Vertiv v první polovině roku 2026 vzrostl o 106,7 % díky prudkému růstu objednávek a poptávce po chlazení datových center pro AI. Backlog se vyšplhal na více než 15 miliard USD.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT -0.81%) stock more than doubled in the first half of 2026, surging 106.7% overall according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. It hit a 52-week high of $379.93 in mid-May.
When hyperscalers committed to spending over $650 billion combined going into 2026, they ran into a massive physical bottleneck. Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers stacked with high-density chips draw insane amounts of power and generate heat that would melt standard air-conditioning and power systems. Multi-billion-dollar AI infrastructures would crumble if you can't cool down those server racks 24X7.
That's where Vertiv stepped in and essentially cornered the market. Between explosive order flows, earnings growth, and acquisitions, the stock skyrocketed in the first six months of the year.
Image source: Getty Images.
A $15 billion backlog Because direct-to-chip liquid cooling has become an absolute necessity for data centers, Vertiv's order book is exploding. Its fourth-quarter organic orders jumped 252% year over year, and backlog more than doubled to a record $15 billion.
Its Q1 numbers again beat estimates, with net sales and operating profit surging 30% and 51%, respectively.
The company didn't disclose first-quarter orders, but expects strong order growth this year. Management immediately raised its full-year outlook, projecting 29% to 31% organic sales growth and 66% earnings-per-share growth at the midpoint.
Those numbers sent the stock into a tizzy, but Vertiv didn't just ride the numbers game.
Aggressive expansion to meet AI demand Vertiv has deepened its partnership with Nvidia this year.
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It adapted its existing OneCore modular infrastructure line into a version built for Nvidia's Vera Rubin DSX AI factory blueprint. Vertiv also added a digital twin of its SmartRun infrastructure system, allowing data center builders to simulate and test their power and cooling setup virtually before construction using Nvidia's software.
Vertiv is positioning itself as a core partner in Nvidia's AI build-out, and that's one of the reasons the stock has drawn investor attention in recent months.
Knowing that liquid-cooling components would be a bottleneck, Vertiv also went on a strategic buying spree, lapping up Strategic Thermal Labs, BMarko Structures, and ThermoKey, all in the first half of 2026.
In between, Vertiv announced a major expansion program, including two new manufacturing facilities in South Carolina that alone could boost regional capacity by nearly 7 times at full capacity. It also announced expansions in Pennsylvania and Mexico.
Should you buy Vertiv stock before July 29? Several analysts lifted their price targets as Vertiv stock outran their models. Loop Capital is among the most bullish, with a $500 per share price target. Analysts from the firm expect AI spending on power and cooling systems to surge through 2028, expanding Vertiv's AI data center revenue opportunity by almost 7x between 2023 and 2028.
Vertiv continues to expand. In July alone, it has opened a manufacturing facility in Malaysia to cater to AI infrastructure demand across Asia, including Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It has also announced plans to double chiller production near Italy by the end of this year.
Grand View Research's June report predicts that the global data center liquid cooling market will grow at an annualized rate of 20% from 2026 to 2033. Asia-Pacific will be the fastest-growing market, according to the report.
Vertiv is a hyper-growth AI infrastructure play, and remains a solid buy for 2026 and beyond. July 29 is the next big date to watch, when the company announces its second-quarter results before market open.
Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft bought a new position in shares of Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT – Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 2,105 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $490,000.
Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. SFE Investment Counsel increased its stake in Vertiv by 1.1% in the first quarter. SFE Investment Counsel now owns 3,052 shares of the company’s stock valued at $765,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Webster Bank N. A. increased its stake in shares of Vertiv by 6.9% in the 1st quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 542 shares of the company’s stock valued at $136,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Sachetta LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vertiv by 41.4% during the 1st quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 123 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Vertiv by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,908 shares of the company’s stock worth $478,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quotient Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Vertiv by 2.5% in the first quarter. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,813 shares of the company’s stock valued at $454,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 89.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Vertiv Stock Performance NYSE:VRT opened at $304.73 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $317.64 and a 200-day moving average of $272.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $117.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 76.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 2.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Vertiv Holdings Co. has a twelve month low of $118.70 and a twelve month high of $379.93.
Vertiv (NYSE:VRT – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The company reported $1.17 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.17. Vertiv had a return on equity of 49.90% and a net margin of 14.37%.The business had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.63 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.64 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 30.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Vertiv Holdings Co. will post 6.38 EPS for the current year.
