The artificial intelligence investment theme confronts a pivotal moment this week as three major suppliers of AI infrastructure prepare to release quarterly financials. With recent signs of fatigue in the broader technology sector, market participants are seeking confirmation that sustained capital spending is converting into deliverable next-generation hardware rather than just short-term upside.
Nvidia: the sector’s bellwether
Nvidia (NVDA) is set to disclose its fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, Feb. 25, after the market close. As the dominant supplier of GPUs used to train and run large language models, Nvidia functions as a key gauge for the health of the AI infrastructure market. Consensus expectations call for revenue near $65.6 billion, representing an approximate 67% increase year-over-year.
Traders and analysts will be particularly attentive to commentary on the production ramp of chips based on the Blackwell architecture. Any discussion of supply chain constraints or updates on the timeline for Rubin chips is likely to shape investor sentiment more broadly across the S&P 500. Options-implied volatility is pricing in roughly a 6.5% move in either direction around the print, underscoring how central Nvidia’s results are to market dynamics this week.
Hardware and cloud providers under the microscope
The focus shifts to the tangible infrastructure that supports AI on Thursday, Feb. 26, after the close. CoreWeave (CRWV), a specialised cloud provider that has become a notable partner to Nvidia, is expected to report fourth-quarter revenue near $1.53 billion. Beyond the top-line number, CoreWeave’s reported $56 billion backlog is the headline metric many observers will watch, since it functions as a forward indicator of how much compute capacity startups and larger technology firms are reserving.
Also reporting on Thursday is Dell Technologies (DELL), which has repositioned itself as a key supplier of AI-optimised servers. Analysts forecast earnings of $3.53 per share on revenue of $31.6 billion. Evercore recently added Dell to a "Tactical Outperform" list, citing a material step-up in AI server orders. Dell ended the prior quarter with an $18.4 billion backlog, and management will face the dual challenge of scaling production to meet demand while preserving gross margins amid rising volumes.
Market implications
For investors, the week’s results will be evaluated not only on whether companies beat consensus estimates, but on the quality and sustainability of demand. The market is looking for evidence that capex commitments are translating into delivered, next-generation hardware rather than being confined to purchase intent or vendor promises. Nvidia’s print is widely viewed as the most consequential event of the week, with the CoreWeave and Dell reports offering additional colour on cloud leasing activity and the supply-side response in server manufacturing.
Additional note on research tools
Among analytical products cited by market participants, ProPicks AI is noted as a platform that evaluates companies including Dell across more than 100 financial metrics. The platform uses machine learning to identify stocks it views as offering attractive risk-reward profiles; it cites prior winners such as Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%). ProPicks AI also asks whether Dell is currently included in any of its strategies or if alternative opportunities exist within the same sector.