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VRT vs. SMCI: Which Data Center Infrastructure Stock Is a Better Buy?
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Key Takeaways
Vertiv is highlighted as offering greater upside potential than SMCI in AI data center infrastructure.
VRT posted 30% Q1 2026 revenue growth, wider margins and more than doubled free cash flow.
SMCI expanded AI rack-scale and liquid-cooling offerings, but faces trade and competition risks.
Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) and Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) are major players in the data center market, particularly in the rapidly growing area of AI data center infrastructure and liquid cooling solutions. While Vertiv focuses on power and cooling infrastructure for data centers, Super Micro Computer is strengthening its position with end-to-end AI rack-scale systems that integrate compute, networking, storage, and liquid cooling.
So, VRT or SMCI —Which of these Data Center Infrastructure stocks has the greater upside potential? Let’s find out.
The Case for VRT Stock
Vertiv is benefiting from its rich partner base and extensive product portfolio spanning thermal systems, liquid cooling, UPS, switchgear, busbars, and modular solutions. Vertiv remains leveraged to rising data center power and thermal needs as AI deployments drive higher infrastructure density and faster build cycles.
In the first quarter of 2026, Vertiv reported 30% year-over-year revenue growth, with organic sales up 23%. Adjusted operating margins expanded 430 basis points, and adjusted free cash flow more than doubled compared to the prior year.
Acquisitions have played an important role in further expanding Vertiv’s footprint. Vertiv recently announced the completion of the acquisition of ThermoKey S.p.A., a leading provider of heat rejection and heat-exchange technologies. The acquisition strengthens Vertiv’s thermal management portfolio and manufacturing capabilities across EMEA, enhancing its ability to deliver advanced cooling solutions for AI factories and high-density data centers while expanding ThermoKey’s global market reach.
Further expanding its portfolio, Vertiv recently introduced Vertiv PurgeRite NearZero, a patent-pending fluid management service designed to reduce water consumption, wastewater generation and hauling requirements during the commissioning of closed-loop hydronic systems in data centers across North America. The solution has demonstrated water savings of up to 78% and reductions in water haul-off volumes of up to 91%, helping data center operators improve commissioning efficiency while supporting sustainability goals.
The Case for SMCI Stock
Super Micro Computer is benefiting from the growing deployment of AI and HPC workloads. As data centers are proliferating and existing ones are scaling up their capacity, the demand for SMCI’s high-performance and energy-efficient servers is rising.
The company’s expanding portfolio has been noteworthy. Super Micro Computer recently expanded its AI infrastructure portfolio through collaborations with AMD, Arm and NVIDIA, introducing new rack-scale platforms and data center blueprints designed to accelerate deployment of large-scale agentic AI workloads.
The company continued to position Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS) as a key differentiator, describing the model as a one-stop shop that combines rack-scale systems, liquid cooling infrastructure, networking and software tools.
Building on this momentum, Super Micro Computer recently unveiled DCBBS Blueprints for NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 and HGX Rubin NVL8, enabling scalable AI factory deployments from 1,152 GPUs to gigawatt-scale data centers with integrated compute, storage, networking, liquid cooling, power and end-to-end deployment services.
Price Performance and Valuation of VRT and SMCI
In the year-to-date period, Vertiv shares surged 86.9% while Super Micro Computer shares have risen 4%. The outperformance in VRT can be attributed to its extensive product portfolio, which spans thermal systems, liquid cooling, UPS, switchgear, busbar and modular solutions.
Despite SMCI’s expanding portfolio, trade restrictions, strong competition and lingering concerns about past accounting issues remain major issues.
VRT and SMCI Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Valuation-wise, VRT and SMCI’s shares are currently overvalued, as suggested by a Value Score of D and C, respectively.
In terms of forward 12-month Price/Sales, VRT shares are trading at 7.51X, higher than SMCI’s 0.36X.
VRT and SMCI Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Do Earnings Estimates Compare for VRT & SMCI?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VRT’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.36 per share, which has increased 2% over the past 30 days. This indicates a 51.43% year-over-year increase.
The Zacks’ Consensus Estimate for SMCI’s fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $2.56 per share, which has remained unchanged over the past 30 days. This indicates a 24.27% year-over-year increase.
While both Vertiv and Super Micro Computer are benefiting from the booming data center infrastructure market, Vertiv offers greater upside potential with a strong portfolio, rich partner base and significantly higher earnings momentum compared to SMCI.
Despite SMCI’s expanding portfolio, the company’s business remains exposed to U.S. trade restrictions and export-control regulations. Stiff competition also remains a concern.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
VRT vs. SMCI: Which Data Center Infrastructure Stock Is a Better Buy?