Vertiv Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 25th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th were given a $0.0625 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 15th. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.1%. Vertiv’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.28%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on VRT shares. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Vertiv from $370.00 to $440.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 15th. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on shares of Vertiv in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $345.00 price objective for the company. HSBC began coverage on shares of Vertiv in a research note on Wednesday, March 25th. They set a “buy” rating and a $325.00 target price on the stock. TD Cowen increased their price target on Vertiv from $347.00 to $387.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating and set a $260.00 price objective (down from $280.00) on shares of Vertiv in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $342.73.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on VRT
Key Vertiv News Here are the key news stories impacting Vertiv this week:
Positive Sentiment: Vertiv announced a major expansion at its Tognana campus in Italy to increase manufacturing and testing for data center cooling systems, with chiller production capacity expected to double by the end of 2026. The move supports rising demand tied to AI and high-density computing. Vertiv Expands Global Manufacturing Capacity for AI-Ready Data Center Cooling Solutions Positive Sentiment: Vertiv completed the acquisition of Strategic Thermal Labs, adding advanced liquid-cooling and cold-plate expertise that should strengthen its offerings for AI servers and other power-dense computing environments. Vertiv (VRT) Is Buying Strategic Thermal Labs For AI Cooling Growth Positive Sentiment: Separately, Zacks highlighted Vertiv as one of several stocks offering both AI exposure and dividend payouts, keeping the name on investors’ radar as an AI beneficiary with income appeal. These Stocks Offer AI Exposure and Dividend Payouts Neutral Sentiment: Vertiv has also been attracting unusual investor attention and media coverage, which can boost trading activity but does not by itself change the company’s fundamentals. Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know Negative Sentiment: Jim Cramer’s “wait before buying the dip” comment is a cautious signal that may temper near-term enthusiasm, though it is more opinion than a direct company-specific warning. Jim Cramer says wait before buying the dip on Vertiv Vertiv Company Profile (Free Report)
Vertiv is a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions for data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial environments. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company designs, manufactures and services equipment and software that support power availability, thermal management and IT infrastructure management for a broad set of end markets, including hyperscale and enterprise data centers, colocation providers, telecom operators and industrial customers.
The company’s product portfolio includes uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units (PDUs), battery and DC power systems, precision cooling and thermal management equipment, racks and enclosures, and integrated modular infrastructure.
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Vertiv rozšiřuje závod v Tognaně u Padovy, aby do konce roku 2026 zdvojnásobil regionální kapacitu výroby chillerů pro datová centra. Nová laboratoř pro testování má být hotová začátkem roku 2027.
Expansions at the company's Tognana, Italy, technology campus support growing worldwide demand for advanced thermal infrastructure and strengthen Vertiv's cooling innovation capabilities
, /PRNewswire/ -- Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, today announced investments at its Tognana campus near Padua, Italy, to expand manufacturing and integrated testing capabilities for data center cooling systems. The company expects the investments to double chiller production capacity in the region by the end of 2026 and plans to complete a new large-scale testing laboratory in early 2027, supporting growing demand for AI and high-density computing infrastructure.
Vertiv expects to double regional chiller manufacturing capacity with the expansion of its Tognana, Italy facility. The new laboratory will enable testing of large-scale chillers and validate their integration with liquid cooling systems under high-density load conditions and extreme temperature ranges. The expanded capability is intended to help customers validate thermal performance under expected site conditions and deploy increasingly complex cooling systems with greater speed and confidence.
"AI is driving thermal demands that didn't exist two years ago, with higher densities, faster deployment demands, and no room to compromise on reliability," said Gio Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv. "The expansion at Tognana puts us further ahead with more manufacturing capacity, integrated testing, and advanced thermal management systems built for current and future generations of silicon. This investment reinforces our position at the front of the curve."
The campus serves as one of Vertiv's principal centers for cooling technology development, integrating research and development, product management, manufacturing, testing, and customer engagement. The site includes a Customer Experience Center where customers and consultants can participate in witness testing of a broad range of cooling technologies across the thermal chain under real-world operating conditions.
For more information on Vertiv's leading portfolio of power and thermal management, infrastructure solutions, IT systems, and services for critical digital applications, visit Vertiv.com.
About Vertiv
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers' vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today's data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com.
Forward-looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27 of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. These statements are only a prediction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements set forth herein. Readers are referred to Vertiv's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning Vertiv and its operations. Vertiv is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
AI chips are fueling the latest technology. For example, chatbots, autonomous vehicles, and humanoid robots all need powerful parallel processors that can process massive amounts of data rapidly so they can respond to questions or what's happening in the environment around them in real-time.
However, when they're working, those AI chips get extremely hot, which can result in reduced performance, component damage, shortened chip lifespans, and even fires. That's why liquid cooling systems are a part of every data center. They prevent the chips from overheating, and those systems are as vital to the AI boom as the chips themselves.
Vertiv (VRT +0.75%) is among the leaders in data center liquid cooling. Its stock is up by more than 60% year to date, soundly outperforming the S&P 500 over that period. Its key role in AI infrastructure suggests that its momentum could be sustainable.
Image source: Getty Images.
More data centers increase the demand for liquid cooling solutions Vertiv's revenue growth will depend on the success of Nvidia and the continuation of the data center build-out. The leading chipmaker's 85% year-over-year revenue growth in its fiscal 2027 first quarter shows that chips are still in high demand. Each of those chips will need liquid cooling to actually function.
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The data center narrative is even more compelling. Market intelligence company Cleanview asserts that there are 1,214 large-scale data centers operating in the U.S., with another 1,714 data centers planned. The site also lists 55,509 megawatts in operating capacity, compared to 369,555 megawatts in planned capacity.
Iren's Childress site tops the list as the largest operating data center in the U.S., at 750 megawatts. Meanwhile, the nine largest data centers in development will all exceed 5 gigawatts. That indicates just how huge the market is for liquid cooling solutions of the type that Vertiv provides.
