Baird Starts Coverage of Vertiv With Outperform Call and $370 Target
The note spotlights a technical edge from Vertiv’s alignment with Nvidia’s emerging 800‑volt DC power standard and what that could mean for AI data center demand.
Overview
- Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on July 16 with an Outperform rating, a $370 price target and advice to consider buying any near‑term pullbacks.
- Baird singled out Vertiv’s compatibility with Nvidia’s 800‑volt direct‑current power architecture as a specific product advantage for next‑generation AI racks.
- Vertiv reported a strong Q1 2026 that beat estimates with EPS of $1.17 versus $1.00 and revenue of $2.65 billion, and it gave Q2 EPS guidance of $1.37–$1.43 and full‑year guidance of $6.30–$6.40.
- Institutional owners hold roughly 89.9% of shares, with recent large moves including Norges Bank’s multi‑hundred‑million stake and smaller Q1 entries such as Bleakley Financial Group.
- Analysts and investors point to Vertiv’s recurring services revenue, a $15 billion backlog and capital deployment flexibility as stabilizers that could turn higher‑voltage demand into steadier, longer‑term growth and supply visibility for data center operators.