As the AI boom collides with the physical limits of the electrical grid, two data center operators are racing to capture the demand, but they offer investors starkly different risk profiles.
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2 AI data center stocks offer divergent paths to growth
Cipher Digital Inc. (CIFR) is leveraging $11.4 billion in contracted revenue from long-term hyperscale leases to build out its AI data center portfolio, giving it a clear revenue path that competitor IREN Limited (IREN) lacks as it transitions away from Bitcoin mining.
The strategic divergence comes as securing power for new facilities becomes the primary bottleneck in the AI arms race. “If you wanted to start today and build a gigawatt AI factory, you are looking 2030 before you get the first compute online,” IREN CEO Daniel Roberts said in a recent interview, highlighting the value of his company’s existing powered-up land.
While IREN positions its ready-to-build sites as a key advantage, its financials are under near-term pressure. The company’s total revenues fell 21.6% sequentially in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by a 33.6% drop in Bitcoin mining revenue and accompanied by $140.4 million in impairment charges on legacy hardware. In contrast, Cipher has already secured 907 megawatts of operating and contracted capacity, with a future pipeline of approximately 3.3 gigawatts.
The market is currently rewarding Cipher’s stability over IREN’s turnaround potential. Cipher’s contracted, recurring revenue model provides a decade of cash flow visibility, justifying its higher valuation of 12.49 times book value compared to IREN’s 7.27x. For investors, the choice is between Cipher’s predictable growth and IREN’s higher-risk bet that its speed-to-market advantage will eventually outweigh its transitional pains.
Cipher's Fortress of Contracted Revenue
Cipher Digital has positioned itself as a landlord to the world’s largest technology companies, insulating its business from the volatility of both cryptocurrency mining and speculative AI demand. The company’s core strategy revolves around securing long-term, 10- to 15-year leases with hyperscale customers, which now account for approximately $11.4 billion in contracted revenue.
This revenue stability is supported by a strong financial and operational foundation. During its first-quarter 2026 earnings call, management highlighted the signing of its third major hyperscale lease and a total portfolio capacity now reaching 4.2 gigawatts, including its development pipeline. To fund this expansion, Cipher completed a $2 billion bond offering and secured a $200 million revolving credit facility, which it believes is sufficient to fund near-term projects without diluting shareholders. This predictable model has earned it a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), signaling a stable outlook.
IREN's High-Risk Pivot to AI
IREN is in the midst of a difficult but potentially rewarding pivot from a Bitcoin miner to a specialized AI cloud and data center provider. While its AI Cloud Services revenue showed strong sequential growth of 94.2% to reach $33.6 million in its most recent quarter, it was not enough to offset the steep decline in its legacy mining operations. This transition has led to significant impairment charges on its mining hardware, weighing on profitability.
However, the bull case for IREN rests on an asset that doesn’t appear on the balance sheet: time. As CEO Daniel Roberts noted, securing power and permits for new data centers can take years. IREN’s existing campuses in Texas and other locations have available power and transmission connectivity now. This advantage was underscored by a five-year, $3.4 billion AI cloud contract with NVIDIA, which is expected to generate around $700 million in annual recurring revenue. Still, the execution risk remains high, reflected in its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), as the company must rapidly scale its new AI business before investors lose patience with the ongoing transition.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
