{"id":33824,"date":"2026-07-22T11:55:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/?p=33824"},"modified":"2026-07-22T11:55:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:55:31","slug":"rocket-ships-to-the-moon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/insights\/rocket-ships-to-the-moon","title":{"rendered":"Rocket ships to the moon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>With contributions from Noha Fazili, research analyst<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Please note: Unless otherwise noted, all content and data are as of June 25, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-markets-are-over-the-moon-as-ai-hopes-overcome-geopolitical-fears\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Markets are over the moon as AI hopes overcome geopolitical fears<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a continued show of resilience, equity markets have pushed higher on a year-to-date basis, particularly in North America. In fairness, U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/insights\/iran-war-update-deal-or-no-deal\">equity markets did correct roughly eight percent<\/a> with the onset of the U.S. and Israeli strike against Iran, and bottomed on March 30. Since then, however, markets have staged what looks like a V-shaped recovery, bouncing back more than 15 percent and soaring back above preconflict levels to reach new highs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The euphoric debut of SpaceX, the highly anticipated IPOs from Anthropic and OpenAI, alongside the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the U.S., have buoyed the markets\u2019 spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-corporate-earnings-engine-keeps-chugging-along-smoothly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Corporate earnings engine keeps chugging along smoothly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The equity markets\u2019 push higher can be credited to strong corporate earnings, the AI investment wave and an economy that has thus far absorbed higher energy prices better than expected. The one caveat to this is that the rebound from the March lows has not been broad-based, with Energy, Technology and Communication Services sector stocks leading the charge in an otherwise relatively narrow market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-s-amp-p-500-sector-returns\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">S&amp;P 500 sector returns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"701\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-1-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Horizontal bar chart comparing S&amp;P 500 sector performance for two periods: year to date (orange) and March 30 to date (dark navy). Energy leads year-to-date returns at 21.20% but shows a -12.97% March 30 to date decline. Technology has the highest March 30 to date return at 33.13%, compared to 15.83% year to date. Industrials, Real Estate, and S&amp;P 500 overall show positive returns in both periods. Financials, Communications Services, and Discretionary sectors show negative year-to-date returns (-1.35%, -2.22%, and -4.65% respectively), while posting positive March 30 to date gains. Health Care, Staples, and Utilities show modest positive returns in both periods.\" class=\"wp-image-33858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-1-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-1-EN.jpg?resize=300,205 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-1-EN.jpg?resize=768,526 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-1-EN.jpg?resize=1024,701 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Bloomberg Note: As of June 25, 2026; Filtered by YTD highest to lowest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hardiness of the corporate earnings growth engine was evident in the first quarter of this year. Q1 earnings reports for the S&amp;P 500 index have concluded, with more than 85 percent of companies beating consensus estimates\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/insight.factset.com\/earnings-insight-infographic-q1-2026-by-the-numbers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the highest beat rate since Q2 2021 <\/a>, according to FactSet. Earnings growth during the quarter notched higher by roughly 28 percent\u2014the highest since Q4 2021\u2014and the <a href=\"https:\/\/insight.factset.com\/earnings-insight-infographic-q1-2026-by-the-numbers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth for the S&amp;P 500 Index <\/a>, according to FactSet. Not surprisingly, the Information Technology sector posted the highest earnings growth of all 11 sectors in the S&amp;P 500 at more than 50 percent, powered predominantly by the (seemingly) indomitable AI trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"652\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-2-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Data table titled &quot;S&amp;P 500 Sectors EPS Growth Estimates and Valuations.&quot; Columns show sector weights, price-to-earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 (in multiples), and earnings per share year-over-year growth estimates for 2026 and 2027 (in percentages), as of June 25, 2026. Technology is the largest sector at 37.6% weight, with a 2026E EPS growth of 50.8% and 2027E EPS growth of 28.9% (highlighted in orange). Energy has the highest 2026E EPS growth at 67.7% (highlighted in orange) but a negative 2027E EPS growth of -11.1% (highlighted in grey-blue). Healthcare shows the lowest 2026E EPS growth at 1.5% (highlighted in grey-blue). Industrials carries the highest 2026E P\/E at 27.7x (highlighted in orange). Financials, Communications Services, and Real Estate are the smallest sectors by weight.