Core Viewpoint - Cipher Mining Inc. has made a strategic acquisition of a 200MW Ulysses site in Ohio, marking its first acquisition outside Texas, which aligns with its ambitions in high-performance computing (HPC) growth [1][2][3] Acquisition Details - The Ulysses site spans 195 acres and has secured capacity from AEP Ohio, with all necessary utility agreements and interconnection approvals in place, expected to begin operations in Q4 2027 [3][4] - This acquisition allows Cipher Mining to enter the PJM market, a key region for AI and HPC demand, providing additional capacity for its HPC hosting business [3][4] Strategic Implications - The Ulysses site is viewed as a medium-term HPC-ready asset due to its acreage, availability of diverse fiber paths, and proximity to a major metropolitan area, supporting Cipher's broader expansion strategy [4] - The firm describes the acquisition as "buying de-risked time-to-power inventory," which reduces early-stage friction and anticipates near-term value creation from hosting announcements and a clearer build plan [5] Development Pipeline - With the addition of the Ulysses site, Cipher Mining's development pipeline now totals 3.4GW across eight sites, although financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed [6] - The company maintains a bullish outlook on bitcoin and its execution on site development, reaffirming a "Buy" rating with a price target of $28 [6]

Group 1: M&A Market Overview - Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) surged in 2025, reaching approximately $4.5 trillion, which is about 50% above 2024 levels and the second-largest annual total on record [1] - The deal boom in 2025 was characterized by a high value of cash transactions, with 68 deals worth at least $10 billion, marking the highest number of megadeals in recent years [2][3] Group 2: Notable Megadeals - The largest deal involved a bidding war between Paramount and Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery, with Netflix's equity value at $72 billion and Paramount's revised bid at $108.4 billion [4] - The second-largest deal was an $88.26 billion rail merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, announced in July [5] - Electronic Arts (EA) shareholders approved a $55 billion sale to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, marking a record-setting leveraged buyout in the gaming industry [5] - Kimberly-Clark's acquisition of Kenvue, valued at $40 billion, was the fourth largest deal, involving a consumer health company known for various well-known brands [6] - The fifth largest deal was the $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centers by a consortium led by BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners, marking the largest data center transaction on record [7]

Core Viewpoint - Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) is currently viewed as a battleground stock, with bullish perspectives focusing on rapid growth and low AFFO multiples, while bearish views highlight concerns over high debt and AFFO calculations [1][2]. Bear Thesis - The bear thesis identifies three main reasons for the substantial drop in IRM's stock price over the past year: overvaluation, being caught in the AI selloff, and a short attack [4][7]. - The company has evolved from physical information storage to digital information management, which has led to its classification as a data center REIT, although this segment remains a small part of its business [5][6]. Financial Overview - As of September 30, 2025, IRM's total assets amounted to $20.63 billion, with current assets of $1.88 billion and total liabilities of $18.77 billion [9]. - The company has a significant operating lease liability of $2.28 billion, which is not classified as debt, as it represents long-term rental obligations rather than traditional debt [10][11]. AFFO and Earnings Adjustments - There are concerns regarding the inflation of reported AFFO, but IRM provides transparent reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP metrics [14][16]. - The company reported a normalized FFO of $276.89 million for Q3 2025, reflecting an 18.7% year-over-year increase [22]. - True AFFO is estimated to be approximately $320 million lower than reported AFFO, leading to an adjusted AFFO per share of $4.00 for 2025 [27][25]. Growth and Valuation - IRM has demonstrated strong growth across various business segments, with pricing power in its legacy records information management business contributing to its growth [28][31]. - Analysts project continued strong growth through 2028, with total revenue guidance for 2025 set between $6.79 billion and $6.94 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 12% [26][34]. - The current valuation shows IRM trading at 14X forward AFFO and 16X trailing AFFO, which may be undervalued given its growth rate [38][39]. Market Position - IRM's data center builds are expected to yield high returns, with cash on cash IRRs in the low double digits, supporting the company's growth strategy [31][36]. - The information management business is considered robust, with clients reliant on data retrieval services, providing IRM with continued pricing power [36].

