Anthropic’s $50B AI Investment: Impact on These 3 Portfolio Stocks

Wall Street navigated a mixed trading session Wednesday, cautiously optimistic about the potential resolution of the government shutdown. The House prepared for a final vote on the Senate-backed bill, fueling hopes for a swift reopening. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new all-time high, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite faced headwinds, pressured by lagging tech stocks as investors shifted focus towards sectors like healthcare and financials. Eli Lilly achieved a significant milestone, exceeding $1,000 per share for the first time, while Goldman Sachs surged by 3%.

In the realm of artificial intelligence, Anthropic unveiled ambitious plans to invest $50 billion in AI infrastructure over the coming years. This considerable investment will primarily fund the construction of advanced data centers, with initial locations planned for New York and Texas. These facilities are expected to become operational next year, with further expansions anticipated. Anthropic emphasizes that these energy-intensive hubs will be crucial for powering its AI tools and supporting the burgeoning research and development efforts of the Claude chatbot maker.

Anthropic’s commitment underscores the escalating demand for robust AI infrastructure, a trend that benefits companies involved in data center development. This move signals the confidence that Anthropic has in its long-term strategy, and the continued growth in the AI sector.

The broader implications of this development are substantial. JPMorgan Chase estimates that global investments in data centers, AI infrastructure, and related power supplies could surpass $5 trillion between 2026 and 2030. Their analysts have characterized the demand for compute as “astronomical,” highlighting the exponential growth in data processing needs. This sentiment is reflective of the underlying trend with AI development, where an increased demand is fueling a need for further and improved AI infrastructure.

However, investors remain wary of potentially inflated valuations assigned to AI-related stocks, leading to periodic selloffs in the tech sector. Market observers are keenly watching for signs of sustainable growth and profitability within the AI landscape.

TD Cowen recently increased its price target for Broadcom to $405 from $370, anticipating the company’s upcoming earnings release. This bullish outlook is driven by the rising AI spending from hyperscalers, who have increased their capital expenditure forecasts. OpenAI’s numerous investment deals and partnerships with tech giants like Nvidia, Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle, valued at billions of dollars, further contribute to this positive sentiment. These collaborations aim to expand computing capacity and secure access to critical chip supplies, potentially benefiting Broadcom’s custom chip business.

Despite the optimistic outlook, TD Cowen acknowledges that Broadcom faces a “high bar” this quarter, given the stock’s premium based on the expectation of continued strong demand for its custom chips. While analysts project strong results, they also believe this is already factored into the stock’s valuation. Looking ahead, TD Cowen emphasizes that Broadcom’s stock performance will be determined by revenue expectations for the second half of 2026 and beyond, with the Dec. 11 earnings print unlikely to significantly alter these expectations. However, they do acknowledge the possibility of unforeseen developments during the post-earnings conference call. The market anticipates Broadcom’s earnings call to provide greater clarity here.