Vertiv's pricing power is growing Naturally, all of the upcoming data centers have boosted demand for Vertiv's services, which has given it strong pricing power. The company reported 30% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter while more than doubling its net income.
Vertiv's net profit margins comfortably sit in the double digits and may continue to inch higher if current growth rate trends prevail. Given the soaring demand for new data center capacity, that's likely. However, Vertiv also benefits since its services are required to maintain the liquid cooling systems it installs. Every new data center site represents a potential customer and a potential recurring revenue source.
In its Q1 report, management did not mention the company's backlog, but Vertiv wrapped up 2025 with a book-to-bill backlog of $15 billion, which was a 109% year-over-year increase. And Vertiv recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Malaysia so it can serve more customers, evidence that it expects AI demand to keep growing.
Strategic Thermal Labs delivers advanced liquid cooling and thermal engineering solutions for high-performance computing
, /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Strategic Thermal Labs (STL), a specialist in advanced liquid-cooling technologies, to a wholly owned subsidiary of Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure.
Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Strategic Thermal Labs (STL), a specialist in advanced liquid-cooling technologies, to a wholly owned subsidiary of Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure. BGL's Digital Infrastructure investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to Strategic Thermal Labs. Learn more here: https://www.bglco.com/industry-coverage/infrastructure-investment-banking/digital-infrastructure-investment-banking/
Headquartered in Georgetown, Texas, STL is a thermal engineering firm specializing in direct-to-chip liquid cooling, including the design and development of high-performance cold plate solutions. The company provides deep expertise and proven capability in addressing some of the industry's most demanding chip-level density and thermal challenges across data centers, high-performance computing, and AI-driven infrastructure.
Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, Vertiv provides power, cooling, and IT infrastructure solutions and services that support critical applications across data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments.
Transaction Details
The acquisition extends Vertiv's thermal-chain strategy by strengthening engineering capability at the interface between server-side liquid cooling and supporting infrastructure—an increasingly critical factor in high-density, liquid-cooled environments supporting AI and high-performance computing workloads. The addition of Strategic Thermal Labs supports Vertiv's broader strategy of helping customers address increasing infrastructure complexity through integrated power, thermal, controls, and lifecycle services capabilities. Strategic Thermal Labs adds proven cold-plate design, server-side liquid cooling, and high-density thermal validation expertise and engineering capability that is expected to strengthen Vertiv's ability to simulate and emulate real high-density compute conditions, optimize the interaction between the thermal chain and power train, and support customers across design, integration, commissioning, and lifecycle operations. About BGL's Digital Infrastructure Investment Banking Team
BGL's Digital Infrastructure investment banking team helps clients both create and maximize value across various sectors, including broadband, wireless, data centers & managed services, towers & wireless infrastructure, and digital infrastructure services.
To learn more about BGL's recent transactions in digital infrastructure investment, visit our Transaction page.
About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has offices in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York. The firm is also a founding member of REACH Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions, enabling BGL to service clients in 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.
Vertiv ve 1. čtvrtletí 2026 zvýšil tržby o 30 % na 2,65 miliardy USD a upravený zředěný EPS o 83 % na 1,17 USD. Firma zároveň zvýšila celoroční výhled.
Vertiv (VRT 0.74%) is getting renewed investor attention as artificial intelligence spending shifts from hype to real-world build-outs. That's because every new data center uses huge amounts of electricity and produces huge amounts of heat.
Without reliable power supplies, robust backup systems, and advanced cooling, the world's most powerful AI chips are basically expensive paperweights. Vertiv sells power and cooling gear that data centers can't run without. That helps explain the 1,070% surge in Vertiv's stock over the past five years as investors chased the infrastructure side of the AI story.
The question for investors today, though, is whether the fundamentals can support more upside from here.
Image source: Getty Images.
The data center boom is already showing up in Vertiv's numbers In the first quarter of 2026, Vertiv's revenue increased 30% year over year to $2.65 billion. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) jumped 83% to $1.17.
Management also raised its 2026 guidance, projecting revenue of $13.5 billion to $14 billion for the year, and adjusted EPS of $6.30 to $6.40.
Step back a bit further, and the trend is hard to miss. Over the last three years, Vertiv's revenue and net income have improved significantly. Together, it suggests Vertiv's push into AI-related data center demand is already translating into results. That's impressive for a company that has only been public for six years.
So what could keep the momentum going?
Artificial intelligence could reach $2 trillion by 2034 Vertiv's biggest catalyst is its position serving the AI build-out. There are forecasts that the artificial intelligence industry will grow to a value of $2 trillion by 2034. It's hard to imagine that happening without a lot more data centers.
That's where the spending wave comes in. The four major hyperscalers -- Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Alphabet -- have all been vocal about their plans to increase capital expenditures tied to AI and infrastructure. Some portion of that money will inevitably flow into the less-glamorous parts of the stack, like power, cooling, and the hardware needed to keep data centers running reliably.
