Applied Digital stock jumps as revenue triples on surging AI data center demand

Core Insights - Applied Digital's stock rose by 7% in premarket trading following a strong second-quarter revenue report that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by demand for AI-related infrastructure [1] Revenue Performance - The company reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $126.6 million, significantly surpassing analysts' expectations of approximately $88 million, and up from $36.16 million in the same period last year, indicating rapid growth due to increased demand for AI training and deployment [2] - Applied Digital posted a net loss of $19.1 million, or 7 cents per share, a notable improvement from a loss of $139.4 million, or 66 cents per share, in the prior-year quarter, with adjusted earnings breaking even compared to analyst forecasts of a 16 cents loss [3] Long-term Leasing Agreements - Growth is supported by long-term leasing agreements with hyperscalers, including a recent $5 billion lease for 200 megawatts of capacity at the Polaris Forge 2 campus in North Dakota, with existing leases expected to generate approximately $16 billion in revenue over their terms [4][5] - The strategic advantages of the region, such as a cool climate and abundant energy supply, position Applied Digital as a competitive provider for hyperscale customers [5] Future Outlook - Based on current and anticipated lease activity, the company expects to exceed its $1 billion net operating income target within the next five years, supported by projections for additional hyperscaler customers [6] Corporate Restructuring - Applied Digital is restructuring its corporate framework to focus on becoming a data center-focused real estate investment trust, planning to spin off its cloud services business and merge it with Ekso Bionics to create a new AI-focused entity called ChronoScale, retaining a 97% ownership stake [8][9]