Listen and subscribe to Stocks In Translation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcast. Nvidia (NVDA) is stealing the AI spotlight, but the sector’s bench runs so much deeper. In this episode of Stocks in Translation, Epistrophy Capital Research chief market strategist Cory Johnson joins host Jared Blikre and Senior Reporter Allie Canal to discuss the latest in AI. With the episode’s focus surrounding data centers, Johnson shares his perspective on how AI infrastructure is driv ...

Core Insights - The discussion emphasizes the significance of AI spending as a primary driver of both the economy and the markets, highlighting a bifurcated market where some companies thrive while others struggle [6][7][9] - A focus on data centers is presented as a critical area for investment, with expectations of growth in infrastructure that supports AI technologies [11][21] - Micron Technology is projected to surpass a 50% gross margin threshold within the next year, indicating a transformation in its business model and market positioning [39][41] Company Insights - Apple is reportedly exploring potential mergers and acquisitions with smaller AI startups to enhance its AI capabilities, reflecting a strategic approach to bolster its technology roadmap [22][25] - Micron is undergoing a significant transformation, with a shift towards high bandwidth memory products that cater to AI applications, suggesting a long-term growth strategy [44][48] - The hiring practices at Micron have evolved, indicating a cultural shift towards embracing AI and technology integration, which may position the company for sustained growth [49] Industry Insights - The conversation highlights the importance of networking components in data centers, suggesting that future growth will not only come from GPUs but also from the infrastructure that connects these systems [17][21] - There is a comparison to the dot-com era, with caution about potential overbuilding in the current tech landscape, particularly in fiber optics and data centers [28][30] - The current market environment is characterized by high valuations, but the demand for AI-related products and services is seen as a strong indicator of continued growth, contrasting with past market cycles [34][36]

Core Insights - Hyperscale Data's Bitcoin treasury now constitutes approximately 41.4% of its market capitalization, totaling around $24.2 million as of September 28, 2025 [1] - The company aims to accumulate Bitcoin equal to 100% of its market capitalization as part of a broader $100 million digital asset treasury strategy [1] Bitcoin Holdings - The subsidiary Sentinum, Inc. holds 24.2214 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $2.7 million based on a Bitcoin price of $112,123 as of September 28, 2025 [2] - Sentinum's Bitcoin holdings include 22.3828 Bitcoin from mining operations and 1.8386 Bitcoin acquired from the open market [2] Capital Deployment - Hyperscale Data has allocated $21.5 million in cash for Sentinum to purchase Bitcoin in the open market [3] - On September 29, 2025, Sentinum executed a significant transaction, purchasing $1.9 million of Bitcoin, which more than doubled the company's reported Bitcoin holdings to approximately $4.6 million [3] Strategic Approach - The company emphasizes a disciplined dollar-cost averaging strategy to mitigate short-term market volatility while building its long-term reserve position [3] - Executive Chairman Milton "Todd" Ault III expressed confidence in the company's approach to accumulating Bitcoin and noted progress despite regulatory and custodial challenges [4] Reporting and Transparency - Hyperscale Data will issue weekly reports detailing its Bitcoin holdings as it progresses towards its $100 million digital asset treasury target [4]

Core Viewpoint - HRC World Plc held its Annual General Meeting on 30 September 2025, where several key resolutions were passed, including the approval of financial statements and the re-appointment of auditors [2][3][4]. Financial Resolutions - The AGM approved the Company's Audited Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2025, along with the Reports of the Directors and the Auditor [3]. - RPG Crouch Chapman LLP was re-appointed as auditors, and the Board was authorized to determine their remuneration [3]. Share Allotment Authority - The AGM granted authority to allot shares, maintaining the normal pre-emption rights for shareholders as per the Companies Act 2006 [3]. - A resolution to disapply pre-emption rights was also agreed, allowing directors to allot new shares or sell treasury shares for cash, up to 20% of the shares currently in issue [3]. Company Overview - HRC World Plc is a UK public company listed on Nasdaq First North Copenhagen and the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market Access Category, focusing on developing and operating small to medium-sized distributed data centers [5]. - The company offers co-location services, including server rack rentals and secure hosting spaces, ensuring reliable and secure environments for critical IT systems [5]. - HRC is also exploring sustainable innovations in renewable energy solutions, such as solar, wind, hydro, biogas, and new technologies like nano-nuclear reactors [5].

Core Insights - Data center construction is experiencing significant growth in the U.S., with major investments from companies like Apple and CoreWeave [2] - The complexity of data center projects arises from their unique power and utility requirements, as well as supply chain and labor challenges [4][7] - Fast-track delivery has become the norm in the industry to meet the rising demand for artificial intelligence, but it increases risks for contractors [7] Industry Trends - Contractors are facing a surge in early-stage activity despite concerns about a potential slowdown in the market [2] - Major contracts, such as Apple's $20 billion investment in Pennsylvania and CoreWeave's $6 billion facility, highlight the scale of current projects [2] - The use of engineering, procurement, and construction contracts or turnkey models simplifies ownership but places a heavier burden on contractors [5] Regulatory and Safety Considerations - Data center projects are subject to extensive regulations, including fire codes and permitting issues, complicating contract adherence [6] - The fast-paced nature of construction increases the potential for mistakes, particularly in remote locations where specialized labor is scarce [7] - Safety is a critical concern, especially when dealing with high voltage and fast-track projects, necessitating operational excellence [8]

Core Viewpoint - Iren (IREN) is experiencing a bullish sentiment among investors, driven by a significant price target increase from analysts, indicating strong future potential for the company [1][3]. Stock Performance - Iren's stock gained nearly 10% in value, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.3% increase during the same trading sessions [2]. Analyst Insights - Michael Donovan from Compass Point raised Iren's fair-value assessment from $23 to $50 per share, reflecting an increase of over 100%, while maintaining a buy recommendation [3]. Business Strategy - Iren is undergoing a business pivot, continuing its Bitcoin mining operations while aggressively expanding into data center buildouts, which are expected to benefit from the growing resource demands of artificial intelligence (AI) technology [5]. Market Potential - The company's recent investments in hardware to enhance its AI-supporting infrastructure signal a strong commitment to this pivot, with expectations of limited supply for high-density computing resources in the coming years, indicating high potential for growth [6].

