Can APLD's AI Infrastructure Momentum Drive Revenue Growth in 2026?

Core Insights - Applied Digital (APLD) is transitioning from development to revenue generation with its AI infrastructure portfolio, particularly with the operational launch of Polaris Forge 1 and ongoing construction of new campuses [2][10] - The hyperscale data center market is experiencing a demand-supply imbalance, with an estimated $350 billion being deployed annually toward AI infrastructure, creating favorable conditions for developers like APLD [3] Company Developments - The Polaris Forge 1 campus has a 400-megawatt CoreWeave lease valued at approximately $11 billion over 15 years, with projections of generating around $500 million in annual net operating income once fully operational [4] - APLD has a 4-gigawatt active development pipeline and is negotiating for two new locations, with a proprietary cooling system that enhances operational efficiency [5] Financial Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APLD's fiscal 2026 revenues is $280.9 million, indicating a year-over-year growth of 26.99% [5][10] - APLD's stock has increased by 212.6% over the past six months, significantly outperforming the broader Zacks Finance sector [8] Competitive Landscape - APLD faces competition from Riot Platforms and Equinix, with Riot Platforms shifting focus to high-density compute and Equinix leveraging its global scale and established relationships in the hyperscaler market [7] - Equinix is retrofitting existing facilities for AI workloads while expanding capacity, intensifying competitive dynamics for APLD [7] Valuation Metrics - APLD's stock is considered overvalued, with a forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 19.26X compared to the sector's 9.08X, and it holds a Value Score of F [11]