ETFs tracking securitized debt, AI and Novo Nordisk add to industry’s banner 2024
New ETF Launches: Three asset management firms have introduced new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on securitized debt, artificial intelligence, and Novo Nordisk, contributing to a record year for ETF launches with over 612 products introduced in 2024.
Market Trends: The U.S. ETF market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with inflows expected to surpass $1 trillion, as investors seek opportunities in sectors like private credit and AI, highlighted by BlackRock's acquisition of HPS Investment Partners and the launch of the Defiance Daily Target 2x Long NVO ETF.
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Acquisition of ThermoKey: Vertiv has agreed to acquire Italy-based ThermoKey, enhancing its thermal management capabilities for high-density AI data centers, following a previous $1 billion acquisition of PurgeRite Intermediate.
Importance of Heat Rejection: CEO Giordano Albertazzi emphasized the growing significance of heat rejection infrastructure to improve energy efficiency and unlock capacity in response to increasing AI workloads.
Market Response: Shares of Vertiv rose by 2% in early trading after the announcement, reflecting positive investor sentiment towards the company's expansion strategy in the cooling sector.
Future Outlook: The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, as Vertiv aims to strengthen its end-to-end cooling architecture and meet the rising demands of AI-driven data centers.
- Acquisition Overview: Vertiv has announced its acquisition of ThermoKey S.p.A., a leading provider of heat exchange technologies, aimed at enhancing its thermal management portfolio to support the cooling needs of high-density AI data centers, which is expected to significantly boost its manufacturing capabilities in the EMEA region.
- Technology Integration: This acquisition will expand Vertiv's thermal technology product line, particularly in dry cooling and microchannel heat exchange solutions, enabling customers to achieve more efficient system integration across liquid cooling, air cooling, and heat rejection, thereby optimizing energy utilization.
- Market Demand Response: ThermoKey's production capacity is expected to assist Vertiv in meeting the increasing customer demand, especially in critical thermal infrastructure categories, which will enhance customer support for cooling strategies in AI and high-density applications.
- Strategic Implications: Through this acquisition, Vertiv not only strengthens its competitive position in thermal management but also reinforces long-standing relationships with OEMs and system integrators, providing robust technical support for future infrastructure development.

Acquisition Announcement: VertiV has announced its acquisition of the company ThermoKey, aiming to enhance its portfolio in the heat rejection sector.
Expansion Goals: The acquisition is part of VertiV's strategy to expand its offerings in converged physical infrastructure, focusing on improving efficiency and performance in thermal management solutions.
- Strong Market Demand: Vertiv Holdings is projected to achieve a revenue of $10.2 billion in 2025, reflecting a 26% year-over-year increase, with an expected organic sales growth of around 28% this year, indicating robust demand in the data center equipment sector.
- Cooling Market Growth: According to Precedence Research, the global data center cooling market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of nearly 12% through 2035, while Technavio forecasts that the liquid cooling segment for AI data centers will expand at over 31% annually, further enhancing Vertiv's business outlook.
- Cost Pressures Driving Demand: With soaring operating costs due to rising processing technology and electricity prices, Bloomberg reports that wholesale energy prices are more than three times what they were five years ago, prompting data center operators to invest in Vertiv's equipment to mitigate long-term costs.
- Impact of Market Volatility: Although most AI-related stocks face volatility, Vertiv's business growth is well-protected due to sustained product demand, leading the market to gradually recognize its safety and growth potential in AI infrastructure.
- Oil Price Surge: Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel in 2026, marking a significant increase from below $60 at the start of the year, which is one of the sharpest rises in history, causing heightened investor concerns about future economic growth.
- Inflationary Pressure: The high oil prices are likely to drive overall inflation, prompting the Federal Reserve to reconsider its interest rate policies, which has led to a widespread market decline as investors react to potential rate hikes.
- Supply Chain Disruption: Currently, about 20% of oil supply is disrupted due to the largest supply shock in history, raising fears about future supply constraints and potentially leading to further increases in energy costs that could impact profitability across various sectors.
- Hims & Hers Partnership: Hims & Hers has unexpectedly partnered with Novo Nordisk, resolving a legal dispute and allowing the company to sell FDA-approved weight loss drugs directly, which is expected to significantly enhance its business model and boost market confidence.
- Surging Oil Prices: Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel for the first time in 2026, marking a significant increase from below $60 at the start of the year, which has raised investor concerns about potential impacts on economic growth and profitability across various sectors.
- Supply Disruption Impact: Approximately 20% of oil supply has been disrupted for about nine days due to the largest supply disruption in history, with no spare capacity available to alleviate the situation, intensifying fears of sustained high oil prices.
- S&P 500 Changes: The S&P 500 index has undergone changes, removing four companies including Match Group, while adding four others like Vertiv, reflecting strong demand for AI and connectivity infrastructure and indicating a shift in industry trends.
- Hims & Hers Stock Surge: Hims & Hers stock jumped significantly following an unexpected partnership with Novo Nordisk, resolving a legal dispute and allowing the sale of FDA-approved weight loss drugs, which is expected to boost revenue and improve market sentiment.









