Heavily shorted growth stocks are not en vogue --but their potential is still enticingThe last thing investors are thinking about right now -- as Wall Street wrestles with AI disruption -- is a short squeeze. But maybe that's what contrarians should be doing now, monitoring stocks to buy the dip on that could send bearish bettors packing. This screen finds stocks where the shorts might be at a big loss and therefore likely to begin covering. Obviously, there are quite a few assumptions so these would be ver ...

Core Insights - Nvidia's recent investment adjustments, particularly the increase in stake in Nokia, highlight a strategic shift towards enhancing its "physical AI" strategy, focusing on the synergy between computing power and network infrastructure [1][10][12] - The decision to divest from ARM and Applied Digital while increasing holdings in Intel and Synopsys indicates a move towards consolidating efforts in AI infrastructure [3][12][7] Company Overview - Nokia has transitioned from a consumer electronics giant to a leading telecommunications equipment supplier, currently experiencing a recovery with a stock price of $7.77, a 27.59% increase over the past three months, and a market capitalization of $44.617 billion [8][1] - The company has strong capabilities in 5G access, base station software, and optical communication, and is set to enhance its core competencies with the acquisition of Infinera in 2024 [8][1] Strategic Intent - Nvidia's increase in Nokia shares is not a random financial investment but a calculated move to integrate Nokia's network capabilities with Nvidia's AI computing strengths, facilitating the deployment of AI technologies in telecommunications [10][12] - The strategic focus is on creating a closed-loop ecosystem that combines computing power, network infrastructure, and chip design, which is essential for the development of physical AI applications [12][6] Investment Adjustments - Nvidia's divestment from ARM and Applied Digital reflects a strategic realignment to focus on core areas that support the "compute + network" model, avoiding distractions from non-core investments [12][3] - The investments in Intel and Synopsys are aimed at addressing AI chip production bottlenecks and enhancing collaboration in chip design, which are critical for the overall AI infrastructure [12][6]

Core Insights - The sell-off in CoreWeave's stock was triggered by a report indicating significant financing challenges for its infrastructure expansion [1] - Concerns about liquidity in the AI infrastructure sector were heightened by Blue Owl's decision to stop quarterly redemptions for one of its retail-focused funds, seen as a warning sign [2] Data Center Financing Issues - CoreWeave's facility was meant to be a flagship site for its GPU-as-a-service model, but financing worries have emerged [2] - The market reaction suggests that investors are increasingly focused on the stability of data center financing rather than just growth metrics [4] Impact on Related Companies - The negative sentiment quickly affected other companies in the same capital-intensive ecosystem, including Nebius and Applied Digital [3] - Nebius, aiming to be Europe's leading AI factory, shares a similar reliance on debt-fueled hardware acquisition, which has raised concerns among investors [3] - Applied Digital is also vulnerable to shifts in private credit markets, especially after NVIDIA reduced its stake in the company [3] Market Reactions - Despite reassurances from Blue Owl and CoreWeave about a $500 million bridge loan and intact project timelines, market reactions indicate deepening concerns about financing [4] - The price movements of CoreWeave, Nebius, and Applied Digital reflect that investors are prioritizing evidence of solid data center financing over growth and GPU counts [4]

Core Viewpoint - Nvidia has divested its shares in Applied Digital, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, and WeRide, indicating a strategic shift in its investment portfolio [1] Group 1: Company Actions - Nvidia disclosed in a filing that it no longer holds shares in Applied Digital, a company focused on digital infrastructure [1] - The company has also exited its investment in Recursion Pharmaceuticals, which specializes in drug discovery [1] - Additionally, Nvidia has divested from WeRide, an autonomous-driving technology company [1]

Core Insights - Nvidia has liquidated its positions in Applied Digital, Arm Holdings, and WeRide in the fourth quarter of 2025, while initiating new investments in Intel, Synopsys, and Nokia [1] Group 1 - Nvidia's divestment includes complete liquidation of shares in Applied Digital, Arm Holdings, and WeRide [1] - New investments made by Nvidia include Intel, Synopsys, and Nokia, indicating a strategic shift in its investment portfolio [1]

Core Insights - Nvidia's holding concept stock NEBIUS experienced a V-shaped rebound, rising over 4% after previously dropping more than 7% [2] - The company reported a significant year-over-year revenue increase of 547% for Q4 [2] - Other related stocks such as CoreWeave and Applied Digital also saw gains, with CoreWeave up over 2% and Applied Digital up 1.5% [2]

Core Insights - Nvidia's holding concept stock NEBIUS experienced a V-shaped rebound in pre-market trading, rising over 4% after previously dropping more than 7% [1] - The company reported a significant year-over-year revenue increase of 547% for Q4 [1] - CoreWeave and Applied Digital also saw gains, with CoreWeave rising over 2% and Applied Digital increasing by 1.5% [1]

