$CoreWeave, Inc.(CRWV)$ , $APPLIED DIGITAL CORP(APLD)$ , $NEBIUS(NBIS)$ – Nvidia's Shadow Stocks or Just Another Meme Spike?
1. Context: Nvidia's Halo Expands.
As Nvidia's valuation rockets into the stratosphere, traders are hunting for the next “AI infrastructure proxy.” Enter:
CRVW (CoreWeave) – private, but its partner stocks are moving
APLD (Applied Digital) – the landlord to CoreWeave, just inked a 15-year 250 MW lease
NBIS (Nebius) – Nvidia ecosystem enabler, up 57% in less than a month
2. Why These Names Are Popping:
AI Demand > Chips Alone: The new bottleneck isn’t just Nvidia GPUs, but power-hungry data centers that can host them. Companies like APLD are literally powering the AI revolution — megawatts are the new megabits.
Narrative Fuel: Every new NVDA high adds tailwind to its second-tier suppliers. These stocks become story stocks, with momentum traders pouring in.
Meme Mechanics: These names are thinly traded, optionable, and headline-reactive — the perfect ingredients for social media-fueled runs.
3. A Quick Take on Each Ticker:
APLD (Applied Digital)
✔ Real infrastructure, real revenue
✔ Long-term leases with AI players
✖ High debt load (~US$900M); needs rates to stay tame
✖ Dilution risk if market euphoria cools
NBIS (Nebius)
✔ Leverages Nvidia’s software and ecosystem
✔ Earnings surprise last quarter added fuel
✖ Lack of clarity on revenue model — is it licensing, services, or resale?
✖ More of a narrative name than fundamentals-based for now
Others (e.g. IRNT, GREE)
These have piggybacked on the AI trend, but fundamentals are thin. High risk, high volatility.
4. My Playbook (Cautious but Opportunistic):
Trading, not investing: I treat these as short-term momentum trades, not long-term compounders.
Capital allocation: No more than 1–2% of total portfolio per name.
Triggers: Look for NVDA earnings beats, new data centre leases, or M&A chatter as breakout triggers.
Exit plan: Trailing stops of 15–20%. Ride momentum, but don't marry the trade.
5. What Could Go Wrong:
Rate volatility — most of these names are capex-heavy and funding-dependent
Nvidia cools off — these stocks rely on the AI narrative staying red-hot
Regulatory or energy policy shifts affecting large data center construction
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