Why Akamai (AKAM) Is Up 32.1% After Anthropic AI Deal And Share Buyback Progress

Akamai Technologies, Inc.

Akamai Technologies, Inc.

AKAM

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  • In early May 2026, Akamai Technologies reported first-quarter 2026 results showing higher sales than a year earlier but lower net income and earnings per share, confirmed new revenue guidance for the second quarter and full year 2026, and disclosed further progress on its US$1.03 billion share repurchase program.
  • Akamai also announced a seven-year, US$1.80 billion AI infrastructure agreement with Anthropic and new API security capabilities, underscoring its push into AI-focused cloud and security services while continuing to retire shares.
  • We’ll now examine how the Anthropic AI infrastructure agreement reshapes Akamai’s investment narrative around cloud, security, and future growth.

Find 45 companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.

Akamai Technologies Investment Narrative Recap

To own Akamai today, you have to believe its shift from legacy content delivery to higher value cloud, AI and security can offset pressure on margins and a maturing CDN business. The Anthropic AI infrastructure deal and Q1 2026 results reinforce the short term catalyst of cloud infrastructure services scaling, but also sharpen the biggest risk: heavier capex and dependence on a few large AI clients could make earnings more volatile as these contracts ramp.

The most relevant recent update is Akamai’s completion of its US$1.03 billion buyback, retiring 8.24% of shares under the May 2024 program. For a business investing heavily in GPUs, edge infrastructure and security products, this capital return highlights management’s confidence in cash generation even as margins face pressure from rising spend and partner driven compute solutions that could weigh on profitability.

Yet while the AI deal is exciting, investors should be aware that customer concentration and capex demands could...

Akamai Technologies' narrative projects $5.2 billion revenue and $751.8 million earnings by 2029. This requires 7.0% yearly revenue growth and about a $299.8 million earnings increase from $452.0 million today.

Uncover how Akamai Technologies' forecasts yield a $110.98 fair value, a 31% downside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

AKAM 1-Year Stock Price Chart
AKAM 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Before this news, the most bullish analysts already expected revenue near US$5.2 billion and earnings around US$935 million by 2028, so if you side with that more optimistic view that AI and edge could outpace these forecasts, it is worth remembering that their thesis also leans on Akamai avoiding the very real risk that large AI clients delay migrations or scale back commitments.

Explore 4 other fair value estimates on Akamai Technologies - why the stock might be worth as much as $146.53!

Reach Your Own Conclusion

Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts.

  • A great starting point for your Akamai Technologies research is our analysis highlighting 1 key reward and 3 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.
  • Our free Akamai Technologies research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate Akamai Technologies' overall financial health at a glance.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.