Applied Digital Q1 2027 Revenue Surges 322% to $342M, Beating Estimates Amid AI Data Center Expansion

Applied Digital reported fiscal Q1 2027 revenue of $341.9 million, up 322% year-over-year, significantly exceeding analyst expectations. The company achieved adjusted EBITDA of $64.4 million and expanded live capacity at its North Dakota campuses to 250 MW. Key developments include a $5.2 billion lease with a hyperscaler in Alabama and the first international power agreement in Finland.
Key points
- Total revenue reached $341.9 million, driven by $183.5 million in tenant fit-out services and $65.8 million in base rental revenue.
- Adjusted revenue was $300.4 million, far surpassing the consensus estimate of $111.19 million.
- Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $221.0 million, though adjusted net loss was only $4.1 million.
- Live capacity at Polaris Forge 1 reached 250 MW after delivering the second phase of Building 2 in October 2026.
- The company secured up to 1 GW of potential power capacity in Finland, marking its first international expansion.
Background
Applied Digital has been rapidly scaling its 'AI factory' model in North Dakota, leveraging low-cost power and favorable climate conditions. Previous coverage highlighted the company's focus on securing long-term contracts with tier-one hyperscalers to support high-performance computing workloads. The recent expansion into Finland mirrors the strategic advantages found in the Dakotas, such as abundant energy and efficient cooling.
How outlets are covering it
Investing.com emphasized the significant beat in adjusted revenue and the positive market reaction, noting shares rose 4% premarket. The primary source detailed the specific operational milestones, including the $5.2 billion lease at Delta Forge 2 and the $1.59 billion debt issuance to fund construction. While both sources highlight the revenue surge, the primary source provides deeper insight into the balance sheet, showing $3.7 billion in cash against $6.4 billion in debt, and details the exclusion of ChronoScale results from non-GAAP metrics to better reflect core operations.
Why it matters
The results demonstrate Applied Digital's ability to execute large-scale AI infrastructure projects ahead of schedule, validating its strategy of building in power-rich regions. The massive revenue beat and expansion into international markets like Finland suggest the company is becoming a key player in the global AI data center market, potentially influencing competition and pricing in the HPC hosting sector.
What to watch
Applied Digital expects to reach 300 MW of delivered critical IT load across its North Dakota campuses by the end of calendar 2026. The company is also progressing with construction at Polaris Forge 2 and 3, as well as Delta Forge 1 and 2. Future focus will likely include integrating the new Finnish power capacity and managing the debt load associated with its rapid expansion.
- Applied Digital Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2027 Results Applied Digital Corporation (APLD)
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- 🔎 Under the Radar: Applied Digital Stock Jumps Premarket WSJ
- Applied Digital posts top-line beat in Q1 amid data center growth Investing.com
- Applied Digital’s Earnings Show Its Data Center Bet Is Starting to Pay Off Barron's
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