\" class=\"wp-image-33887\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-2-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-2-EN.jpg?resize=300,191 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-2-EN.jpg?resize=768,489 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-2-EN.jpg?resize=1024,652 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Bloomberg. Note: As of June 25, 2026; PE = Price to Earnings; EPS = Earnings Per Share; EPS is with YOY growth; Highest and Lowest highlighted in each column.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earnings growth expectations for 2026 have been revised higher from the low-to-mid teens at the beginning of this year to north of 20 percent. Consensus expectations are for another 10-to-15-percent growth in earnings in 2027. As a recurring theme\u2014and something of a hallmark of a highly concentrated index\u2014the positive earnings revisions have been quite concentrated in Information Technology, and this sector is forecast to lead the charge and outpace the broader market from an earnings growth perspective over the next two years. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-u-s-equity-market-valuation-in-context\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>U.S. equity market valuation in context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valuations for the S&amp;P 500 index currently sit above its historical average and above developed-market peers. But some context is perhaps warranted. First, U.S. equity market valuations have been disproportionately driven by earnings growth rather than multiple expansion. To wit, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bny.com\/assets\/investments\/im\/documents\/manual\/perspectives\/are-us-equity-valuations-too-rich.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">current price-to-earnings (P\/E) ratio of roughly 21x sits below the recent peak of 23x <\/a>. Second, excluding the Magnificent Seven (Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia, Tesla and Apple) from the index\u2019s valuation\u2014to control for the close to 30 percent concentration of this block of stocks in the S&amp;P 500 index\u2014yields a valuation more or less in line with the long-term average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-the-valuation-of-the-s-amp-p-500-is-much-more-reasonable-without-the-magnificent-seven\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The valuation of the S&amp;P 500 is much more reasonable without the Magnificent Seven<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"434\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-3-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Dual line chart tracking price-to-earnings (P\/E) ratios from 2014 to 2025. The dark navy line represents the P\/E of the S&amp;P 500, currently at 21.1x. The orange line represents the P\/E of the S&amp;P 500 excluding the Magnificent Seven, currently at 15.7x. A dashed horizontal grey line marks the long-term average of 16.6x. Both series track closely until around 2019\u20132020, after which the full S&amp;P 500 P\/E rises significantly above the long-term average and above the ex-Magnificent Seven measure, which remains near the long-term average. The gap between the two lines widens markedly from 2023 onward, illustrating the valuation premium attributable to the Magnificent Seven stocks.\" class=\"wp-image-33860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-3-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-3-EN.jpg?resize=300,127 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-3-EN.jpg?resize=768,326 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-3-EN.jpg?resize=1024,434 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: RBC Global Asset Management. Note: Reflects forward P\/E. Source: Bloomberg, RBC GAM. From June 30, 2014 to May 31, 2026. Long-term average reflects 15 years. \u201cS&amp;P 500 excluding Magnificent Seven\u201d refers to P\/E of the S&amp;P 500 if the \u201cMagnificent Seven\u201d were removed and the weights of the other stocks were grossed up proportionally. Note: you cannot invest directly into an index. Tesla was added to the S&amp;P 500 on Dec 18, 2020.<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, the higher valuation for the U.S. equity markets relative to peers is, we believe, in part justified by the higher-than-expected earnings growth for the market on a relative basis versus other developed markets in 2026 (with the exception of Canada) and 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"460\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-4-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Data table titled &quot;Developed Markets EPS Growth Estimates and Valuations,&quot; as of June 25, 2026. Columns show price-to-earnings estimates and earnings per share year-over-year growth estimates for 2026 and 2027 across five markets. The S&amp;P 500 row is highlighted in orange, showing the highest 2026E P\/E at 21.6x, 2026E EPS growth of 23.0%, 2027E P\/E of 18.7x, and 2027E EPS growth of 15.2%. The S&amp;P\/TSX Composite has the highest 2026E EPS growth at 27.5% (highlighted in orange). MSCI EMU shows the lowest 2026E EPS growth at 12.6% (highlighted in grey-blue). The FTSE 100 has the lowest P\/E in both years at 13.0x (2026E) and 12.3x (2027E), both highlighted in grey-blue, and the lowest 2027E EPS growth at 5.9%. The Tokyo Stock Exchange shows a 2026E P\/E of 18.4x with moderate EPS growth estimates.\" class=\"wp-image-33889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-4-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-4-EN.jpg?resize=300,135 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-4-EN.jpg?resize=768,345 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/07\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-4-EN.jpg?resize=1024,460 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Bloomberg. Note: As of June 15, 2026; PE = Price to Earnings; EPS = Earnings Per Share; EPS is with YOY growth; Highest and Lowest highlighted in each column.