The main physical hurdle for the 2026 artificial intelligence boom has shifted from semiconductor supply to power infrastructure and grid capacity. Hyperscalers, utilities, and data center developers are investing unprecedented capital to build power-dense facilities with 1.5x to 2x the electrical and mechanical capacity of traditional data centers. With regional electric utility networks struggling to keep up with increasing load growth, major players in specialized engineering and contracting, such as EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME) and Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR), hold enormous pricing power, multi-year backlog visibility, and structural advantages that go beyond standard macroeconomic cycles.
EMCOR: Record Backlog and M&A Expansion
On July 30, EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME) provided an example of this strong secular tailwind when it reported record second-quarter 2026 results, sparking an 18% stock jump. Quarterly revenue rose 19.8% year-over-year to $5.15 billion, far exceeding the analyst forecast of $4.71 billion. Diluted earnings per share hit $9.06, crossing expectations of $7.23 by 25.3%. The report’s most noteworthy metric was remaining performance obligations, which increased 44% year-over-year to a record $17.14 billion, with broad-based growth across all five operational areas.
With visibility stretching across its project portfolio, EMCOR’s management increased full-year revenue projection for 2026 to $20.0-$20.5 billion and full-year EPS forecast to $32.00-$33.25. EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME) also increased its regional size by completing five bolt-on acquisitions totaling $625 million in trailing revenue, which were aimed at major tech hubs like Austin, Texas, and manufacturing regions in Wisconsin.
Quanta Services: Top-Line Growth and Labor Force Moat
Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR) had an equally strong Q2 result, with the stock rising about 14% after crossing expectations across key operational parameters. Revenue increased 41.1% year-over-year to $9.56 billion, exceeding expectations of $8.53 billion by 12.1%. Adjusted EPS rose 71% year-over-year to $4.24, surpassing expectations by approximately 29%. Quanta’s core Electric Infrastructure division led the performance, delivering $7.84 billion in revenue and $898 million in operating income, considerably above Wall Street’s expectations of $707 million.
Valuations and Hedge Fund Sentiment
Looking at valuations, the two high-flying infrastructure compounders are trading at very different multiples, with Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR) trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 37.79x. Hedge fund support continues to be robust, with Insider Monkey’s database showing an increase in hedge fund ownership from 90 in Q4 2025 to 94 in Q1 2026, reflecting strong smart-money sentiment.
At the same time, EME trades at a far lower forward P/E multiple of 23.43x, even as it generated faster backlog growth and produced a bigger 25.3% quarterly earnings beat. That said, Hedge fund holdings in EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME) fell slightly from 65 funds in Q4 2025 to 58 funds in Q1 2026.
Insider Monkey’s Verdict
Both EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME) and Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR) have strong exposure to the multi-year AI power and grid upgrade cycle. Although Quanta Services serves as a core mega-cap infrastructure holding backed by a labor moat, EMCOR Group has a stronger growth-adjusted value profile with a record $17.14 billion backlog.
While we acknowledge the risk and potential of EME as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than EME and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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