Vertiv hasn't publicly disclosed major contracts with AWS, Microsoft, Google, or Meta. Still, it has announced an engineering partnership with Nvidia to develop power and liquid-cooling architectures that hyperscalers may use when deploying next-generation AI systems. That kind of partnership can provide a company with enhanced credibility and help open doors to additional deals over time.
Its P/E of 80 could be a cause for concern The catch is that Vertiv's stock has moved much faster than most "normal" valuation models would expect.
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Shares are up about 150% over the last 52 weeks and more than 3,000% since it went public in 2020 via a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The stock also trades at roughly 80 times earnings. At today's price, investors are paying about $80 for every $1 of profit the company generates.
On a traditional basis, that's a steep premium. It's also not unique in the AI trade, where investors are often willing to pay up now for growth they expect to show up later.
Even so, Vertiv's valuation stands out compared with some of the biggest names in tech. Nvidia trades around 32 times earnings, Meta around 24, Microsoft around 23, and Amazon and Alphabet are both below 30.
Does that mean investors should avoid Vertiv simply because the price-to-earnings ratio is high? Not necessarily. Such a premium could be justified if growth remains strong and demand for data center infrastructure continues to accelerate. If AI spending is still in its early innings and hyperscalers continue to build out capacity, Vertiv's business could grow enough to match today's optimistic valuation.
Is Vertiv a buy? For long-term investors with a higher tolerance for volatility, Vertiv could be a compelling buy. The stock isn't cheap, but the company's leadership in power and cooling, plus AI's shift from hype to real-world infrastructure spending, gives the thesis room to keep working.
If the "real economy" phase of AI is just getting started, Vertiv may remain one of the clearer ways to ride it, even if the path is bumpy.
Akcie Vertiv 30. června vyskočily o 9,1 % poté, co Jižní Korea oznámila rozsáhlý program investic do polovodičů a AI infrastruktury. Firma sama žádné nové zprávy nevydala.
Artificial intelligence stocks often move on earnings reports, product launches, or analyst upgrades. Vertiv Holdings (NYSE: VRT | VRT Price Prediction) did none of those things on June 30, yet its shares climbed 9.1%, adding nearly $11 billion in market value in a single trading session. The catalyst originated more than 6,000 miles away in Seoul, where the South Korean government unveiled one of the world’s most ambitious semiconductor and AI infrastructure investment programs. That reaction illustrates how investors increasingly view AI infrastructure companies as global beneficiaries of AI investment, regardless of where those investments originate.
That’s an unusual way for an industrial company to gain nearly $11 billion in market value, but it says a great deal about how Wall Street now views AI infrastructure. Investors are increasingly reacting not just to company-specific news, but to any development that suggests the global AI buildout will continue accelerating.
That disconnect between where the news occurred and where investors directed their money explains much about how Wall Street is beginning to value the next phase of the AI infrastructure cycle. Increasingly, investors are reacting not simply to company-specific developments but to any indication that global AI spending will continue expanding. Vertiv has become one of the clearest beneficiaries of that trend because its products sit at the heart of virtually every modern AI data center.
The question investors now face is whether Vertiv has become the best way to invest in the global AI infrastructure buildout, or whether its shares have become a high-beta proxy for AI enthusiasm that could swing sharply whenever sentiment changes. That distinction may determine whether June 30 marks the start of another leg higher, or just another volatile day in one of the market’s fastest-growing infrastructure names.
The $576 Billion Catalyst: South Korea’s AI Ambition The news that ignited the rally came from South Korea, where President Lee Jae Myung announced a sweeping national initiative to strengthen the country’s leadership in semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
According to Table 1, South Korea’s announcement represents one of the largest government-supported AI infrastructure initiatives announced anywhere in the world. Although much of the investment will be directed toward semiconductor manufacturing, every new AI data center also requires extensive electrical distribution, power management, thermal management, and cooling infrastructure before computing hardware can be deployed. That is why investors immediately connected the announcement to companies such as Vertiv.
Vertiv was never mentioned during the announcement. It did not need to be. Every large AI data center requires electrical distribution equipment, power conversion systems, backup power, liquid cooling, thermal management, and monitoring software before a single AI accelerator is ever installed — regardless of whether the chips inside come from Nvidia, AMD, custom ASIC programs, or future architectures.
Markets make these connections long before company press releases do. Investors recognized immediately that a program of this magnitude would require far more than semiconductors—it would require the electrical and thermal infrastructure that allows AI data centers to operate.
Why Vertiv Wins Regardless of Which Chip Wins That reality increasingly explains why investors have begun viewing Vertiv as a direct beneficiary of global AI investment rather than merely another industrial equipment company. When governments or hyperscale cloud providers announce multi-billion-dollar AI infrastructure programs, investors immediately ask which companies will supply the essential systems that make those facilities operable — and Vertiv consistently appears near the top of that list.
The June 30 rally illustrates just how tightly Vertiv’s stock is now tied to AI infrastructure sentiment. The company issued no press release, offered no updated guidance, and announced no new customer wins. Investors simply interpreted Seoul’s announcement as fresh confirmation that global AI infrastructure spending remains in its early stages — a read that lines up with hyperscaler capex programs in the U.S., sovereign AI strategies across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and gradually rising enterprise adoption of generative AI workloads.
