The explosive growth in power demand driven by the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is propelling energy infrastructure-related stocks back into the spotlight as a major investment theme in global stock markets. The AI investment fervor, previously concentrated on semiconductors and cloud computing, is now shifting toward the power grids and generation facilities needed to support it. Both domestic and international securities firms broadly expect this power infrastructure investment trend to continue through the second half of 2026.

[Expected Benefits for Korean Power Equipment and Smart Grid Sectors]

In the domestic market, the power equipment sector—encompassing transformers, circuit breakers, and wires—is attracting strong market interest. As data center construction has increased, demand for extra-high-voltage transformers has surged. With supply struggling to keep pace, related companies are seeing their pricing power strengthen. In particular, shipments to the United States and Europe are rapidly filling the gap left by declining export volumes to the Middle East. The industry assesses that large-scale power equipment manufacturers with technological capabilities in the extra-high-voltage transformer sector are achieving successive milestones in U.S. power grid modernization projects.

Companies armed with smart grid and energy storage system (ESS) solutions are also posting steady growth, buoyed by demand for the construction of intelligent power grids. Mid-tier companies specializing in specific areas of power infrastructure, such as distribution transformers and extra-high-voltage cables, are also being revalued as they reap structural benefits from aging facility replacement needs and rising power consumption driven by urbanization.

[Boom in Nuclear Power, SMRs, and U.S. Generation and Utilities]

Nuclear power and small modular reactor (SMR) sectors are also emerging as a distinct investment axis. Major Korean heavy industry companies are collaborating with overseas SMR developers to strengthen their capabilities in supplying key equipment and core components. Specialist firms in nuclear plant design, maintenance, and control instrumentation are also gaining recognition, supported by favorable policies and the global drive toward carbon neutrality.

In the U.S. market, as hyperscalers' requests for grid connections surge across regions, earnings forecasts for large utility companies are being clearly revised upward. Utilities in areas with high data center density, such as the East Coast and the South, have often secured years of future load increases through contracts, significantly improving their earnings visibility.

Power generation equipment manufacturers dealing with natural gas turbines and power conversion devices are also seeing their order backlogs reach record highs, prompting capacity expansions. In the nuclear power sector, as discussions around improving the operating rates of existing plants and restarting idled plants gain momentum, uranium supply chain and reactor component companies are being singled out as key beneficiaries. Companies specializing in data center cooling and power management infrastructure have also entered a structural growth phase, driven by rising server power densities.

[Investment Considerations]

However, the power infrastructure theme requires a cautious approach, as stock price volatility can be high depending on policy changes, interest rate environments, and individual companies' order intake and contract fulfillment. In particular, for stocks that have surged sharply over a short period, valuation pressures can mount. Analysts emphasize that investors must review individual companies' financial health and order performance before investing.

[This article was written using AI. It was reconstructed based on publicly available market data and objective information. Financial markets are subject to real-time fluctuations. Investment decisions should be made carefully and at your own risk after verifying the latest disclosures and market prices. Under no circumstances may this information be used as evidentiary material for determining legal liability regarding investment outcomes.]