Either way, I think the AI boom is alive and well, but with much of the short-term hype fading away, the big question is whether the long-term trajectory is still there and whether it makes sense for investors to hit the buy button now that the near-term is somewhat less hyped while the long-term is as exciting as ever.
Applied Digital ( NASDAQ:APLD ) has posted strong gains in 2026, rising nearly 68% year-to-date. The company has largely shaken off the concerns from last year over its heavy debt load used to finance rapid AI data center expansion. Yesterday, its stock surged more than 14%, closing at $41.35 per share, and Nvidia ( NASDAQ:NVDA ) deserves credit for the gain. Debt Remains a Growing AI Headwind