Core Insights - IREN Limited (IREN) aims to achieve $3.4 billion in annualized run-rate revenues (ARR) by the end of 2026, primarily driven by its AI cloud business [1][10] Financial Performance - In Q2 of fiscal 2026, IREN reported approximately $2.3 billion of ARR under contract, including a significant agreement with Microsoft and $0.4-$0.5 billion from the Prince George site [1][10] - IREN secured $3.6 billion in GPU financing and received $1.9 billion in customer prepayments from Microsoft, covering about 95% of the GPU-related capital spending associated with the Microsoft contract [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IREN's fiscal 2026 revenues is $1.01 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 98.6%, while the estimate for fiscal 2027 revenues is $2.76 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 172.6% [4] Power and Infrastructure - IREN has secured over 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of power, which is crucial in the current data center market, and only about 10% of this power will be used to reach the $3.4 billion ARR target by the end of 2026 [3] - The company plans to deploy around 140,000 GPUs by the end of 2026, supported by its available power capacity [3] Competitive Landscape - IREN faces significant competition from Applied Digital (APLD) and TeraWulf (WULF) in the AI infrastructure sector [5] - Applied Digital is constructing Delta Forge 1, an AI data center campus with an initial capacity of 430 megawatts (MW) [6] - TeraWulf has expanded its portfolio by acquiring two sites, adding approximately 1.5 GW of power capacity, increasing its total to about 2.8 GW [7] Stock Performance - IREN's shares have increased by 142.5% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Financial Miscellaneous Services industry's decline of 23.4% [8]

Core Insights - IREN Limited's shares increased by 5.1% following the release of its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, driven by significant growth in its AI Cloud Business, which saw a sequential increase of 136.9% to $17.3 million from $7.3 million in the previous quarter [1][9]. Business Transition and Market Opportunity - IREN is transitioning from a pure-play crypto-mining company to an AI Cloud Service Provider, positioning itself to benefit from the rapidly growing AI compute infrastructure market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.8% [2]. - The company aims to achieve $3.4 billion in annualized run-rate revenues (ARR) by the end of calendar 2026, with $2.3 billion of ARR already under contract, including a significant agreement with Microsoft [3]. Financial Backing and Growth Capacity - In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, IREN secured $3.6 billion in GPU financing and received $1.9 billion in customer prepayments from Microsoft, covering approximately 95% of GPU-related capital expenditures associated with the Microsoft contract [4]. - IREN has secured over 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of power, with only about 10% needed to reach its $3.4 billion ARR target, leaving substantial capacity for future growth [5]. - The company expanded its power capacity by securing a 1.6-gigawatt site in Oklahoma, enhancing its U.S. footprint and supporting long-term expansion plans [6]. Revenue Estimates and Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IREN's fiscal 2026 revenues is $1.08 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 112.8%, while the estimate for fiscal 2027 revenues is $2.78 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 156.2% [7]. Competitive Landscape - IREN faces significant competition in the AI infrastructure space from established players like Applied Digital and TeraWulf, which may impact its market position [10]. - Recent developments from competitors include Applied Digital's construction of a large AI data center and TeraWulf's acquisition of sites to expand its power capacity [11][12]. Stock Performance and Valuation - IREN's shares have declined by 30.5% over the past three months, underperforming the industry average decline of 17.3% and lagging behind peers like Applied Digital and TeraWulf [13]. - The company's shares are currently considered overvalued, trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 5.6X compared to the industry average of 3.02X [17]. Conclusion - IREN's strategic shift towards AI cloud services is yielding positive early results, supported by strong contracts and funding. However, the high level of competition and premium valuation suggest a cautious approach to investment in the stock [20].

Core Viewpoint - The data center sector is emerging as a significant investment opportunity in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, with companies like Digital Realty Trust positioned favorably to benefit from this growth [1]. Group 1: Investment Opportunities - Data centers are crucial for the AI industry, and companies such as Vertiv, CoreWeave, and Applied Digital are well-placed to capitalize on this trend [1]. - Digital Realty Trust, as the world's largest data center operator, owns over 300 data centers across 50 cities and serves more than 5,000 customers, making it a prime candidate for investors looking to engage with the AI data center market [3]. Group 2: Business Structure and Financial Benefits - Digital Realty Trust operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT), allowing it to pass the majority of its profits from recurring rental revenue to shareholders as dividends, thus avoiding corporate-level taxation [4]. - This structure enables shareholders to benefit more directly from the growth of the AI data center industry, which is projected to grow at an average annualized rate of over 27% through 2035 [5]. Group 3: Growth and Performance - While the AI data center business does not exhibit the explosive growth seen in companies like Nvidia, Digital Realty's third-quarter revenue growth of 10% aligns with its historical performance and analysts' expectations [6].