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We believe it will be hard for investors to bet against the U.S. equity markets given they lead the charge on the AI revolution. A modest overweight in this asset class is reasonable in our view, though investors should be wary of the noted concentration in the index. Portfolio discipline around managing valuation risk, rebalancing and diversification (across equities and asset classes) remains critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-code-and-capital-assessing-the-ai-arms-race\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Code and capital: Assessing the AI arms race<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the key underpinnings of the growing concentration in technology in U.S. equity markets has been the AI arms race\u2014dominated by a handful of mega-cap hyperscalers. Capital expenditure (capex) across the top hyperscalers has been nothing short of historic, with the sector on track to <a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/big-tech-set-to-spend-650-billion-in-2026-as-ai-investments-soar-163907630.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAN1Of5dzztWu3Mfj7YOjr9_lAxEkS1cdexpW6HLtBGnHR6uT_4iTZvuu0drDmVf_l7UGbLI8OlC9QXGWVlTf2wUbmWdWFcdBu4sDbFxqkPoIDLJj5yzxiD-xtZmbZseX3D4WdHB7_VvKTwoxqthGzVQI7G2vzXw0JPCGAHAdGyYF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">surpass an estimated $650 billion in spending this year <\/a>. This is 80 percent higher than 2025 levels and marks a continuation of one of the fastest and largest capex cycles in decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-hyperscalers-are-expected-to-continue-ramping-up-capex\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hyperscalers are expected to continue ramping up capex<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"554\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-5-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Combined stacked bar and line chart showing annual AI capital expenditure investment in US dollars (billions) from 2020 to 2028 (estimated), with year-over-year percentage change overlaid as a dark navy line on the right axis. The stacked bars break investment down by company: Amazon (dark navy), Alphabet (orange), Meta (green), Microsoft (grey-blue), and Oracle (light blue). Total investment grows from $97 billion in 2020 to $154 billion in 2023, then accelerates sharply to $240 billion in 2024, $416 billion in 2025E, $738 billion in 2026E, $900 billion in 2027E, and a projected $950+ billion in 2028E. Year-over-year growth peaks at 78% in 2026E, with a dip to -3% in 2023 before the sharp acceleration. By 2028E, growth moderates to 8%, though absolute investment levels remain near $950 billion. Amazon is consistently the largest contributor across all years.\" class=\"wp-image-33862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-5-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-5-EN.jpg?resize=300,162 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-5-EN.jpg?resize=768,416 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-5-EN.jpg?resize=1024,554 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Bloomberg, RBC GAM. Note: As of June 3, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The level of capex spending announced for 2026 currently represents two percent of U.S. GDP, with increases likely in the next two years\u2014consensus <a href=\"https:\/\/ca.finance.yahoo.com\/news\/goldman-says-consensus-2027-hyperscaler-142608115.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI capital expenditure estimates suggest this could rise above $1 trillion in 2027 <\/a>. The unprecedented level of spending, coupled with the relatively high valuations for AI-related and adjacent stocks, has evoked comparisons with the internet bubble of the late \u201890s. Yet we view this as the first inning of an AI supercycle, rather than a bubble. For one thing, it is being funded predominantly by corporate earnings rather than speculative debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The funding is concentrated disproportionately among established \u201cBig Tech\u201d mega-cap companies with strong cash-flow generation and robust balance sheets\u2014not cash-burning start-ups. Through the lens of capex margins, even with the groundbreaking levels of spending, these remain below where they were during the Dot-Com bubble and the Gilded Age.<a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-capex-as-a-percent-of-revenue\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Capex as a percent of revenue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"526\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-6-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Bar chart comparing capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue across three historical investment cycles. Railroads (1869\u20131888) show a capex-to-revenue ratio of 189%. The Dot-Com Bubble (1997\u20132000) shows the highest ratio at 408%. The Big 5 Hyperscalers (2026 estimated) show a ratio of 36%, annotated with Revenue of $2.0 trillion and Capex of $0.7 trillion, connected by a downward arrow. The chart illustrates that while hyperscaler AI investment is large in absolute dollar terms, it represents a significantly lower share of revenue compared to prior technology investment booms.\" class=\"wp-image-33863\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-6-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-6-EN.jpg?resize=300,154 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-6-EN.jpg?resize=768,395 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-6-EN.jpg?resize=1024,526 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Note: contemplates 20-year average for railroads (1869\u20131888), four-year average for dot-com (1997-2000), and 2026E for technology and big 5 hyperscalers.