Unlike semiconductor manufacturers, whose growth depends partly on which AI accelerator wins market share, Vertiv benefits regardless of which computing platform customers choose. That broad exposure lets the company participate across the entire AI ecosystem rather than betting on a single chip architecture.
The Real Bottleneck: Power, Not Processors Management has been expanding Vertiv’s technological reach to address one of the industry’s fastest-growing challenges: delivering enough electrical power to increasingly dense AI computing environments. At Vertiv’s May 2026 Investor Conference, Chief Product and Technology Officer Scott Armul laid out just how quickly rack power requirements are escalating. According to Table 2, AI computing density is increasing at an extraordinary pace. Rack power requirements that only recently averaged approximately 140 kilowatts are already approaching 300 kilowatts, with 600-kilowatt systems under development and one-megawatt racks appearing on long-term technology roadmaps. This dramatic increase explains why electrical infrastructure and thermal management are becoming the primary constraints on future AI data center expansion.
That trajectory is reshaping data center design. Historically, attention centered on processors and networking gear. Today, electrical distribution, battery storage, cooling architecture, and grid integration increasingly determine whether an AI facility can be built and run efficiently at all — the bottleneck is shifting from compute hardware to the infrastructure needed to deliver that much reliable power.
Vertiv has responded with integrated products that combine medium-voltage switchgear, battery energy storage, and uninterruptible power systems into unified platforms built for multi-megawatt AI installations — designed not just as backup equipment, but to help AI campuses act as active participants within increasingly constrained electrical grids. Industry commentary increasingly backs this integration thesis: as rack densities rise, power management, liquid cooling, and thermal control stop being separate engineering disciplines and start being one interconnected system, favoring suppliers who can deliver the whole stack rather than individual components.
Vertiv’s Own Numbers: Growth With Visibility According to Table 3, Vertiv participates across nearly every major infrastructure layer required to operate a modern AI data center. Unlike semiconductor manufacturers, whose revenues depend partly on which AI accelerator customers adopt, Vertiv benefits regardless of the processor architecture because every AI installation requires reliable power delivery, thermal management, backup power, and increasingly sophisticated liquid-cooling systems.
Demand is supported by a substantial order backlog that gives Vertiv unusually strong revenue visibility for an industrial company. While many manufacturers rely on short-term orders that swing with economic conditions, Vertiv enters each quarter with a significant share of future revenue already committed by customers.
The confidence reflected in that backlog is also evident in Vertiv’s manufacturing expansion strategy. Earlier this year, the company opened a new manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia, its first in Southeast Asia. The facility will produce power systems, liquid-cooling equipment, and integrated infrastructure for customers across Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. By adding manufacturing capacity well before AI infrastructure demand is expected to peak, management is signaling confidence that hyperscaler and sovereign AI investments will continue driving orders for years rather than quarters.
That confidence also shows up in capital allocation: earlier this year, Vertiv announced a new manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia, built to serve fast-growing demand across Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Expanding production capacity years ahead of anticipated demand peaks suggests management expects AI infrastructure investment to stay strong well beyond the current product cycle.
The Valuation Question: Bull Case vs. Bear Case According to Table 4, the investment debate surrounding Vertiv is straightforward. Supporters believe the company’s exceptional growth rate, expanding margins, and broad exposure to AI infrastructure justify a premium valuation. Skeptics counter that much of that future success has already been reflected in the share price, leaving little room for execution missteps should AI capital spending moderate.
The valuation debate is straightforward. Investors aren’t questioning whether Vertiv is benefiting from AI infrastructure spending—they’re debating how much of that future growth is already reflected in today’s share price.
What to Watch: Q2 Earnings The South Korean announcement demonstrated that AI infrastructure investment is no longer driven exclusively by U.S. hyperscale cloud providers. Governments increasingly treat artificial intelligence as strategic national infrastructure, requiring domestic investment in computing capacity, semiconductor manufacturing, and the electrical systems underneath it all. Every new sovereign AI initiative expands the addressable market for companies supplying that infrastructure — arguably more consequential for Vertiv’s long-term story than any single quarter.
The next real test arrives when Vertiv reports second-quarter results later this month. Investors will be watching revenue growth, order trends, operating margins, backlog conversion, and management’s outlook for the rest of 2026 — the figures that will determine whether the business keeps validating the optimism already priced into the stock.
Bottom Line June 30 answered one question while leaving another open. It confirmed that Wall Street increasingly views Vertiv as one of the purest publicly traded beneficiaries of the global AI infrastructure buildout. What’s still uncertain is whether the growth investors are now pricing in can continue long enough to justify the expectations already baked into the share price. In today’s market, sentiment can move a stock 9% in a matter of hours — sustained earnings growth is what determines whether those gains hold.
One additional factor investors should keep in mind is that AI infrastructure spending is becoming increasingly global rather than concentrated in a handful of U.S. technology companies. South Korea’s announcement illustrates how governments now view artificial intelligence as a strategic national asset requiring long-term investment in computing capacity, electrical infrastructure, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing. If similar initiatives continue to emerge in Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia, companies such as Vertiv could benefit from multiple independent sources of demand rather than relying solely on the capital spending plans of a few hyperscale cloud providers. That broader geographic diversification could become an important driver of long-term growth, even as investors continue debating the company’s premium valuation.