Core Insights - The data center industry is experiencing significant growth driven by the demand for artificial intelligence, with estimates suggesting a potential increase in global data center needs by 100 gigawatts by 2030 [2][3] - Despite the overall growth in the sector, not all companies are benefiting equally, with some facing challenges such as poor execution and heavy debt, leading to sharp declines in their stock prices [3][4] Group 1: Industry Overview - Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company emphasize the critical role of high-density data centers in the AI race and as foundational infrastructure for digital services [1][2] - The demand for AI capacity is rising rapidly, creating a significant opportunity for data center operators [2] - The power requirements for data centers are projected to nearly triple from 68 to 196 gigawatts in the coming years, highlighting the need for investment in power solutions [10] Group 2: Company Performance - DigitalBridge Group Inc. is one of the worst-performing data center stocks in 2025, with a year-to-date return of only 4.6%, despite being a major player in the digital infrastructure space with over $96 billion in assets [8][9] - NetApp Inc. has a year-to-date return of 3.3%, struggling to keep pace with the broader market due to competition from pure-play cloud providers, although its hybrid model remains appealing to enterprises [12][15] - Analysts have a cautious outlook on NetApp, with two-thirds holding a Neutral rating, while the company maintains a growth forecast of 2% for the next quarter and 3% for the year [13][15]

Core Viewpoint - Cipher Mining, while currently unprofitable, reported Q2 2025 revenues of $43.6 million, an 18.4% annual growth, but losses widened to $0.12 per share, exceeding consensus estimates [1][2] Company Overview - Founded in 2021, Cipher Mining focuses on developing industrial-scale data centers for Bitcoin mining and AI-centric high-performance computing (HPC) [5] - The company was formed through a merger with Good Works Acquisition Corp. (GWAC), a SPAC [5] Financial Performance - Cipher's net cash outflow from operating activities doubled to $103.45 million in the first half of 2025, while cash balance increased from $5.6 million to $62.7 million [8] - The company has missed earnings expectations in six out of the last nine quarters [1] Investment and Partnerships - Google holds a 5.4% proforma equity stake in Cipher Mining, stemming from a 10-year HPC hosting agreement, which includes a $1.4 billion backing for Fluidstack's lease obligations [3][7] - This investment aligns with Google's ambitions in the AI sector, as industrial-scale data centers are essential for AI model training [7] Market Performance - CIFR stock has seen a significant rise of 165% year-to-date, currently valued at a market cap of $4.5 billion [4] Operational Strategy - Cipher is expanding its Bitcoin mining capabilities while also developing its HPC operations, including a new 300 MW data center in Texas [10][12] - The company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure to support both Bitcoin mining and AI workloads, providing a cost advantage [14] Production Capacity - Despite a nearly twofold increase in mining capacity, Cipher mined approximately 500 Bitcoins in Q2 2025, similar to production levels post-halving in Q2 2024 [11] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts have a cautiously optimistic view on CIFR stock, with a "Moderate Buy" rating and a mean target price of $7.82, indicating limited upside potential [17]

Core Insights - Prologis is leveraging its access to land, energy, capital, and experience to expand its data center business, which is becoming increasingly relevant in the current market [1][2] - The company plans to invest up to $8 billion to build data centers across approximately 20 property sites, capitalizing on the growing demand for data center construction in the US [3][4] Company Overview - Prologis has a global portfolio of 1.3 billion square feet across more than 5,500 buildings, primarily known for its warehouses, but is now focusing on data centers [2] - The company has secured 1.1 gigawatts of power, with an additional 2.2 gigawatts in advanced procurement stages, indicating a strong commitment to energy supply for its data centers [4][5] Industry Context - The US data center construction spending reached a record $40 billion in June 2023, marking a 28% increase compared to 2024, highlighting the industry's rapid growth [3] - The demand for energy in developing AI systems is significant, with Nvidia announcing a $100 billion investment in OpenAI to build 10 gigawatts of AI data centers, showcasing the competitive landscape [5]

Core Insights - The U.S. is at risk of failing to achieve its ambitious AI goals due to a significant labor shortage in key sectors necessary for building and maintaining AI infrastructure [1][2][3] - The AI market is projected to grow to $4.8 trillion by 2033, highlighting the urgency of addressing workforce issues in manufacturing and data centers [1][2] - Current labor shortages include 600,000 factory workers, 500,000 construction workers, and a projected need for 400,000 auto technicians in the next three years [3] Labor Shortage Impact - The labor shortage is particularly acute in the AI sector, with data center operators facing challenges in expanding due to a lack of skilled construction workers [4][5] - A survey by Uptime Institute indicated that 50% of data center operators struggled to find candidates for open positions, an increase from 38% in 2018 [6] - A Deloitte report found that 51% of surveyed executives in power companies and data centers identified skilled labor shortages as a core challenge, with over 60% citing it as their top issue [6]