Microsoft is exploring using superconducting power lines in its data centers, which could potentially accelerate its massive U.S. build-out of the server warehouses by making them more energy-efficien... ...

The majority of the Magnificent Seven stocks have reported their latest quarterly financial results. Within the results and guidance from the large tech companies come estimates for their 2026 CapEx.Here's a look at just how much four of the largest companies are spending and how it compares to past infrastructure build-outs in American history. • What’s next for META stock?CapEx Spending Could Top $670 Billion in 2026 For Four GiantsHere's the breakdown:Meta Platforms: up to $135 billionAmazon.com: up to $ ...

With all the interest and hype around the massive requirement for data centers (DCs), many investors are looking for ways to quickly profit from the phenomenon. Risk is, however, emerging in the ecosystem as companies like Blue Owl Capital (I'm an optimist. I look forward to a brighter future. As the world evolves so must our investment style. Opportunities are everywhere but having the right mindset, being humble and having a can do, never stop learning attitude is critical to success. We can beat the mark ...

Recent data on the U.S. job market has flashed some worrying signs lately, but the construction industry sees greater demand for workers. The Associated Builders and Contractors trade group estimated in a report last month the industry will need to bring in 456,000 new workers in 2027, up 30.7% from the 349,000 needed this year. “Failing to do so will worsen labor shortages, especially in certain occupations and regions, placing further upward pressure on labor costs,” ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu ...

Core Insights - The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is significantly driving the growth of data centers, leading to unprecedented levels of investment in this sector [1] Industry Summary - Total investment in data centers is expected to reach unprecedented levels due to the demand generated by artificial intelligence [1]

Core Insights - AI stocks have gained significant attention due to the increasing demand for chips used in AI model and application development [1] - Infrastructure is essential for supporting AI hardware and data transmission, aligning with American Tower's strategy to build data centers for AI workloads [2] Company Overview - American Tower is one of the largest REITs globally, owning and operating over 149,000 multitenant communications sites and a network of U.S. data centers [3] - The company acquired CoreSite for $10.1 billion in 2021, adding 25 data centers across eight major U.S. markets to its portfolio [4] Strategic Developments - The acquisition of CoreSite was initially aimed at supporting 5G deployment, but the focus has shifted to developing data centers for AI applications [5] - CoreSite recently launched 400 Gbps (400G) Amazon Web Services (AWS) Direct Connect at its Chicago campus, enhancing its capability for high-bandwidth AI workloads [5] Market Applications - CoreSite's 400G connectivity is already being utilized by a leading cybersecurity firm for real-time threat analysis [6] - Financial firms are exploring 400G for high-speed trading and quantitative research, positioning American Tower's data centers as a potential asset for enhancing returns [7]

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) beat Wall Street estimates when it recently reported revenue of $59.9 billion and diluted earnings per share of $8.88 for Q4 2025 (ended Dec. 31). Shares of the social media and digital ad leader are up 9% this year (as of Jan. 29). And they have climbed 372% in the past 36 months. Here's one prediction for Meta Platforms in 2026. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advi ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry and Companies Involved - **Industry**: Hardware & Networking, specifically focusing on Cloud Capital Expenditures (Capex) - **Companies**: Meta Platforms Inc (META), Microsoft (MSFT) Core Insights and Arguments - **Capex Growth Trends**: - Meta and Microsoft reported strong capex trends for the December quarter, with aggregate capex increasing by +10% quarter-over-quarter and +60% year-over-year to $60 billion [1] - Both companies expect significant capex growth in their respective fiscal years, with guidance for increases exceeding +$50 billion year-over-year and growth rates above +60% [1] - **Meta's Capex Outlook**: - Meta's capex for Q4 2025 rose by +14% quarter-over-quarter and +49% year-over-year to $22 billion, driven by investments in data centers, servers, and network infrastructure [3] - For 2026, Meta is guiding a full-year capex outlook of $115-$135 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of nearly +75% at the midpoint, translating to an increase of approximately +$55 billion compared to 2025 [3] - **Microsoft's Capex Outlook**: - Microsoft’s capex is projected to grow by more than +60% year-over-year in FY26, with Q2 FY26 capex rising +7% quarter-over-quarter and +66% year-over-year to $38 billion [3] - The majority of Microsoft's spending is focused on short-lived assets, including GPUs and CPUs, with significant investments in data center capacity, including nearly 1 gigawatt added in Q2 FY26 [3] - Microsoft anticipates a sequential decline in capex heading into Q3 FY26, but year-over-year growth is still expected to be +65%, equating to an increase of +$14 billion [3] Additional Important Information - **Positive Tailwinds for Related Companies**: The strong capex growth from Meta and Microsoft is expected to benefit companies in the coverage universe that are leveraged to AI infrastructure spending, including Amphenol, Arista, Celestica, Ciena, Coherent, Fabrinet, Flex, Jabil, and Lumentum [1] - **Analyst Coverage**: The report is produced by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, with analysts Samik Chatterjee, Joseph Cardoso, Manmohanpreet Singh, and Marc Vitenzon involved in the analysis [2] This summary encapsulates the key points from the conference call, highlighting the robust capex growth expectations for Meta and Microsoft, along with the implications for related companies in the industry.

Core Insights - The e-commerce giant is implementing cost-cutting measures to reallocate funds towards building data centers, aiming to enhance its competitive position in the artificial intelligence sector [1] Group 1 - The company is focused on reducing expenses as part of its strategy [1] - The investment in data centers is a strategic move to compete in the artificial intelligence race [1]

Core Viewpoint - The analysis suggests it may be an appropriate time to divest from Cisco Systems (CSCO) stock, maintaining a generally negative outlook with a potential price target of $54, reflecting a balanced mix of positive and negative factors regarding operational performance and financial health [2][3]. Company Overview - Cisco Systems has a market capitalization of $305 billion and provides Internet Protocol-based networking solutions, including switching, routing, wireless technology, data centers, collaboration tools, IoT solutions, and analytics software for the communications and IT sectors [6]. Financial Performance - Cisco's revenue has grown at an average annual rate of 3.7% over the past three years, with a recent increase of 8.9% from $53 billion to $58 billion in the last year [9]. - Quarterly revenues rose by 7.5% to $15 billion in the most recent quarter compared to $14 billion a year prior [9]. - The operating income for the last year was $13 billion, representing an operating margin of 22.5%, with a cash flow margin of 23.8%, generating approximately $14 billion in operating cash flow [10]. - Cisco produced nearly $10 billion in net income, indicating a net margin of around 17.9% [10]. Debt and Financial Stability - Cisco's debt stood at $28 billion at the end of the most recent quarter, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.2% [11]. - The company has $16 billion in cash (including cash equivalents) out of total assets of $121 billion, resulting in a cash-to-assets ratio of 13.0% [11]. - Financial stability appears very strong, although the company has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 during multiple economic downturns [8][12]. Market Position and Valuation - Cisco's core networking business remains resilient, supported by recurring software and services revenue, but growth has been uneven due to enterprise IT spending uncertainty and increased competition in cloud networking and AI infrastructure [3]. - The stock is considered unattractive due to its elevated valuation relative to its growth profile and peers, with limited upside and asymmetric downside risk if macro conditions weaken or AI-driven networking demand does not accelerate as expected [3][7].