Core Viewpoint - Nebius, formerly known as Yandex, has transformed into a cloud-based AI infrastructure provider and has seen significant stock price appreciation and revenue growth since its rebranding [1][2]. Company Overview - Nebius resumed trading under its new ticker at $14.29 per share on October 21, 2024, and has since increased to approximately $97 [2]. - The company has a market capitalization of $23 billion, which is considered reasonably valued at less than seven times this year's sales [2]. Financial Performance - Nebius's revenue surged 462% in 2024 and increased another 437% year over year in the first nine months of 2025 [2]. - Analysts project a revenue rise of 373% for the full year and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 274% over the next two years as it expands its data center operations [2]. Strategic Partnerships - Nebius has secured significant deals with major companies like Microsoft and Meta Platforms, positioning itself well in the growing AI market [3]. Operational Challenges - Currently, Nebius operates only one first-party data center in Finland and relies on colocation agreements in various countries, which may limit its growth potential [4]. - To expand its data center footprint, Nebius will need to increase its spending significantly, leading to expected steep losses in 2026 and 2027 [4]. - The company's heavy reliance on large clients like Microsoft and Meta could hinder its ability to negotiate favorable pricing amid intense competition from other AI infrastructure providers [4]. Alternative Investment Consideration - DigitalOcean is presented as a potentially better investment option for those seeking exposure to the AI market with less risk, as it offers a more sustainable business model and is reasonably valued [5][6].

Group 1: C3.ai Overview - C3.ai went public four and a half years ago but currently trades nearly 40% below its IPO price, facing challenges such as cooled growth and customer concentration issues [2] - Despite difficulties, C3.ai's top-line growth accelerated in fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025, extending a crucial deal with its largest client, Baker Hughes, which accounts for over 30% of its revenue [3] - Analysts expect C3.ai's revenue to grow at a compound annual rate of 19% from fiscal 2025 to fiscal 2027, but it trades at 7.5 times this year's sales and does not expect to turn profitable soon [5] Group 2: Applied Digital Overview - Applied Digital builds and rents out data centers to cloud and AI companies, benefiting from the AI boom and transitioning into a real estate investment trust (REIT) [7][8] - The company operates five data centers in North Dakota and plans to open more in South Dakota and Iowa, with a projected revenue growth rate of 48% from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027 [9][10] - If Applied Digital divests its cloud business and invests in expanding data centers, it could justify its higher valuation and potentially eclipse C3.ai's valuation in the next two years [11] Group 3: DigitalOcean Overview - DigitalOcean operates a cloud infrastructure platform targeting smaller customers, differentiating itself from larger public cloud providers [12] - The company has expanded through acquisitions, including Cloudways in 2022 and Paperspace in 2023, serving over 600,000 customers with a focus on larger clients [13] - Analysts expect DigitalOcean's revenue and EPS to grow at compound annual rates of 14% and 12% from 2024 to 2027, with a market cap of $2.7 billion and trading at 3.1 times this year's sales [14]