Insider Monkey·2025-12-24 21:00Industry Overview - The trend of technology companies taking on debt to fund AI investments is increasing, shifting from a previous avoidance of debt among S&P 500 tech firms [1][4] - Concerns are rising among investors as companies borrow heavily for multibillion-dollar AI projects, with uncertain payoffs [2][6] Debt Issuance - Global technology firms issued a record $428.3 billion in bonds in 2025, with US companies accounting for $341.8 billion [5] - The shift towards borrowing is attributed to low borrowing costs and strong investor appetite for bonds, even among firms with strong cash positions [4][5] Company Examples - Oracle announced a need to raise capital expenditures by an additional $15 billion in the current fiscal year, relying on debt to cover costs [3] - RPC, Inc. (NYSE:RES) is highlighted as a debt-free stock that pays dividends, with a market cap of $1.20 billion and enterprise value of $1.12 billion [12] - Cincinnati Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CINF) is another debt-free stock, with a market cap of $25.8 billion and enterprise value of $25.29 billion [18] Financial Performance - RPC, Inc. reported sequential revenue growth in its third-quarter 2025 earnings, with significant contributions from various service segments [15] - Cincinnati Financial Corporation is noted for its steady performance in the property and casualty insurance sector, with a long record of dividend growth and consistent profitability [20][21]