A new investment thesis, circulating among financial analysts, has identified nine exchange-traded companies poised to capitalize on documented bottlenecks in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure. The analysis, which focuses on July 2026, highlights critical constraints in areas such as power generation, high-bandwidth memory, advanced chip packaging, data connectivity, and cooling systems—all essential components for the burgeoning AI industry.
The identified companies span a diverse range of sectors, including semiconductors, memory manufacturing, chip packaging, data-center connectivity, utilities, natural-gas infrastructure, and nuclear fuel. The underlying argument is that as AI development accelerates, the demand for these foundational elements will outstrip current supply, creating significant opportunities for companies that control these vital resources.
Semiconductor Giants and Advanced Packaging
Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), the world’s largest chip foundry, is central to the AI supply chain, particularly through its advanced packaging capabilities. The company reported $120.34 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $10.39, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.64. Analysts project an impressive 48.0% EPS growth for TSM. Its CoWoS advanced-packaging capacity, crucial for high-performance AI chips, is largely allocated to Nvidia, a leading AI chip designer, signaling the intense demand for these specialized services.
Intel (INTC) is also positioned in the advanced packaging space, offering its EMIB and Foveros platforms as alternatives to CoWoS. The company posted $52.90 billion in revenue, though it reported a GAAP loss per share in fiscal 2025, resulting in no applicable price-to-earnings ratio. Despite this, Intel’s adjusted EPS was $0.42, with expected EPS growth of 160.0%. Reports indicate Intel secured a substantial order from Google for 3 million tensor processing units by 2028, and both SK Hynix and Nvidia are reportedly testing Intel’s technologies, suggesting a potential resurgence in the AI hardware market.
Memory and Connectivity Solutions
Micron Technology (MU) is a key player in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, a critical component for AI accelerators. The company’s stock price reached $1,060.45, supported by $37.40 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $8.29. With a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.18, Micron is projected to see an extraordinary 621.6% EPS growth. Micron, alongside competitors SK Hynix and Samsung, has committed its HBM capacity through 2026, reflecting the overwhelming demand. Micron’s share price has surged more than 746% over the past 12 months, underscoring investor confidence in the memory sector’s AI-driven growth.
Astera Labs (ALAB) specializes in data-center connectivity, a vital aspect of moving vast amounts of data efficiently within AI infrastructure. The company reported $852.53 million in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $1.84, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 251.79. Its first-quarter 2026 revenue saw a 93% year-over-year increase, reaching $308.4 million. A significant portion of its 2025 revenue, 70%, was attributed to a single customer, presumed to be Amazon, highlighting its strategic importance to major cloud providers.
Credo Technology (CRDO) also contributes to data movement and connectivity solutions for AI data centers. The company recorded $1.34 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $3.46, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 98.67. Its latest-quarter revenue climbed 157% year-over-year to $437 million, with four customers accounting for 87% of its revenue, indicating strong relationships with key industry players.
Powering the AI Revolution: Utilities and Natural Gas
The immense computational demands of AI require substantial and reliable power, creating opportunities for energy providers. Natural gas is currently the most popular power source for AI data centers, though nuclear power is gaining attention for its consistent electricity generation, offering a potential long-term advantage over intermittent sources like solar and wind.
NextEra Energy (NEE) operates the largest electric utility in the United States and is actively investing in nuclear power. The company reported $27.40 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $3.71, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.84. NextEra expects an 8.4% EPS growth. It has clean-energy agreements with tech giants Google and Meta, and its intended acquisition of Dominion Energy, if approved by regulators, would further expand its footprint in the energy sector.
Williams Companies (WMB) plays a crucial role in natural-gas infrastructure, processing and transporting approximately 30% of U.S. natural-gas usage. With $11.95 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $2.10, the company has a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.61 and projected EPS growth of 13.4%. Williams Companies holds long-term data-center-related contracts, including one with Meta and a 10-year agreement with an undisclosed investment-grade company, underscoring its direct connection to the energy needs of the AI industry.
Cameco Corporation (CCJ) is a significant player in the nuclear fuel sector. The company reported $3.48 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $1.44, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 99.85 and expected EPS growth of 9.9%. Cameco’s partnership with Brookfield Asset Management and the U.S. government to deploy Westinghouse reactors is valued at a minimum of $80 billion, highlighting the growing investment in nuclear energy as a stable power source for future demands, including AI data centers.
Cooling and Data Center Infrastructure
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) addresses the critical need for cooling and power infrastructure within data centers. The company reported $10.23 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $4.20, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 79.85 and expected EPS growth of 54.5%. Vertiv announced a substantial $15 billion backlog in February and introduced a digital-twin capability for its SmartRun product in June, demonstrating its commitment to innovation in data center management. The global data-center liquid-cooling market alone is projected to grow from $5.7 billion in 2026 to $29.2 billion by 2033, indicating the scale of investment in this area.
While the broader market, as indicated by Morgan Stanley, projects a 12% gain for the S&P 500 over the next 12 months, and Fidelity’s Jurrien Timmer anticipates continued stock market strength in the latter half of 2026, the analysis also acknowledges potential risks such as inflation and the long-term effects of geopolitical conflicts. The focus remains on the foundational infrastructure that will enable the continued expansion of artificial intelligence, a trend that is reshaping industries globally.
Why it matters in Chapin
The national trends in AI infrastructure and the associated demand for power have direct implications for communities like Chapin. Major employers in the area, such as Lexington Medical Center and Lexington-Richland School District Five, rely on stable and affordable energy to operate their facilities. As the demand for electricity from AI data centers continues to grow, it could influence regional energy prices and utility infrastructure planning. The discussions around natural gas and nuclear power as primary energy sources for AI underscore the importance of diverse and reliable energy grids. For residents and businesses along the SC-76 corridor in Chapin, understanding these national shifts can offer insight into potential future energy costs and the broader economic landscape that supports local services and development.