RADNOR, Pa., Dec. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) is currently investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of investors of CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWV) ("CoreWeave"). CoreWeave's business model involves using high-interest debt to buy thousands of advanced AI chips from Nvidia, installing them in server racks inside data centers that it leases from third-party landlords, then renting access to the chips to AI compa ...

Applied Digital's stock has more than tripled in 2025.Applied Digital (APLD 1.38%) has been one of the best stocks to own in 2025, rising around 260% so far this year although it has been incredibly volatile, rocketing up and down since October. Applied Digital is another way to play the artificial intelligence buildout, and so far, it has been an excellent investment.However, we can't go back and capture those stellar 2025 returns. Instead, investors need to analyze whether Applied Digital is set for anoth ...

Core Viewpoint - B. Riley has lowered its price target on WhiteFiber Inc. to $40 from $44 while maintaining a Buy rating, following the company's first long-term co-location agreement [1] Group 1: Company Developments - WhiteFiber announced its inaugural long-term co-location agreement at the NC-1 data center campus with Nscale Global Holdings, which took longer to finalize than expected [2] - The company reaffirmed its original deployment timeline, highlighting its execution capabilities and validating its retrofit-based development model [2] Group 2: Financial Outlook - WhiteFiber is in advanced discussions with multiple lenders regarding a construction financing facility, expected to be completed in early first-quarter 2026 [3] - Management indicated that potential credit enhancements could lower overall funding costs, with more clarity on ultimate off-takers [3] Group 3: EBITDA Forecasts - B. Riley has modestly reduced its EBITDA forecasts, lowering the second-quarter 2026 estimate to $17.9 million from $19.5 million and the full-year 2026 estimate to $92.7 million from $99.5 million [4] - The upcoming capacity is expected to come online in under two quarters, supporting WhiteFiber's speed-to-market thesis and positioning the company for expansion across multiple sites [4] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - WhiteFiber is currently trading at approximately 11x EV/EBITDA on 2026 estimates and about 8x EV/EBITDA on a fourth-quarter 2026 run-rate basis, indicating a notable discount to peer valuations in the mid- to high-teens [5]

Core Insights - The United States is facing an electricity shortage crisis driven by the increasing power demands of generative AI, with data center electricity consumption expected to double by 2030, reaching approximately 945 terawatt-hours, equivalent to Japan's annual electricity usage [1] - The aging infrastructure of the U.S. power grid, built over 40 years ago, is struggling to meet the sudden surge in energy demand from AI, leading to a mismatch between old systems and new energy needs [1] - The shift towards AI is reviving old peaker power plants, with about 60% of those scheduled for retirement by 2025 delaying their shutdowns due to increased electricity demand from data centers [3][5] Group 1: AI and Power Demand - The energy consumption of a typical ChatGPT query is approximately 2.9 watt-hours, nearly ten times that of a traditional Google search, highlighting the significant energy requirements of AI technologies [1] - The rapid growth of AI workloads has led to electricity demand from data centers exceeding the existing supply capabilities of the PJM grid, resulting in soaring electricity prices and power shortage alerts [3] - The reliance on renewable energy sources like wind and solar is insufficient for the continuous power needs of data centers, creating a "grid bottleneck" and a lack of baseload power [1] Group 2: Revitalization of Old Power Plants - Many peaker plants, designed to operate during peak demand, are being kept online despite their environmental impact, as they lack adequate pollution controls and are often located near low-income communities [7] - The costs associated with keeping these peaker plants operational have surged, with PJM paying over 800% more this summer compared to the previous year to ensure their availability [7] Group 3: Bitcoin Miners and AI Infrastructure - Bitcoin miners, previously seen as outsiders, are becoming key players in the AI infrastructure race due to their established power assets, particularly in Texas, where they have taken advantage of cheap land and electricity [8][9] - The transition of Bitcoin miners to AI data centers is driven by the deteriorating economics of mining, with many miners opting to reduce operations and shift towards more stable revenue from AI [9][13] - Texas has enacted legislation requiring new large data centers to switch to backup power during grid stress, reflecting the growing competition for limited electricity resources [13] Group 4: Investment Trends in Data Centers - Data center construction spending is projected to surpass that of office buildings as AI drives demand, with a potential $1 trillion investment in new data centers in North America from 2025 to 2030 [14][17] - Major real estate firms are increasing investments in data centers, with 95% of key investors planning to allocate more resources to this sector, moving away from traditional real estate [19] - The concentration of data center tenants among a few large cloud service providers poses significant risks, as delays in construction or power supply issues could trigger contract terminations [21][23]

