Applied Digital Stock Surges Amid AI Data Center Deal Momentum
Shares of Applied Digital (APLD) climbed 7.8% on Wednesday, outpacing modest gains in broader markets. The rally follows news of a $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centers by a consortium including BlackRock and other AI-focused investors—the largest deal to date in the hyperscale data center sector.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink framed the MOVE as critical infrastructure for AI's future, signaling further investments in the pipeline. The deal has buoyed sentiment across the data center space, though Applied Digital faces financing challenges. The company must navigate high-interest debt or equity dilution to fund its own expansion—a precarious position despite the sector's growth potential.