Dell stock soars 248% in 2026, outpacing AI ETF gains amid booming AI server demand.

Dell Technologies' stock surged 248% from December 2025 to July 2026, driven by a massive 87.5% revenue increase and a 757% jump in AI-optimized server sales. This growth reflects a broader AI infrastructure boom benefiting semiconductor, networking, and software sectors, as seen in the 66.4% rise of the Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF over the same period. While investing in Dell yielded higher returns, the ETF offered diversified exposure with less risk. The AI buildout is expected to continue as a multi-year investment cycle, making thematic exposure a safer strategy than picking single winners.