<br>(1) Railroads: per St. Louis Fed Reserve | Dot-Com: Fed Reserve Bank of San Francisco and OECD | Technology: Morgan Stanley Tech Research and Public Filings.<br>(2) Railroads: per St. Louis Fed Reserve | Dot-Com: Fed Reserve Bank of San Francisco and OECD | Big 5 Hyperscalers: Morgan Stanley Tech Research and Public Filings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the other attributes of this technological revolution is scarcity\u2014not excess\u2014related to a structural shortage in computing power, electrical-grid capacity, data centres and high-bandwidth memory. Put differently, a massive buildout of physical infrastructure to support the development of AI technology and high demand is in its early stages, with few signs of overbuild. Rather than spending on abstract ideas, the <a href=\"https:\/\/pws.blackstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/blackstone-secure\/Canada_BXU_Behind-the-Deal-QTS.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">outlays of cash are an investment in physical infrastructure intended to support growing demand <\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-accelerating-demand-for-data-centres\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accelerating demand for data centres*<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-u-s-new-leasing-mw\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">U.S. new leasing (MW)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"496\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-7-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Area chart showing exponential growth in a metric (unlabeled on the vertical axis) from 2016 to 2025. The value was relatively flat from 314 in 2016 to 359 in 2019, then surged dramatically \u2014 rising steeply from 2020 onward and reaching 13,416 by 2025. A curved arrow and label highlight this as a 37x increase. The shaded blue area under the curve emphasizes the scale of acceleration, particularly from 2023 to 2025.\" class=\"wp-image-33864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-7-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-7-EN.jpg?resize=300,145 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-7-EN.jpg?resize=768,372 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-7-EN.jpg?resize=1024,496 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Note: There can be no assurance that any Blackstone fund or investment will achieve its objectives or avoid substantial losses, or that any of the trends described herein will<br>continue or will not reverse. See \u201cImportant Disclosure Information\u201d, including \u201cTrends\u201d.<br>* datacenterHawk and TD Cowen, as of September 30, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no question that investors\u2019 focus going forward will be on the return on investment for these gargantuan capex outlays. Positively, in recent years large language models (LLMs) have continued to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcgam.com\/documents\/en\/articles\/global-investment-outlook-summer-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">demonstrate improvements of more than sixfold per year <\/a>, according to RBC Global Asset Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-ai-models-are-becoming-exponentially-more-capable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">AI models are becoming exponentially more capable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"504\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-8-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Scatter plot with a logarithmic vertical axis showing AI model performance on the METR 50% time horizon score (measured in minutes) from January 2024 to early 2026. A diagonal trend line runs from approximately 5 minutes in January 2024 to roughly 300 minutes by early 2026, indicating consistent exponential improvement. Data points (shown as blue-grey circles) closely follow the trend line. The most recent labeled models are Claude Opus 4.5 and Claude Opus 4.6, with Claude Opus 4.6 scoring above 512 minutes \u2014 the highest value shown. The chart illustrates the rapid and sustained improvement in AI task autonomy over the period.\" class=\"wp-image-33865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-8-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-8-EN.jpg?resize=300,148 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-8-EN.jpg?resize=768,378 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-8-EN.jpg?resize=1024,504 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: METR, RBC GAM. Note: As of March 20, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">RBC GAM also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcgam.com\/documents\/en\/articles\/global-investment-outlook-summer-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimates that AI infrastructure expenditure contributed roughly 0.5 percent to U.S. GDP growth in 2025 <\/a>\u2014an important partial offset to tariff-related economic growth headwinds of -0.75 percent. A similar contribution from AI growth is pencilled in for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enterprise adoption of AI has been on the rise worldwide. According to a report by McKinsey, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/capabilities\/quantumblack\/our-insights\/the-state-of-ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI adoption will reach just under 20 percent among the working-age population by the end of 2026 <\/a>. In the corporate sector, more than 85 percent of companies are using AI in at least one business function, although much work remains in the pilot or experimentation phase. Over 60 percent of the businesses surveyed in the report expect AI to