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Oracle Stock Plunges as Credit Cut Raises Pressure on AI Data‑Center Build-Out

The S&P downgrade to BBB- heightens the risk that higher funding costs and forced bond sales will complicate Oracle’s plan to convert a vast AI contract backlog into revenue.

Overview

  • S&P Global cut Oracle’s long‑term rating to BBB‑ on July 9, a move that leaves the company one notch above junk and increases the chance of forced selling by bondholders.
  • Oracle reports a $638 billion remaining performance obligation, a company metric for contracted future revenue that depends on delivering GPU‑heavy data centers to customers.
  • Roughly half of that $638 billion backlog is concentrated with OpenAI, creating a single‑customer risk if OpenAI delays funding or scales back commitments.
  • Oracle spent about $55.7 billion on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026, generated $32 billion in operating cash flow and posted negative $23.7 billion in free cash flow while adding roughly $43 billion of debt and planning about $40 billion more in fundraising.
  • Markets have punished the stock, which recently hit fresh 52‑week lows and sits about 63–65% below its peak, and investors will be watching financing terms, GPU/data‑center permits and build progress, and the pace at which RPO converts to recognized revenue.