Latest news with #highperformancecomputing
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Wall Street Says Applied Digital Stock Could Gain Over 82% in a Year
Applied Digital (APLD) has been on a solid run, with its stock soaring 88.9% in just the past month. This impressive growth reflects the company's strategic positioning in rapidly growing industries such as high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI). Specializing in next-generation data centers and infrastructure, Applied Digital is poised to capitalize on the rising demand for AI, machine learning (ML), blockchain, and HPC capabilities. Its infrastructure is designed to support the heavy workloads demanded by AI and ML. This alignment with high-growth industries has played a key role in driving the recent momentum behind the stock. Furthermore, much of the latest excitement surrounding Applied Digital is due to its recently announced 15-year lease agreement with CoreWeave (CRWV), an AI infrastructure company. The deal significantly strengthens Applied Digital's revenue visibility and long-term growth prospects. Following the announcement, shares of APLD jumped 48.46% on June 2. Given this positive development and long-term secular trends, analysts remain optimistic about Applied Digital's future. Applied Digital's strong financials and continued growth in its high-potential segments will support further upside in its share price. The highest price target for APLD stock is $18, reflecting 82% upside from current price levels. Applied Digital Unlocks $7 Billion Revenue Potential Applied Digital has landed a solid deal with CoreWeave that could generate approximately $7 billion in lease revenue over the next 15 years. The agreement centers around Applied Digital's Ellendale, North Dakota, data center campus, where the company will deliver 250 megawatts (MW) of IT load to support CoreWeave's HPC and AI infrastructure. This long-term lease arrangement adds a reliable revenue stream, strengthening Applied Digital's position as the key infrastructure provider for next-generation digital workloads. Notably, the Ellendale campus is designed specifically for next-generation workloads with large-scale power capacity, efficient deployment capabilities, and access to low-cost power. The first phase of the project, a 100 MW facility, is on track to go live in the fourth quarter of 2025. A second building, capable of delivering another 150 MW, is under construction and expected to be operational by mid-2026. Plans for a third facility, which could bring an additional 150 MW online by 2027, are already underway, with CoreWeave holding an option to secure that capacity as demand grows. As AI continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, such long-term leases put Applied Digital in a solid position to capitalize on the surging demand for digital infrastructure. What's Next for Applied Digital (APLD) Stock? Applied Digital's prospects remain solid as the company remains well-positioned in an industry that's experiencing explosive growth. With the ongoing push for digital transformation, demand for data center infrastructure is rapidly expanding. Companies across every sector are accelerating their digital adoption, and this trend is pushing the need for high-performance computing and hosting capabilities to new heights. This trend positions companies like Applied Digital favorably to benefit from sustained industry tailwinds. Furthermore, Applied Digital's partnership with Macquarie Asset Management is a strategic move that will help fund and support the company's next-generation high-performance data centers. Additionally, financing from Sumitomo Mitsui Bank Corporation provides Applied Digital with further firepower to expand its capacity, enabling it to capitalize on the growing demand for digital infrastructure solutions. A notable part of APLD's business supports cryptocurrency mining, a sector that continues to show resilience and solid growth potential. With increasing institutional interest in cryptocurrencies and an improving regulatory climate in the U.S., the adoption of these assets will rise, which will fuel demand for Applied Digital's services in this area. Thanks to these growth drivers, Wall Street analysts are bullish about Applied Digital's prospects. Moreover, the Street high price target, issued by Northland Securities analyst Michael Grondahl, suggests significant upside potential from current levels. However, investors should take caution. The stock is not cheap. Its price-sales ratio sits at 10.2x, which is on the higher side. Moreover, the company is carrying a significant debt load. As of Feb. 28, 2025, Applied Digital held $261.2 million in cash, but its total debt stood at $689.1 million. Conclusion Applied Digital is well-positioned to benefit from significant growth trends in digital infrastructure and crypto. However, investors should consider the company's high valuation and sizable debt before investing in APLD stock.
