Applied Digital (US:APLD) The Motley Fool·2026-02-07 12:15Core Viewpoint - Applied Digital is becoming a significant player in the AI infrastructure market, with its stock price increasing by 400% over the past year due to lucrative long-term lease contracts with cloud infrastructure providers [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Analyst Expectations - Analysts predict that Applied Digital's stock will continue to rise, with a 12-month median price target of $43.50, indicating an 18.5% potential upside from current levels [4]. - All 14 analysts covering Applied Digital rate it as a buy, reflecting strong confidence in the company's future performance [4]. Group 2: Financial Metrics and Growth Projections - Applied Digital's market capitalization is currently $9.8 billion, with a current stock price of $34.95 [5]. - The company has signed lease contracts worth $16 billion for 600 megawatts of AI data center capacity, which is expected to drive significant revenue growth [6]. - Revenue is forecasted to increase by 61% in the current fiscal year to $347 million, with a projected growth of 65% in the next fiscal year, potentially reaching $573 million [9][11]. Group 3: Revenue Recognition and Future Capacity - Applied Digital has begun recognizing lease revenue and anticipates a ramp-up in lease revenues over the next quarter, with expectations for meaningful revenue growth over the next 18 to 24 months [7]. - The company is also developing a new 430 MW data center campus and is in discussions to contract this capacity, indicating solid growth prospects beyond 2026 [7]. Group 4: Valuation and Market Potential - The stock currently trades at 32 times sales, a multiple justified by its strong revenue pipeline, with the potential for the market cap to reach $18.3 billion, nearly 80% above the current stock price [12].