3 Stocks to Watch This Week: Power, Chips and the AI Payoff
Summary
Our three stocks to watch this week capture different stages of the AI value chain. Vertiv addresses one of AI's increasingly important constraints which is power availability while Lam Research supplies the equipment needed to manufacture advanced semiconductors and Microsoft provides the cloud and software layer through which AI can ultimately be monetized.
Vertiv's latest acquisition strengthens its exposure to the data-center power bottleneck. Its proposed $1.45 Bn acquisition of Utility Innovation Group expands the company's capabilities upstream from traditional power and cooling equipment into microgrids, onsite generation and behind-the-meter power architecture.
Lam Research offers a different route into semiconductor growth. Record June-quarter revenue and profitability, strong September-quarter guidance and a 27% dividend increase suggest that AI-driven semiconductor investment is translating into both operating performance and shareholder returns.
Microsoft represents the monetization side of the AI cycle. New models and increasingly capable Copilot workflows are expanding what customers can delegate to AI, giving Microsoft multiple routes to turn infrastructure investment into recurring enterprise revenue.





