New York, Feb 12, 2026, 09:24 EST — Premarket
- VNET shares pushed higher, stretching their rally just before the Nasdaq bell.
- Jefferies’ note kept the spotlight on the China data-center ADR.
- Investors want answers on power capacity, major customer deals, and how the company plans to fund operations.
VNET Group, Inc’s U.S. shares (VNET.O) added 3.6% in premarket action Thursday, ticking up to $14.03. That move followed a sharp 12.2% rally on Wednesday, which took the stock to $13.54. Trading volumes spiked as well, with nearly 12.5 million shares changing hands—about twice what moved the day before.
VNET’s sharp move has shoved the stock back into the AI-infrastructure spotlight. Data-center operators aren’t just chasing clients—electricity supply and ready-to-go space are just as critical, since contracts typically depend on the wattage a facility can provide.
This stock reacts fast to even minor headlines. Fresh details on power capacity or a big client win can upend forecasts for spending, project timing, and margins. Traders now have an eye on whether Wednesday’s jump sticks once after-hours trading begins.
StreetInsider reported that Jefferies’ Edison Lee is sticking with his Buy call on VNET, leaving the price target steady at $27.22 this Tuesday.
Jefferies noted VNET had locked in over 100 megawatts of extra power capacity in Ulanqab and sees a likely announcement soon: the company could be landing a hyperscaler contract ranging from 150 to 250 megawatts, according to Investing.com.
“Hyperscaler” refers to a major cloud or internet firm snapping up massive amounts of data-center space in bulk. In this business, the megawatt stands in as the go-to measure—essentially shorthand for the total IT load a site can handle.
VNET, the Chinese IDC operator, last posted earnings in November. Third-quarter net revenue climbed 21.7% from a year earlier and the company raised its full-year outlook. “We delivered another strong quarter,” interim CEO Josh Sheng Chen said, highlighting growing AI-fueled demand. PR Newswire
The news puts renewed focus on other U.S.-listed China data-center stocks, which investors typically use as stand-ins for trends in local cloud and AI investment. Sentiment can turn sharply on even small signals.
Still, it’s a precarious position. Simply Wall St points out that the company has under a year’s worth of cash runway, which throws the spotlight back onto funding and execution risks just as new capacity comes online.
Traders are eyeing VNET to see if it can keep its footing above $14 after the bell. The focus: any new disclosures that might lend weight to chatter about power expansion and a big customer in the mix.
The real test comes with VNET’s fourth-quarter earnings, due March 11, Public.com shows. Contract wins, capex details, and VNET’s funding plans for upcoming expansion—all on the docket for investors.
