The Infrastructure Layer Behind Every AI Data Center
Vertiv manufactures the physical infrastructure that keeps data centers running. The product portfolio spans power distribution (UPS systems, switchgear, busway), thermal management (precision cooling, liquid cooling, containment systems), and infrastructure management software (monitoring, controls, optimization). Every major data center operator, from hyperscalers like AWS, Google, and Microsoft to colocation providers like Equinix and Digital Realty, depends on this equipment.
AI workloads transformed the demand profile. Traditional cloud computing servers draw 300-500 watts per chip. NVIDIA's H100 and B200 GPUs draw 700-1000+ watts per chip, packed into racks that can require 100+ kilowatts of cooling. Air cooling cannot handle these power densities efficiently. The industry is shifting to direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and Vertiv has invested aggressively in scaling production to meet this demand.
Products and Competitive Advantages
Vertiv's product lineup covers three categories. Power management includes uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units, and switchgear that deliver reliable electricity to server racks. Thermal management includes precision air cooling for traditional deployments and increasingly, rear-door heat exchangers, cold plate systems, and immersion cooling for high-density AI racks. Infrastructure management software monitors and controls power and cooling systems across entire data center campuses.
The competitive advantage comes from integration. Vertiv designs power and cooling systems to work together, which matters when a single AI training cluster can draw megawatts of power and require coordinated cooling across hundreds of racks. The PurgeRite acquisition added specialized fluid management for liquid-cooled systems, and the CoolTera deal brought advanced thermal solutions for the highest-density applications. The NVIDIA partnership on 800 VDC power delivery systems positions Vertiv as a preferred infrastructure vendor for next-generation AI factories.
Financial Performance
- •2025 Revenue: $10.2 billion, up 28% year-over-year
- •Order Backlog: $15 billion (record), up 109% year-over-year
- •Q4 2025 Orders: Organic orders surged 252% year-over-year
- •2026 Revenue Guidance: $13.25-13.75 billion (27-29% organic growth)
- •2026 EPS Growth: 43% at midpoint of guidance range
- •Acquisitions: PurgeRite ($1B, thermal/fluid management) and CoolTera (advanced cooling) completed in 2025
Growth Catalysts
- •AI Data Center Buildout: Global AI infrastructure spending projected at hundreds of billions through 2030; every dollar of GPU spending requires corresponding power and cooling infrastructure
- •Liquid Cooling Transition: Shift from air to liquid cooling is mandatory for high-density AI chips; Vertiv is among the few vendors with production-scale liquid cooling capabilities
- •NVIDIA 800 VDC Partnership: Co-developed power platforms align with Rubin Ultra (2027), creating a preferred vendor relationship for the largest AI deployments
- •$15B Backlog Conversion: Record backlog provides 24 months of visible revenue; order growth of 252% in Q4 suggests backlog will continue expanding
- •Colocation and Enterprise Demand: Beyond hyperscalers, colocation providers and enterprises are upgrading data centers for AI workloads, broadening Vertiv's customer base
Risks and Challenges
- •Execution at Scale: Converting a $15B backlog into delivered revenue requires scaling manufacturing, supply chains, and installation capacity simultaneously; any bottleneck delays revenue recognition
- •Cyclicality Risk: Data center capex cycles can slow sharply; if AI spending pauses or hyperscalers reduce buildout pace, order growth would decelerate from current triple-digit rates
- •Competition Intensifying: Schneider Electric, Eaton, and Carrier are all investing in data center power and cooling; market share could come under pressure as competitors scale
- •Valuation Sensitivity: Stock price has run up significantly on AI enthusiasm; any guidance miss or order slowdown could trigger sharp multiple compression
- •Integration Risk: PurgeRite and CoolTera acquisitions need to be integrated while the company scales at record pace; operational complexity increases with each deal
Competitive Landscape
Schneider Electric is Vertiv's primary global competitor across power management and cooling, with broader industrial exposure and larger revenue base. Eaton competes in power distribution and UPS systems. Carrier Global and Johnson Controls compete in thermal management. Each competitor has strengths in specific product categories, but none matches Vertiv's focus on data center infrastructure as a primary business.
Vertiv's pure-play focus is both advantage and vulnerability. The company captures a disproportionate share of data center infrastructure spending growth, but it lacks the diversification that would cushion earnings during a data center spending downturn. Schneider Electric, by contrast, generates the majority of its revenue from buildings, industry, and grid infrastructure outside data centers.
Who Is This Stock Suitable For?
Perfect For
- ✓Growth investors who want direct exposure to AI infrastructure buildout without buying semiconductor stocks
- ✓Those who believe data center power and cooling demand is a multi-year supercycle with years of growth ahead
- ✓Investors seeking a capital goods company with technology-driven revenue acceleration and expanding margins
- ✓Portfolio allocations targeting the physical infrastructure layer of AI rather than the software or chip layers
Less Suitable For
- ✗Value investors (premium valuation reflects AI infrastructure growth expectations)
- ✗Income investors (minimal dividend yield relative to industrial peers)
- ✗Risk-averse investors (stock volatility is high, driven by AI sentiment shifts)
- ✗Those who believe AI data center spending will slow before Vertiv can convert its backlog
Investment Thesis
Vertiv occupies a critical position in the AI value chain: the physical infrastructure without which no GPU can run. The $15 billion backlog and 252% Q4 order growth demonstrate that demand is not just strong but accelerating. CEO Albertazzi's strategy of scaling liquid cooling capacity, acquiring specialized thermal companies, and partnering with NVIDIA on next-generation power delivery systems positions Vertiv as the preferred infrastructure vendor for the largest AI buildouts.
The risk is cyclicality. Data center spending has historically gone through boom-bust cycles, and Vertiv's pure-play exposure means it captures the full amplitude of both directions. The current AI supercycle could extend for years, but it could also pause if AI spending slows or if hyperscalers decide to digest existing capacity before ordering more. The stock's elevated valuation leaves little room for disappointment. Vertiv is a high-conviction position for investors who believe AI infrastructure spending is a multi-year trend, not a one-time event.