directly enhance productivity levels, albeit a third expect workforce disruptions in certain roles owing to greater AI-driven automation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcgam.com\/documents\/en\/articles\/global-investment-outlook-summer-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RBC Global Asset Management points to an acceleration in U.S. productivity growth <\/a> since the introduction of ChatGPT, suggesting that the benefits of this transformational technology are already being felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-u-s-labour-productivity-growth-has-accelerated-since-chatgpt-s-release\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">U.S. labour productivity growth has accelerated since ChatGPT&#8217;s release<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"555\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-9-EN.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Dual line chart tracking the U.S. labour productivity index from 2015 to 2026. The orange line represents the 2015\u201319 productivity trend, which rises steadily as a straight line from approximately 98 to 116. The dark navy line represents actual non-farm business productivity, which tracks near the trend line before 2020, spikes upward during 2020\u20132021 (annotated as &quot;Pandemic distortions&quot;), then falls back to trend by 2022. After ChatGPT's first commercial release in November 2022 (marked by a vertical dashed line), actual productivity accelerates above the pre-pandemic trend line, reaching approximately 119 by 2026 \u2014 prompting the annotation &quot;AI boost?&quot; The chart raises the question of whether AI adoption is beginning to drive productivity gains above the historical trend.\" class=\"wp-image-33866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-9-EN.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-9-EN.jpg?resize=300,163 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-9-EN.jpg?resize=768,416 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/02\/26-RI-how-the-AI-theme-is-driving-todays-markets-WMC-CHART-9-EN.jpg?resize=1024,555 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Macrobond, RBC GAM. Note: As of Q1 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With respect to future monetization potential, Wall Street analysts point to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/04\/30\/ai-boom-big-tech-capital-expenditures-now-seen-topping-1-trillion-in-2027-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimated $2 trillion backlog across leading hyperscalers <\/a>. This backlog represents future contracted cloud revenue driven mainly by accelerating enterprise AI infrastructure demand. The real test will be whether the high levels of expenditure drive computational efficiency that ultimately leads to sizable margin expansion for these companies. In the short-to-medium term, we believe it is fair to expect some margin compression before meaningful margin expansion unfolds over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, the promise of AI to reshape global productivity is compelling and echoes the transformative waves of the steam engine and the internet. Yet, history has shown that the paths of progress born of such technological revolutions are riddled with fits and starts, and do not unfold in a linear fashion. Just as the rollout of electricity or early broadband internet encountered massive infrastructure hurdles, market volatility and some painful shakeouts before fundamentally altering our economy, the AI revolution is likely to face its own periods of turbulence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investors must navigate the inevitable volatility with discipline. The most enduring portfolios will be built by those who balance exposure to AI&#8217;s exponential potential with the pragmatic understanding that the path to widespread adoption is always paved with growing pains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How AI is driving today\u2019s markets and fuelling investors\u2019 hopes for an out-of-this-world future.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":33833,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"rbcwm_post_date":"2026-06-25T14:56:00","editor_notices":[],"rbc_url_alias":"","rbcwm_featured_desktop_image_position":"","rbcwm_featured_mobile_image_position":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[73,264],"tags":[238,132,1113,686],"rbcwm_content_owner":[],"rbcwm_need":[69],"rbcwm_segment":[75],"rbcwm_solution":[82],"rbcwm_topic":[94],"rbcwm_channel":[],"rbcwm_format":[],"class_list":["post-33824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","category-market-trends","tag-ai","tag-equity-markets","tag-hyperscalers","tag-sp-500","rbcwm_need-support","rbcwm_segment-business-owners-and-entrepreneurs","rbcwm_solution-wealth-planning","rbcwm_topic-your-wealth"],"acf":{"rbcwm_subtitle":"How AI is driving today\u2019s markets and fuelling investors\u2019 hopes for an out-of-this-world future.  ","rbcwm_post_author":[16992],"rbcwm_custom_breadcrumb_text":"","rbcwm_custom_breadcrumb_link_url":"","rbcwm_disclaimers":{"add_disclosures":"","perspective_disclaimer":["Yes"],"expandable":"","omit_from_pages":["Yes"],"disclaimer_footnote":""},"rbcwm_insight_cta_id":[11937],"rbcwm_pagination":{"next_link":"","next_link_text":"Next article","previous_link":"","previous_link_text":"Previous article"},"rbcwm_video_duration":"","article_time":"","rbcwm_enable_toc":true,"rbcwm_toc_selector":"h2","rbcwm_toc_sub_selector":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Rocket ships to the moon<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How AI is driving today\u2019s markets and fuelling investors\u2019 hopes for an out-of-this-world future.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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