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Will Applied Digital's Pivot to AI Infrastructure Broaden Its Revenue Base?
ZACKSยท 2025-10-23 18:31
Core Insights - Applied Digital (APLD) is shifting its focus from blockchain hosting to high-performance computing infrastructure for AI workloads, indicating a long-term strategic reorientation towards contract-based revenue streams [1][3] Group 1: Strategic Transition - APLD's expansion in North Dakota includes the fully leased 400-megawatt Polaris Forge 1 campus, which has over $11 billion in contracted lease value, providing multi-year revenue visibility [2] - The company is constructing Polaris Forge 2, a 300-MW facility optimized for AI, designed for scalable expansion to meet the needs of hyperscalers [2] Group 2: Financial Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 fiscal 2026 revenue is $63.5 million, reflecting a 0.66% year-over-year decline as construction income decreases and lease revenue increases [3] - APLD's earnings profile is expected to stabilize and improve margins as recurring contracts begin to contribute [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - APLD faces competition from Riot Platforms and Equinix in the AI infrastructure market, with both companies having significant scale and customer ecosystems [4] - APLD's competitive advantage lies in its purpose-built, liquid-cooled architecture and faster deployment timelines [4] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - APLD shares have increased by 300.8% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the broader Zacks Finance sector and the Financial-Miscellaneous Services industry [5] - The stock is considered overvalued with a forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 23.21X compared to the sector's 9.26X, and it has a Value Score of F [9]