New York, Feb 5, 2026, 14:26 ET — Regular session
- Vertiv shares dipped roughly 1.8% in afternoon trading, fluctuating between $172.59 and $186.09.
- The decline followed investors stepping away from expensive AI-related stocks, spooked by renewed concerns over hefty capital expenditures.
- Vertiv is set to release its results on Feb. 11, a key date investors are watching for signs of demand in data-center cooling.
Vertiv Holdings Co shares dropped 1.8% to $179.36 Thursday, adding to a volatile stretch for firms linked to data-center power and cooling. Earlier, the stock hit a low of $172.59.
The significance of this shift lies in Vertiv serving as a high-beta indicator for whether AI-driven buildouts are still turning into actual orders for infrastructure like power, cooling, and control systems, despite investors’ waning tolerance for hefty spending plans.
Next week’s earnings reports are drawing attention as a key test of pricing, margins, and order momentum. Since the stock remains valued for robust growth, investors won’t easily accept a disappointing result.
Thursday saw selling pressure as the market’s mood shifted back to caution. Investors grew uneasy over Big Tech’s planned ramp-up in capital spending — the funds aimed at data centers and related equipment — and questioned how quickly those investments would pay off. “The result is a move away from blind optimism toward profitability, funding discipline and more balanced positioning,” said Russell Shor, senior market analyst at Tradu. (Ajot)
Vertiv provides equipment and services that ensure data centers and critical facilities stay operational, offering power and thermal management systems essential for large-scale computing. (Reuters)
Vertiv is ramping up its cooling lineup as computing shifts to smaller, edge locations. On Tuesday, the company announced new ceiling- and row-based cooling products targeting edge applications, with one set to debut in the second quarter. “As AI drives more compute to the edge, operators face higher power densities in spaces not built for IT deployments or data center cooling,” said Michal Podmaka, director of Vertiv’s edge thermal product line. (Vertiv)
Peers followed suit. Johnson Controls surged Wednesday after raising its 2026 profit forecast, citing strong demand for cooling gear in data centers. Jefferies analyst Stephen Volkmann highlighted increasing rack densities—more computing power crammed into each cabinet—as a key reason for the boost in cooling expenses. (Reuters)
Even “AI infrastructure” leaders haven’t escaped the selloff over guidance misses. Eaton dropped Tuesday after projecting annual profits below expectations, showing how fast the data-center rally can reverse when forecasts fall short. (Reuters)
Vertiv faces the risk that the next phase of AI-driven buildouts could prove lumpier than investors anticipate, or that clients might push back projects to adjust budgets. If order momentum weakens, pricing hardens, or margins get squeezed, the stock would probably underperform the wider industrial sector.
Vertiv plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings before markets open on Wednesday, Feb. 11, followed by a conference call at 11 a.m. ET. The company has also set a two-day investor event for May 19-20 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Vertiv)