Key Takeaways
Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) and Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) are major players in the data center market, particularly in the rapidly growing area of AI data center infrastructure and liquid cooling solutions. While Vertiv focuses on power and cooling infrastructure for data centers, Super Micro Computer is strengthening its position with end-to-end AI rack-scale systems that integrate compute, networking, storage, and liquid cooling.
So, VRT or SMCI —Which of these Data Center Infrastructure stocks has the greater upside potential? Let’s find out.
The Case for VRT Stock
Vertiv is benefiting from its rich partner base and extensive product portfolio spanning thermal systems, liquid cooling, UPS, switchgear, busbars, and modular solutions. Vertiv remains leveraged to rising data center power and thermal needs as AI deployments drive higher infrastructure density and faster build cycles.
In the first quarter of 2026, Vertiv reported 30% year-over-year revenue growth, with organic sales up 23%. Adjusted operating margins expanded 430 basis points, and adjusted free cash flow more than doubled compared to the prior year.
Acquisitions have played an important role in further expanding Vertiv’s footprint. Vertiv recently announced the completion of the acquisition of ThermoKey S.p.A., a leading provider of heat rejection and heat-exchange technologies. The acquisition strengthens Vertiv’s thermal management portfolio and manufacturing capabilities across EMEA, enhancing its ability to deliver advanced cooling solutions for AI factories and high-density data centers while expanding ThermoKey’s global market reach.
Further expanding its portfolio, Vertiv recently introduced Vertiv PurgeRite NearZero, a patent-pending fluid management service designed to reduce water consumption, wastewater generation and hauling requirements during the commissioning of closed-loop hydronic systems in data centers across North America. The solution has demonstrated water savings of up to 78% and reductions in water haul-off volumes of up to 91%, helping data center operators improve commissioning efficiency while supporting sustainability goals.
The Case for SMCI Stock
Super Micro Computer is benefiting from the growing deployment of AI and HPC workloads. As data centers are proliferating and existing ones are scaling up their capacity, the demand for SMCI’s high-performance and energy-efficient servers is rising.
The company’s expanding portfolio has been noteworthy. Super Micro Computer recently expanded its AI infrastructure portfolio through collaborations with AMD, Arm and NVIDIA, introducing new rack-scale platforms and data center blueprints designed to accelerate deployment of large-scale agentic AI workloads.
The company continued to position Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS) as a key differentiator, describing the model as a one-stop shop that combines rack-scale systems, liquid cooling infrastructure, networking and software tools.
Building on this momentum, Super Micro Computer recently unveiled DCBBS Blueprints for NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 and HGX Rubin NVL8, enabling scalable AI factory deployments from 1,152 GPUs to gigawatt-scale data centers with integrated compute, storage, networking, liquid cooling, power and end-to-end deployment services.
Price Performance and Valuation of VRT and SMCI
In the year-to-date period, Vertiv shares surged 86.9% while Super Micro Computer shares have risen 4%. The outperformance in VRT can be attributed to its extensive product portfolio, which spans thermal systems, liquid cooling, UPS, switchgear, busbar and modular solutions.
Despite SMCI’s expanding portfolio, trade restrictions, strong competition and lingering concerns about past accounting issues remain major issues.
VRT and SMCI Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Valuation-wise, VRT and SMCI’s shares are currently overvalued, as suggested by a Value Score of D and C, respectively.
In terms of forward 12-month Price/Sales, VRT shares are trading at 7.51X, higher than SMCI’s 0.36X.
VRT and SMCI Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Do Earnings Estimates Compare for VRT & SMCI?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VRT’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.36 per share, which has increased 2% over the past 30 days. This indicates a 51.43% year-over-year increase.
Vertiv Holdings Co. Price and Consensus
Vertiv Holdings Co. price-consensus-chart | Vertiv Holdings Co. Quote
The Zacks’ Consensus Estimate for SMCI’s fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $2.56 per share, which has remained unchanged over the past 30 days. This indicates a 24.27% year-over-year increase.
Super Micro Computer, Inc. Price and Consensus
Super Micro Computer, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Super Micro Computer, Inc. Quote
Conclusion
While both Vertiv and Super Micro Computer are benefiting from the booming data center infrastructure market, Vertiv offers greater upside potential with a strong portfolio, rich partner base and significantly higher earnings momentum compared to SMCI.
Despite SMCI’s expanding portfolio, the company’s business remains exposed to U.S. trade restrictions and export-control regulations. Stiff competition also remains a concern.
Currently, Vertiv has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), making the stock a stronger pick than Super Micro Computer, which has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.