AI Quarterly 1Q26: Stack Overflow

Winnie Cisar: Global Head of Strategy
Zachary Griffiths, CFA: Head of IG & Macro Strategy
Erick Vega, CFA: Senior Analyst, Emerging Markets Corporates
Jordan Chalfin, CFA: Head of Technology
Andrew Brady: Head of Basics
Andy DeVries, CFA: Head of Investment Grade, Head of Utilities
Andrew Moulder: Head of Utilities
Andy Li, CFA: Head of Semiconductors
Zerlina Zeng, CFA: Head of APAC Credit Strategy
Stephanie Sim, CFA: Analyst, Strategy and East Asia Corporates
Miguel Silvestri: Senior Analyst, Industrials
Jim Williamson: Senior Analyst, Autos
Wen Li, CFA: Head of Metals & Mining
Shreyas Nampoothiri: Analyst
Brian Perez: Analyst, Credit Strategy

28 April 2026

Download the Full Report to gain insights on:
  • How global disruptions and infrastructure strain are reshaping the economics of AI-led investment cycles.
  • Which choke points across energy, materials, and labor could quietly determine winners and losers.
  • What rising complexity in AI adoption means for corporate balance sheets and credit resilience.
  • How sector responses diverge as capital intensity collides with execution and supply constraints.
  • Where emerging fault lines suggest risks worth monitoring as AI enthusiasm meets real-world limits.

Executive Summary

Recent performance shows selective strength within AI-linked credit, shaped by utilities and uneven technology outcomes. However, equity returns continue drawing stronger enthusiasm than credit exposure across the same ecosystem.

Geopolitical shocks disrupted critical supply chains supporting digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, constrained substitutes amplify sensitivity across materials essential to advanced technology buildouts.

Global pressures collide with domestic construction hurdles affecting expansion timelines. Electrical systems remain stressed as legacy capacity struggles to meet accelerating development needs.

Labor availability presents another friction point for large-scale infrastructure execution. Despite automation gains, workforce competition and restructuring complicate delivery across the ecosystem.

Credit conditions broadly reflect confidence along much of the AI value chain. Hyperscale investors face heavier strain as funding intensity challenges balance and sentiment.

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