APLD vs. VRT: Which Data Center Infrastructure Stock is a Better Buy?

Core Insights - Applied Digital (APLD) and Vertiv Holdings (VRT) are positioned in the data center infrastructure market, focusing on AI-driven facilities and critical power systems respectively [1][6] - The global Data Center Infrastructure Management market is expected to grow from $4.29 billion in 2026 to $9.99 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 18.43% [2] Applied Digital (APLD) - APLD is strategically positioned to benefit from the growth of AI-focused data centers, emphasizing energy-efficient design and scalable power architecture [3] - The company has contracted 600 megawatts across Polaris Forge 1 and 2, representing approximately $16 billion in potential lease revenues [4] - APLD's fiscal 2026 loss is estimated at 36 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year improvement of 55% [5] Vertiv Holdings (VRT) - VRT provides essential power and thermal management solutions for data centers, serving customers in 130 countries [6] - The company is co-developing an 800-volt DC power architecture with NVIDIA, ensuring its solutions remain relevant as power requirements increase [7] - VRT has a backlog of $15 billion and a book-to-bill ratio of approximately 2.9x, indicating strong revenue visibility [9] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past six months, VRT shares have increased by 88.7%, while APLD shares have surged by 118.7% [11] - VRT is trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 6.95x, significantly lower than APLD's 19.95x, suggesting a more attractive valuation for VRT [14] - VRT is currently rated as a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), while APLD holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [19]