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Vertiv otevřel v Johoru v Malajsii nový výrobní závod pro AI a vysokohustotní výpočetní infrastrukturu v regionu APAC. Bude vyrábět napájecí, chladicí a integrovaná řešení včetně kapalinového chlazení.
Key Takeaways VRT expanded in Johor to boost AI and high-density computing infrastructure capacity across APAC. The site will make power, cooling and integrated infrastructure solutions, including liquid cooling systems. VRT shares have surged 88.6% year to date, while its Price/Book valuation stands above the sector. Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) is benefiting from the accelerating global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and its expansion in Malaysia is a strategic move to capture growth in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In the first quarter of 2026, Vertiv reported robust organic sales growth across multiple regions, with the Americas leading at 44% organic growth and APAC up 12%. In 2026, the company expects high-30s organic growth in the Americas, mid-20s in APAC and a return to growth in EMEA in the second half of the year.
The expansion in Malaysia is part of VRT’s broader strategy to increase its manufacturing and service footprint across APAC. The company recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia, expanding its production capacity to meet rising demand for AI and high-density computing infrastructure across Asia. The site strengthens Vertiv’s regional manufacturing, engineering, logistics and deployment capabilities while enhancing supply-chain resilience.
It will manufacture advanced power, cooling and integrated infrastructure solutions, including liquid cooling systems and prefabricated power modules, supported by full-scale testing. The expansion is expected to accelerate the deployment of AI-ready data centers, reduce implementation risks and improve customer responsiveness across Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
This expansion is part of a larger strategy at Vertiv to increase manufacturing capacity to meet rising demand in AI infrastructure. Its strong portfolio will continue to benefit the company’s top-line growth. For the second quarter of 2026, revenues are expected to be between $3.25 billion and $3.45 billion, reflecting confidence in sustained AI infrastructure spending.
VRT Faces Stiff CompetitionVertiv faces intense competition from Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) and Amphenol (APH - Free Report) . Both Super Micro Computer and Amphenol are expanding their AI infrastructure portfolios.
Super Micro Computer continues to broaden its AI infrastructure offerings through collaborations with AMD, Arm and NVIDIA. The company has introduced new rack-scale AI platforms and data center building blocks designed to accelerate the deployment of large-scale AI and agentic AI workloads, intensifying competition in AI-ready infrastructure.
Amphenol is also benefiting from rising AI infrastructure investments. In the first quarter of 2026, IT datacom accounted for approximately 41% of sales and grew 81% organically year over year, driven by accelerating investments in AI data centers and strong demand for high-speed connectivity and interconnect solutions.
Vertiv’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesVRT’s shares have surged 94.4% in the year-to-date (YTD) period compared with the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 14.7% growth. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry declined 23.3% in the same time frame.
VRT's YTD Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv stock is trading at a premium, with a trailing 12-month Price/Book of 27.65X compared with the sector’s 10.63X. VRT has a Value Score of D.
VRT Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.38 per share, which has increased 3.73% over the past 30 days. This indicates a 51.90% increase from the reported figure of 2025.
Vertiv currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Vertiv i Eaton těží z AI boomu díky rostoucím backlogům a silné poptávce po napájecí a chladicí infrastruktuře pro datová centra. Vertiv má backlog přes 15 miliard USD, Eaton 14,5 miliardy USD.
While software providers and chipmakers grab the biggest headlines, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is fundamentally a hardware story. The massive computing clusters required for artificial intelligence cannot run without two critical elements: staggering amounts of electrical power and highly sophisticated cooling systems.
Industrial companies Vertiv (VRT +8.32%) and Eaton (ETN +3.79%) help provide the essential infrastructure that keeps these artificial intelligence-focused data centers running.
Image source: Getty Images.
Vertiv, based in Westerville, Ohio, produces power and thermal solutions for data centers, mainly direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and has recurring revenue from its global services network.
Eaton, based in Ireland, is a power management company that designs and manufactures heavy-duty electrical infrastructure, including transformers, switchgear, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and advanced liquid-cooling systems, essential for powering and protecting data centers, utility grids, and industrial facilities.
Here are three reasons why these two companies have compelling stocks to own right now:
1. Hyperscale backlogs are growing The massive capital expenditures committed by big tech hyperscalers are showing no signs of slowing, translating directly into a massive multiyear visibility window for both companies.
Vertiv, at the end of 2025, said its project backlog had skyrocketed to more than $15 billion, driven by a massive surge in data center orders. In the first quarter, Vertiv reported revenue of $2.65 billion, up 30% year over year, and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.99, up 136% over the same quarter a year ago. The company said it expects full-year revenue of $13.5 billion to $14 billion, compared with $10.2 billion in 2025. It also gave yearly EPS guidance of $6.30 to $6.40, up 87.6% from the same period last year.
Eaton is seeing a parallel boom with a backlog of $14.5 billion through Q1. The backlog grew by 48% in its electrical segment and by 28% in its aerospace segment in Q1.
