Vertiv Capitalizes on AI Infrastructure Surge with Record Orders

The global push to build artificial intelligence infrastructure is creating clear winners, and Vertiv Holdings Co. is emerging as a dominant force. The company's latest quarterly results, released Wednesday, reveal a demand for data center solutions that has shattered even the most bullish forecasts. A historic surge in new orders underscores Vertiv's position as a primary beneficiary of the ongoing AI expansion.

While past performance has been strong, Vertiv's forward-looking guidance is what has truly captured the market's attention. The company's projections for the full 2026 fiscal year have significantly exceeded consensus estimates from Wall Street analysts.

• Revenue Outlook: Management forecasts 2026 revenue in the range of $13.25 billion to $13.75 billion. This stands well above the prevailing market consensus of approximately $12.4 billion.
• Earnings Guidance: For adjusted earnings per share (EPS), the company is targeting $5.97 to $6.07. Prior to this announcement, analysts had expected roughly $5.33 per share.

This optimistic outlook is supported by a powerful finish to the previous year. The fourth quarter saw adjusted EPS come in at $1.36, beating estimates of around $1.30. Concurrently, the operating margin expanded by 170 basis points to reach 23.2%.

Unprecedented Order Growth Signals Sustained Momentum

The most striking indicator of Vertiv's current trajectory is found in its order book. The company reported that organic orders in the fourth quarter skyrocketed by 252% compared to the same period last year. This influx has driven the total backlog to a record $15.0 billion—a figure that has doubled in just twelve months.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Vertiv?

This explosive growth highlights the intense level of investment currently underway by data center operators. As hyperscale and colocation providers rapidly expand their high-performance computing capacity, the need for associated power and thermal management solutions is accelerating at a corresponding pace. Given the massive backlog, which secures production capacity far into the future, the company appears well-positioned to maintain its current momentum.

Market Response and Near-Term Projections

Investors have responded enthusiastically to this combination of stellar results and raised guidance. Vertiv's shares reached a new 52-week high of $241.75, reflecting a remarkable gain of approximately 32% over the past seven trading days.

Looking at the immediate future, the leadership team has provided initial guidance for the current first quarter of 2026, anticipating revenue between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion.