt markets to finance AI-related investments, marking a shift from their traditional reliance on cash [1][14] - The surge in public bond issuance has raised concerns about the market's capacity to absorb this new supply, contributing to a pullback in U.S. stock prices [2][14] - Analysts indicate that while debt levels are rising, major tech companies remain lightly leveraged compared to their earnings [1][11] Debt Issuance Trends - Hyperscaler debt issuance has exceeded $120 billion in 2023, a significant increase from an average of $28 billion over the past five years [3][14] - Major companies involved include Alphabet ($25 billion), Meta ($30 billion), Oracle ($18 billion), and Amazon ($15 billion) [14] - The recent financing activities are seen as necessary to support the capital expenditures required for AI infrastructure [3][14] Market Reactions - Demand for tech bond deals has been strong, but investors are requiring higher premiums to absorb the new securities [8][15] - U.S. investment-grade credit spreads have increased slightly, reflecting concerns over the influx of new bond supply [9][15] - Despite the rise in debt, the overall leverage of these companies is expected to remain below 1x, indicating a manageable debt level relative to earnings [11][15] Future Projections - AI capital expenditure is projected to reach $600 billion by 2027, with net debt issuance expected to hit $100 billion in 2026 [6][14] - Analysts suggest that supply constraints or investor appetite may limit near-term capital expenditures more than cash flow or balance sheet capacity [12][15] - The top hyperscalers are anticipated to maintain a strong cash flow position, allowing them to absorb additional debt safely [12][15]