- Oracle plans to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion via equity and debt to fund data centre build-outs.
- Initial market reaction was positive, but skepticism remains about long-term profitability and AI spending risks.
What happened
Shares of Oracle Corp. rose modestly on Monday after the software and cloud computing group unveiled plans to raise US$45 billion to US$50 billion in capital during calendar 2026. The proposed fundraising, which includes both stock sales and bond issuances, is intended to support the company’s ambitious expansion of data centre infrastructure needed to meet burgeoning demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
Oracle has emerged as a significant provider of cloud computing capacity, driven in part by its multibillion-dollar contracts with AI developers such as OpenAI, Meta, and xAI. The company’s formidable $300 billion backlog of cloud contracts includes commitments to supply computing resources for training and servicing advanced AI models.
The fundraising plan envisages roughly half of the total coming from equity offerings, including depository shares and convertible preferred stock, while the remainder would be financed through bonds early in the year. Analysts from Guggenheim and Barclays said this mix is designed to bolster Oracle’s investment-grade credit standing and reassure financial markets amid concerns about rising debt burdens.
Investor reaction was initially positive, with Oracle’s credit-default swap (CDS) costs falling sharply—an indicator of reduced perceived default risk—and the stock rising around 2%. However, pre-market trading on other platforms showed mixed responses, with some declines as markets digested the implications of dilution and long-term funding needs.
Also Read: https://btw.media/all/it-infrastructure/cloud-infrastructure-spend-hits-102-6b-as-ai-demand-grows/
Why it’s important
Oracle’s capital-raising strategy underscores the extraordinary capital intensity of cloud and AI infrastructure build-outs. Unlike rivals such as Microsoft and Amazon, which have historically funded expansion from operating cash flow, Oracle has opted for a debt-and-equity approach, raising questions about financial sustainability and margin impact.
The reaction also highlights broader market skepticism about heavy AI spending. Some investors have questioned whether massive investments in data centres will translate into sustainable revenue growth, especially given intense competition and the uncertain pace of enterprise adoption of generative AI workloads.
Moreover, Oracle’s fortunes are now closely tied to the success of its largest cloud customers such as OpenAI, which face scrutiny over profitability and funding. This inter-connectedness could amplify risk if these customers scale back demand or encounter financial shortfalls.
The plan’s reliance on both equity and debt also raises potential concerns about share dilution and credit metrics, particularly as credit rating agencies have recently issued cautious outlooks due to mounting long-term debt.
Also Read: https://btw.media/all/it-infrastructure/global-data-center-investment-set-to-soar-to-3t/
