Analyst Ratings February 19, 2026

RBC Keeps Outperform on nVent, Highlights Datacenter Momentum and Near-Term Margin Questions

Analyst reiterates $138 target ahead of nVent’s investor day as datacenter exposure and product cycles drive growth forecasts

By Sofia Navarro NVT
RBC Keeps Outperform on nVent, Highlights Datacenter Momentum and Near-Term Margin Questions
NVT

RBC Capital maintained an Outperform rating on nVent Electric (NVT) with a $138 price target, citing strong datacenter demand and product-led momentum. The firm outlined growth assumptions, margin headwinds tied to capacity expansion, and a slate of strategic opportunities to be discussed at the company’s Feb. 24 investor day in New York City. Recent quarterly results and updated analyst targets from RBC and KeyBanc accompany the outlook.

Key Points

  • RBC Capital maintained an Outperform rating on nVent and set a $138 price target; shares were trading near $115.65 with a market cap of $18.7 billion.
  • Company investor day on Feb. 24 will emphasize an 11-year datacenter-builds backlog and 30%-40% liquid cooling CAGR through 2028; datacenter operations represent about 25% of revenues.
  • RBC projects 7%-11% organic revenue growth over the next three years and high-teens earnings growth; Electrical Connections (33% of revenue) expected to benefit from megaprojects and new products.

Overview

RBC Capital has reaffirmed an Outperform rating on nVent Electric (NYSE: NVT) and set a $138.00 price target for the electrical components manufacturer. At the time of the update, the shares were trading around $115.65 and the company had a market capitalization of about $18.7 billion. Analyst consensus data shows a strong rating of 1.36.

Investor day focus and industry dynamics

RBC expects nVent’s Feb. 24 investor day in New York City to showcase profitable growth avenues. The firm said the presentation will emphasize the industry’s projected 11-year datacenter-builds backlog and an anticipated 30%-40% compound annual growth rate for liquid cooling through 2028. Those datapoints form the backdrop for RBC’s bullish stance on segment demand and longer-term growth potential.

Topics and near-term headwinds

According to RBC, the investor day agenda will address several strategic topics: near-term margin pressure stemming from capacity expansion, the risk of commoditization in certain product lines, the company’s pricing power, opportunities in next-generation technologies such as 800V, the role of services, and prospects within power utility markets. These items underpin both upside potential and the constraints that could temper near-term margin expansion.

Growth projections and segment exposure

RBC projects organic revenue growth of 7%-11% over the next three years for nVent, which the firm believes can support earnings growth in the high-teens percentage range. Datacenter operations account for roughly 25% of company revenues, making that end market an important driver of the forecast. RBC’s outlook is contextualized by nVent’s recent performance - management reported 29.51% revenue growth over the trailing twelve months and the company is showing an attractive PEG ratio of 0.37.

Segment-level detail and market reaction

The Electrical Connections segment, representing about 33% of revenue, is expected to benefit from large-scale projects, new product introductions and a recovery in short-cycle demand. The stock has returned approximately 72.49% over the past year. At the same time, InvestingPro analysis referenced by the firm indicates the shares may currently be overvalued, reflecting the market’s strong bid into recent results and outlook.

Recent results and analyst target adjustments

nVent reported robust fourth-quarter 2025 financial results, with sales of $1.067 billion exceeding a $1.0 billion forecast. Management also raised its adjusted full-year EPS range to $4.00 - $4.15. Following those results, RBC increased its price target to $138 from $136 while maintaining an Outperform rating, noting the company’s datacenter growth. KeyBanc similarly raised its target to $130 from $125 and maintained an Overweight rating, highlighting infrastructure opportunities even as near-term margin pressures were acknowledged.


Implications for markets and sectors

The update and accompanying guidance touch directly on the data center and broader infrastructure sectors, with implications for industrial components demand, electrical systems supply chains and companies serving hyperscale computing buildouts. Investors and market participants will likely watch nVent’s investor day for further clarity on capacity timing, product roadmaps and margin recovery pacing.

Risks

  • Near-term margin headwinds tied to capacity expansion could pressure profitability - this affects industrial components makers and firms with significant capex cycles.
  • Potential commoditization risk in certain product lines could reduce pricing power and margins - relevant to the electrical components and systems sector.
  • Market valuation concerns: strong recent share price appreciation (about 72.49% over the past year) has led some analysis to flag possible overvaluation.

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