Forget Nebius Group Stock: This Quiet AI Leader Looks Like the Smarter Buy Today

Core Viewpoint - Nebius is currently viewed as a risky investment due to its high debt levels and the significant capital required for its aggressive data center expansion plans [1][8]. Financial Position - At the end of the previous quarter, Nebius had $4.8 billion in cash and $4.6 billion in debt, indicating a tight financial position as it plans to construct a 1 GW data center, which is estimated to cost $10 billion, plus an additional $20 billion to $30 billion for chips [1]. - The company is trading at a price-to-sales ratio of 64, significantly higher than the Nasdaq Composite's ratio of 5.5, suggesting that the stock is expensive relative to its sales [2]. Growth Potential - Nebius has a backlog exceeding $20 billion, which is expected to convert into revenue next year and beyond, supporting its growth trajectory [3]. - The company plans to increase its connected data center power capacity from 220 MW to a range of 800 MW to 1 GW by the end of next year, indicating a substantial expansion in capacity [4]. Stock Performance - Despite a remarkable revenue growth of 437% to $302 million in the first nine months of 2025, Nebius has lost about one-third of its value since reaching a 52-week high on October 10 [5]. - The stock has experienced significant volatility, with analysts suggesting that while there may be upside potential, the stock's recent pullback raises concerns [6][9]. Funding Strategy - To finance its data center construction, Nebius will need to take on more debt and sell additional shares, utilizing corporate debt, asset-backed financing, and equity as sources of funding [8]. - Investors should anticipate share dilution and increased interest expenses due to the higher debt load [8]. Market Context - The demand for AI data center infrastructure is rapidly growing, with Nebius being one of the key players in this space, although concerns about debt-fueled financing are emerging [9]. - In contrast, Dell Technologies is highlighted as a more stable investment in the AI infrastructure sector, with a significant market share and anticipated revenue growth in its AI server business [10][11].