Got $5,000? 2 Stocks Supplying the AI Data Center Power Crunch.

Investors with surplus funds may find an appealing opportunity in companies providing power to data centers. According to McKinsey's Global Energy Perspective 2026, electricity consumption for data centers could surge at a 24% annual rate through 2030, while power generation lags behind computing demands. Two stocks, Vistra (VST -6.51%) and GE Vernova (GEV -6.20%), are set to address this disparity through power generation and equipment.

Vistra generates electricity from diverse sources like natural gas, nuclear, coal, and solar, and distributes it via brands such as TXU Energy. In the second quarter of 2026, adjusted operating profit hit nearly $1.8 billion, a more than 30% increase year over year. Despite a 19% drop over the past year, Vistra's stock appears relatively priced, considering its momentum.

Data center demand is escalating, fueled by factories, electric vehicles, population growth. ERCOT and PJM Interconnection, two major U.S. power grids, recently recorded record electricity demands, with PJM reaching 168 gigawatts and ERCOT attaining 91 gigawatts in July. Management anticipates annual load, the total electricity used on the grid, to expand by 4% to 6% in ERCOT and by 2% to 3% in PJM through 2030.

Power prices are susceptible to fluctuations, potentially affecting Vistra's financials. The stock trades at a high valuation of 27 times trailing earnings, but Wall Street anticipates earnings growth of 34% annually over the next few years, leading to potential substantial gains by the decade's end. GE Vernova specializes in HA-class gas turbines, transformers, and switchgear, along with wind turbines.

Its Q2 2026 backlog reached $176 billion, with a target of $200 billion in 2027. Data center orders in electrification exceeded $5 billion in the first half of 2026, more than double the full-year 2025 figures. Management forecasts at least 125 gigawatts under contract in its gas power business by the end of 2026, with over half allocated to the company's most efficient HA turbines.

CEO Scott Strazik revealed during the Sept. 16, 2026, Morgan Stanley conference that each gigawatt of HA turbines will generate approximately $500 million in high-margin services revenue across the first 20 years. However, execution risks linked to the massive backlog and recent decline in its wind segment could hinder this momentum.

The stock's 29 price-to-earnings multiple may seem expensive, yet analysts project around 36% annual earnings growth over the next several years, potentially leading to a doubling or tripling of a new investment within five years.