Eaton is also seeing double-digit revenue growth. It set a Q1 record with $7.5 billion in revenue, up 17% year over year, while adjusted EPS rose 3% over the same period last year to $2.81.
Because building a data center takes years, these backlogs guarantee a long, highly visible revenue runway that insulates both companies from short-term tech market volatility.
2. Vertiv dominates the liquid cooling market Traditional data centers use air conditioning to stay cool. However, the next-generation chips powering AI generate intense heat densities that air alone cannot manage. The industry is rapidly pivoting to liquid cooling, and Vertiv is uniquely positioned to dominate this space.
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Vertiv has rapidly expanded its footprint, including opening high-capacity facilities, such as its new Johor, Malaysia site, to manufacture specialized liquid-cooling equipment, including its CoolChip coolant distribution units.
Through strategic partnerships with chip design leaders and tactical acquisitions such as its purchase of Strategic Thermal Labs, Vertiv provides end-to-end solutions from chip-level cold plates to facility-scale heat rejection, making it the absolute go-to partner for high-density AI clusters.
3. Eaton rules the in-demand gray space power market If Vertiv rules the thermal environment inside the server room (the white space), Eaton rules the massive electrical infrastructure that brings power from the utility grid into the building (the gray space). AI chips require immense amounts of power, and Eaton's technical moat is solving this bottleneck.
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Eaton provides heavy-duty transformers, switchgear, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to handle megawatt-class server racks.
Its next-generation 800-volt DC power distribution architecture streamlines power delivery directly to the server, eliminating multiple conversion steps and significantly reducing energy loss. Eaton's $9.5 billion acquisition in March of Boyd Performance Materials significantly expands its own advanced thermal capabilities, making it a more complete infrastructure powerhouse. The move is expected to be accretive to Eaton's adjusted EPS within two years, it said.
The pick-and-shovel plays are the safest ones in AI Chip architectures will evolve, and competing software models will come and go, but every single iteration of advanced AI will require massive power distribution and extreme heat management. Eaton and Vertiv effectively tax the entire ecosystem's growth, regardless of which tech giant wins the software race.
There are risks, however. Both stocks are now viewed as AI stocks, and with that come higher valuations and greater volatility.
Vertiv's shares have risen by more than 25% so far this year, and Eaton's are up an astronomically high 85%. With that, their price-to-earnings ratios (P/E) have climbed. Eaton trades at more than 38 times trailing earnings, while Vertiv trades at 75 times trailing earnings. That's a lot to live up to, and any type of AI slowdown could send either stock slumping.
Still, both companies are beneficiaries of rising AI spending, and that trend doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Vertiv otevřel novou továrnu v Malajsii, aby posílil výrobu a dodávky infrastruktury pro AI a digitální systémy v Asii. Závod má podpořit chlazení, napájení i rychlejší nasazení řešení.
New facility strengthens regional manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and deployment capabilities for power, cooling, and integrated infrastructure solutions.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, today announced the opening of its manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia, expanding the company's manufacturing footprint to support growing demand for AI and high-density computing infrastructure across Asia, including Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Vertiv opens new Malaysia facility to strengthen regional manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and support deployment capabilities for critical digital infrastructure. Strategically located in one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing industrial markets, the facility strengthens Vertiv's ability to support customers with regional manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and deployment capabilities. The site benefits from strong regional connectivity and proximity to key technology and customer hubs across the region.
"Asia continues to be one of the fastest-growing regions for AI and digital infrastructure investment, and expanding our manufacturing footprint in Malaysia aims to further enhance our ability to support customers with quality, speed, scale, and resilience," said Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv. "This facility represents another important step in our continuous capacity planning and deployment strategy as we further expand our regional and global manufacturing capabilities."
Albertazzi added: "As compute requirements evolve across multiple generations of AI infrastructure, customers need partners to provide power, cooling, and infrastructure solutions at scale. The Johor facility enhances our ability to help customers deploy critical digital infrastructure more efficiently while supporting long-term growth across Asia."
Manufacturing and test facilities
The Johor facility supports end-to-end manufacturing, assembly, and full-scale witness testing for advanced thermal and power infrastructure, enabling Vertiv to deliver high-density solutions with validated performance to help reduce deployment risk and accelerate time to capacity for customers across enterprise, cloud, and colocation environments.
The facility is expected to bring hundreds of skilled jobs to the region, when fully operationalized in 2027. Manufacturing capabilities for large-scale thermal management, power, and infrastructure solutions for AI and traditional applications: Vertiv™ CoolChip coolant distribution units (CDUs) support liquid cooling applications, including direct-to-chip and rear door heat exchangers for high density racks; Vertiv™ Power Module and Vertiv™ Power Skid are prefabricated power solutions with integrated modular infrastructure that can speed deployment of power systems by up to 50% over traditional builds; and Vertiv™ SmartRun integrated prefabricated overhead infrastructure system, is white space fit-out delivered as a unified system, with high-density busway, liquid cooling piping networking, and containment, providing on-site deployment time up to 85% faster than traditional methods. A dedicated testing environment designed to validate liquid cooling and integrated power solutions under customer site conditions before deployment, including CDU testing for the full range of capacities; and simultaneous testing of multiple power modules and skids. For more information about Vertiv's leading portfolio of power and thermal management, infrastructure solutions, IT systems and services for critical digital applications, visit Vertiv.com.
