We're dipping back into the AI trade with our first data center buy in weeks

We are buying 10 shares of GE Vernova at roughly $818. Following the trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 100 shares of GEV, increasing its weighting in the portfolio to about 2.15% from 1.9%. After holding off on data center-related stocks since our last Micron buy five weeks ago, we are nibbling on the power company GE Vernova into Thursday's sell-off. AI-related semiconductors and industrial stocks are getting hit hard as investors grow increasingly concerned about the source of capital to support the data center buildout. It's less about demand for AI products and more about how these investments will be funded as cash flows get used up and debt-related financing becomes less attractive to investors. GE Vernova, which makes heavy-duty gas turbines that power data centers, as well as other electrical equipment used inside them, is the third-worst performer in the S & P 500 on Thursday, reflecting concerns about the durability of the buildout. With Thursday's move, GE Vernova stock is now trading more than $100, or about 12% below where it stood on Aug. 24 when we downgraded our rating to a 2 and talked about our need to get more cautious around AI-related stocks. We acknowledge that the capital requirements to fuel the next leg of the AI buildout still need some sorting out. But after steering clear of the group for so long, we are dipping back in with GE Vernova and upgrading our rating to a 1 again to play for a bounce here, with demand for intelligence and AI applications continuing to strengthen. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GEV. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.