In its August 5 results, Fluence Energy ended the fiscal third quarter with a $6.4 billion backlog, yet about $400 million of project deliveries moved into fiscal 2027. The tension between demand and execution sits at the heart of the stock. Fluence Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLNC ) has become an AI-power proxy because batteries can help data centers secure capacity and stabilize grids. Its latest numbers show how a large revenue opportunity can still produce disappointing shareholder economics.

Battery energy storage solutions. Photo from Fluence Energy website

There is substance behind the optimistic view. Fiscal third-quarter revenue increased 7.9% to $649.8 million, order intake exceeded $1.44 billion, and backlog reached $6.4 billion. Fluence said its data-center business totaled about $850 million, including $550 million of awards tied to a hyperscaler. That pipeline places battery storage inside identifiable AI infrastructure projects rather than leaving it as a broad grid theme.

Execution is the problem. Gross margin fell to 5.1% from 14.8% a year earlier, and net loss widened to $44.3 million. Management said about $400 million of project deliveries shifted into fiscal 2027. It reduced the midpoint of full-year revenue guidance from $3.4 billion to $3.0 billion and moved the adjusted EBITDA midpoint from positive $50 million to negative $10 million. A large backlog offers limited comfort if timing slips and project economics deteriorate.

Professional investors became more numerous before the quarterly report. Insider Monkey counted 39 hedge funds holding Fluence Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLNC) at the end of Q2, up from 31 in Q1. Point72 Asset Management reported 1,301,799 shares as of June 30, while D. E. Shaw reported 3,194,735. Those positions offer a snapshot of long exposure; they do not identify either manager's present view or complete portfolio.

Reported short interest was substantial. The August 14 settlement showed 25.45 million shares short, up 13.9% from 22.35 million on July 31, with 2.7 days to cover. Published float estimates diverge sharply, making the raw position and its change more dependable than a percentage. The positioning creates squeeze potential while raising the burden of proof.

The AI-power story remains under pressure because Fluence has yet to convert demand into reliable margins and delivery timing. Management now needs to show that delayed projects remain profitable and the data-center business turns into cash. Investors should track gross margin by project mix, working-capital use, and the portion of backlog that converts each quarter. Those measures will separate a temporary schedule problem from contracts that were priced too aggressively.