About Vertiv
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers' vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today's data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com.
Forward-looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27 of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. These statements are only a prediction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements set forth herein. Readers are referred to Vertiv's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning Vertiv and its operations. Vertiv is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Vertiv z akvizice v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 získal 4 % výnosů a rozšířil nabídku pro datová centra. Ve 2. čtvrtletí čeká výnosy 3,25–3,45 mld. USD a organický růst čistých výnosů o 20–24 %.
Key Takeaways Vertiv's acquisitions added 4% to first-quarter 2026 revenues and broadened its data center offerings. VRT expects second-quarter 2026 revenues of $3.25B-$3.45B and 20-24% organic net sales growth. Vertiv faces stronger AI infrastructure competition from Super Micro Computer and Amphenol. Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) is benefiting from the strategic expansion of its portfolio through recent acquisitions, positioning the company for continued growth in the rapidly evolving data center infrastructure market. In the first quarter of 2026, acquisitions contributed 4% to revenues.
The company’s acquisitions, such as PurgeRite, ThermoKey, and BMarko Structures and Strategic Thermal Labs, are expected to strengthen Vertiv’s capabilities and market reach. The company recently announced the completion of its acquisition of ThermoKey S.p.A., a move that enhances Vertiv’s thermal management portfolio, expands its heat rejection and heat-exchange capabilities and strengthens its long-standing relationships with OEMs and system integrators serving data centers and other critical infrastructure markets worldwide.
The PurgeRite acquisition remains noteworthy. The acquisition is being scaled to deepen fluid management services, which management described as a technically demanding aspect of modern liquid-cooled deployments. In the first quarter of 2026, Vertiv completed the acquisition of BMarko, enhancing its structural fabrication specialization and expanding its engineering and manufacturing capacity. These moves broaden the company’s end-to-end offering and support a higher attach rate for services as the installed base grows.
The acquisitions are expected to contribute to Vertiv’s robust growth trajectory. For the second quarter of 2026, revenues are expected to be between $3.25 billion and $3.45 billion. Organic net sales are expected to increase in the 20-24% range.
VRT Suffers From Stiff CompetitionVertiv’s AI infrastructure solutions are facing increasing competition from Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) and Amphenol (APH - Free Report) . Both Super Micro Computer and Amphenol are expanding their offerings to support high-density, AI-driven data center deployments.
Super Micro Computer’s expanding portfolio has been noteworthy. The company recently expanded its AI infrastructure portfolio through collaborations with AMD, Arm, and NVIDIA, introducing new rack-scale platforms and data center blueprints designed to accelerate the deployment of large-scale agentic AI workloads.
Amphenol is benefiting from the surge in demand for AI infrastructure, which has become a transformative force for the company’s growth and market positioning. In the first quarter of 2026, IT datacom represented about 41% of sales and grew 81% organically year over year. This robust performance was driven by accelerating investments in AI data centers and the company’s ability to capture a significant share of this unique interconnect opportunity.
Vertiv’s Share Price Performance, Valuation, and EstimatesVRT’s shares have surged 89.5% in the year-to-date period compared with the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector's rise of 12.9%. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry declined 26.8% in the same time frame.
VRT Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv stock is trading at a premium, with a trailing 12-month Price/Book of 27.78X compared with the Computer and Technology sector’s 9.82X. VRT has a Value Score of D.
VRT's Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.36 per share, which has increased 3.41% over the past 30 days. This indicates a 51.43% increase from the reported figure of 2025.
Vertiv currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Just when you thought the Semiconductor/AI data center capital spending boom was slowing down, the South Korean government just announced a government/corporate plan to invest more than $1 trillion in semiconductor fabrication plants and AI data centers. That's great news for companies like Vertiv (VRT +8.23%), whose power systems infrastructure technology lies at the heart of the data center buildout. The news was enough to send Vertiv stock 7% higher by midday today.
What South Korea just announced The spending is driven by the corporate sector, which accounts for the bulk of it. Samsung and SK Hynix will invest about $518 billion in new semiconductor fabrication plants, while SK Group (parent of SK Hynix), GS Group, and Naver will invest about $356 billion in AI data centers. It's the latter that will interest Vertiv investors, given its direct exposure to AI data center spending.
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What it means to Vertiv Vertiv generates about 20% of its sales in Asia and has an active presence in South Korea. While Vertiv doesn't have formal partnerships with the three companies investing in the data centers, it's linked to Naver through Naver's partnership with Nvidia. In fact, Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, described Naver as being a key partner in the global AI ecosystem. Vertiv is one of the key stocks to buy for exposure to the AI data center boom.
Image source: Getty Images.
Given that Vertiv's power systems are embedded in Nvidia's architecture, Vertiv is likely to benefit from Nvidia's spending plans. Optimism on that front was enough to send the stock higher, and investors and analysts will likely start penciling in increased orders for Vertiv after this news flow.
Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Vertiv. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