Economic Overview - The S&P 500 has reached a new record, indicating a positive outlook for a potential Santa Claus rally [1] - Recent economic data shows strong GDP growth, with Q3 at 4.3% and Q2 at 3.8%, suggesting robust economic fundamentals [2][3] - Average growth in the US economy over the past six months is 4%, indicating solid economic performance [3] Consumer Sentiment and Spending - Despite strong economic indicators, consumer sentiment remains low, which could impact holiday shopping behavior [4][5] - Household consumption increased by 3.5% in Q3, raising questions about the relationship between consumer sentiment and actual spending [6] Earnings and Market Performance - Earnings growth for the broader S&P 500 companies is projected at around 9% for the year, with the "Magnificent 7" driving higher growth rates [10][11] - The overall earnings growth for the S&P 500 is expected to be around 12% for 2025, indicating a healthy market environment [10] - Companies' earnings reports will be crucial in determining market trends and investor sentiment moving into 2026 [9] Investment Strategies - Investors are advised to consider trimming positions in high-performing equities, particularly in big tech, and reallocating to sectors that have underperformed [12][13] - A focus on international equities and companies outside the "Magnificent 7" is suggested for portfolio rebalancing [13][14] Company-Specific Developments - Hut 8 is set to significantly increase its value through a $7 billion deal to develop an AI data center in Louisiana, backed by Google [27][31] - The deal includes a financial backing that allows Hut 8 to secure substantial financing for the project, which is expected to transform the company's business model [32][34] - Hut 8's growth potential is further supported by its ownership of Bitcoin and its strategic partnerships with major financial institutions [34][36]

Group 1 - WhiteFiber's first long-term colocation deal with Nscale Global at its NC-1 campus supports management's execution and original deployment timeline, indicating strong execution capability and the benefits of its retrofit model [1] - Analysts from B. Riley reiterated a buy rating on WhiteFiber while adjusting the price target to $40 from $44, reflecting more conservative Cloud Services assumptions, which represents a potential upside of approximately 127% from the recent close of $17.62 [2] - WhiteFiber is in advanced discussions with lenders regarding a construction facility expected to close in early 2026, which may include an accordion feature and credit enhancements to lower its cost of capital [2] Group 2 - B. Riley noted that WhiteFiber trades at about 11x EV/EBITDA based on 2026 estimates and roughly 8x EV/EBITDA on its 4Q26 adjusted EBITDA run-rate, which is considered a significant discount compared to peers in the mid- to high-teens [3] - The recent colocation deal with Nscale is valued at approximately $865 million and spans a duration of 10 years, with a capacity of 40 MW [4]

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet's acquisition of Intersect for $4.75 billion aims to enhance data center and energy infrastructure capacity, accelerating energy development and innovation [1][5] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The transaction includes Intersect's energy and data center projects currently in development or under construction through its partnership with Google [2] - Intersect will operate independently under its own brand and maintain a close relationship with Google's technical infrastructure team [2] - Google holds a minority stake in Intersect from a previous funding round [2] Group 2: Project Collaboration - The companies are collaborating on a co-located data center and power site in Haskell County, Texas [3] - Intersect will explore emerging technologies to diversify energy supply for Google's expanding data center needs [3] - Assets in Texas and California will not be included in the acquisition and will remain with a separate entity supported by TPG Rise Climate and others [4] Group 3: Strategic Alignment - Alphabet's CEO stated that the acquisition will help expand capacity and innovate energy solutions to support US leadership [5] - The acquisition aligns with Alphabet's strategy to collaborate with utilities to ensure energy supply for future data center growth without burdening electricity grid customers [5] Group 4: Energy Initiatives - The company is pursuing initiatives to responsibly increase energy capacity and commercialize advanced energy technologies [6] - Alphabet is utilizing AI tools to facilitate faster integration of new power plants into the grid and enhance efficiency in data center communities [6]