On January 2, 2026, AI - related stocks saw significant gains. Applied Digital’s shares jumped 14.6% to $28.11, as its AI data - center investment began to pay off ahead of the January 7 earnings report. Western Digital’s stock rose nearly 9% in after - hours trading, leading the rally in AI storage stocks at the start of 2026. Additionally, Lumentum Holdings, a provider of AI data - center optical hardware, saw its shares increase by 4.3% to $384.31. These stock movements reflect the continued strong market demand for AI infrastructure, including data centers and storage solutions.