Key Takeaways
- Independence, Missouri’s City Council has greenlit Nebius’ ambitious U.S. AI factory project
- The planned facility, branded “Project Independence,” will deliver 1.2-gigawatt power capacity — comparable to a small municipal grid
- Shares of NBIS climbed up to 10.3% following the announcement
- The company reported $530 million in 2025 revenue, marking a 479% year-over-year surge, though losses persist
- Wall Street analysts forecast an average price target of $155, implying approximately 55% potential upside
Nebius Group (NBIS) secured a critical regulatory milestone — and investors responded with enthusiasm.
The Independence City Council in Missouri cast its vote on March 4, 2026, granting approval for a Chapter 100 industrial development incentive package supporting Nebius’ forthcoming AI infrastructure project, officially named “Project Independence.”
This development represents the firm’s most substantial AI computing facility on American soil, designed to support 1.2 gigawatts of power capacity.
NBIS stock surged by as much as 10.3% immediately after the announcement. During mid-morning trading, shares maintained gains of approximately 9.9%, hovering around the $97.75 mark.
Chief Executive Officer Arkady Volozh commented: “Independence will be our largest AI factory in the United States to date, and we are fully committed to making it a project the city is proud of. This is our first project of this scale, but not the last.”
The green light includes municipal tax benefits — a significant component for a rapidly expanding enterprise that continues to operate at a loss while scaling infrastructure.
Revenue Performance That Stands Out
Nebius functions as a neocloud infrastructure provider, delivering GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) solutions to enterprises requiring AI computational resources without the burden of building proprietary infrastructure.
Full-year 2025 revenue reached $530 million — representing a remarkable 479% increase compared to the prior year.
The latest quarterly period demonstrated 355% year-over-year expansion to $146 million, maintaining a trajectory of exceptional growth from an emerging revenue base.
However, the path to profitability remains under construction. Nebius recorded an adjusted net loss of $447 million throughout 2025, with operating margins currently at -148%.
An important distinction deserves attention: the operating deficit stems predominantly from non-cash depreciation tied to substantial capital investments. When measured by adjusted EBITDA, the company’s AI division achieved positive territory in late 2025.
Current Valuation: Premium Multiple Reflects Growth Expectations
The stock carries a premium valuation. NBIS currently trades at approximately 41 times revenue, with a P/E ratio hovering around 106 — substantially elevated compared to market benchmarks.
As a reference point, the S&P 500 index trades at roughly 24.8x earnings and 3.3x revenue.
Wall Street analysts maintain an average price objective of $155, translating to roughly 55% appreciation potential from Wednesday’s trading levels.
The 52-week trading range extends from $18.31 to $141.10, underscoring the significant price volatility characteristic of this equity.
The 1.2-gigawatt Project Independence infrastructure is positioned as “not just another data center” — it establishes Nebius among a different competitive tier compared to rivals still navigating preliminary development phases.
The central investment question hinges on execution: can the company deliver on timelines, control cash consumption, and secure sufficient customer commitments to utilize this massive capacity?
As of March 4, 2026, NBIS commanded a market capitalization of approximately $25 billion.