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
ASC25 Student Supercomputer Challenge: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Crowned Champion; Peking University Earns Silver
BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2025-- The finals of the ASC Student Supercomputer Challenge (ASC25) successfully concluded at Qinghai University in Xining, China. Following five days of rigorous competition, the team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University emerged as the champion, while the team from Peking University secured the silver prize, both demonstrating outstanding competence in high-performance computing and scientific problem-solving. More than 300 university teams from around the world registered for ASC25. Following a preliminary selection round, 25 teams advanced to the finals held at Qinghai University—marking the geographically highest-altitude venue in the history of the ASC competition. In the final round, participating teams were required to design and deploy small-scale supercomputing clusters, each constrained by a 4,000-watt power consumption limit. Within these clusters, teams executed and optimized internationally recognized benchmark tests, HPL and HPCG. Additionally, they applied performance optimization strategies to a suite of advanced scientific and engineering applications, including acceleration for AlphaFold3 inference and RNA 5-methylcytosine modification site detection, as well as DeepSeek inference and cosmic neutrino detection simulations. Teams were further assessed through English-language oral defenses presented before a jury composed of more than ten internationally renowned experts in high-performance computing and scientific applications. Furthermore, the 25 finalist teams were randomly assigned into five groups for the Group Competition, where they collaborated across institutions to address a complex scientific challenge: numerical simulation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau climate. As anticipated, the final round of the competition was marked by exceptional intensity and high-level performance. The 25 finalist teams demonstrated excellence across a range of evaluation criteria, including system architecture design, power efficiency, application performance optimization, collaborative problem-solving, and oral defense presentations. Their collective pursuit of innovation and technical advancement contributed to a truly remarkable and impactful event. The team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University demonstrated comprehensive capabilities, delivering strong performances in multiple tasks such as AlphaFold3 inference optimization, DeepSeek inference, and cosmic neutrino detection simulation. Their results reflected a deep understanding of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing systems, and interdisciplinary scientific applications, as well as superior optimization skills—culminating in their attainment of the overall championship. Meanwhile, the team from Peking University delivered outstanding results in RNA 5-methylcytosine modification site detection and DeepSeek optimization, earning them the silver prize. In the designated task for the e Prize Challenge—AlphaFold3 inference optimization—the team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University implemented comprehensive system-level and algorithmic optimizations. These included framework migration, refinement of matrix algorithms, task decomposition, parallel computing strategies, and communication acceleration. As a result of these efforts, they successfully achieved efficient multi-node inference of AlphaFold3 on a general-purpose CPU-based cluster. Their outstanding performance secured the highest ranking in this challenge and earned them the prestigious e Prize. A group comprising students from Sun Yat-sen University, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Fuzhou University, and National Taiwan University demonstrated exceptional coordination and exemplary inter-institutional collaboration. Their joint efforts resulted in the highest score in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau climate simulation challenge. In recognition of their outstanding performance, the team was collectively awarded the Group Competition Award. Teams from Zhejiang University, Fuzhou University, and Qilu University of Technology were awarded the Application Innovation Award in recognition of their outstanding performance in specific competition challenges and their innovative approaches to application-level problem-solving. Jack Dongarra, Chair of ASC Advisory Committee, Turing Award winner, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Tennessee, stated: 'The ASC Student Supercomputer Challenge is not just a competition, but a platform connecting global students, mentors, and industry leaders—where knowledge, creativity, and cutting-edge technologies ignite new possibilities. The fascination with emerging technologies, the fearless courage to tackle complex challenges, and the spirit of cross-border collaboration demonstrated by young participants all fuel students' drive to explore, innovate, and ultimately achieve personal breakthroughs.' Shi Yuanchun, President of Qinghai University, stated: 'The competition is a premier platform for young students around the world to push the boundaries of computing and explore the frontiers of science and technology. It also serves as a bridge for mutual learning among civilizations. By hosting the ASC25 finals, Qinghai University has delivered a powerful message to the world—vibrant, rigorous, pragmatic, and driven toward progress. Looking ahead, Qinghai University will collaborate with global partners to address major scientific challenges, drive breakthroughs in cutting-edge supercomputing technologies, and unleash innovative momentum on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.' View the ASC25 Video here About ASC The ASC Student Supercomputer Challenge serves as a platform to promote the exchange and development of young talent in supercomputing worldwide, with support from experts and institutions across Asia, Europe, and America. The competition aims to elevate the application and R&D capabilities in supercomputing, harness its technological driving force, and foster innovation across science, technology, and industry. Since its inception in 2012, ASC has attracted tens of thousands of university students from six continents, solidifying its status as the largest university-level supercomputing competition globally. To discover more about this impactful endeavor, visit the website View source version on CONTACT: Media contact [email protected] KEYWORD: CHINA ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE MANUFACTURING HARDWARE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE EDUCATION OTHER SCIENCE SOURCE: ASC Student Supercomputer Challenge Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/25/2025 09:03 PM/DISC: 05/25/2025 09:02 PM
