Super Micro jumps after upbeat first-quarter forecast on strong AI demand

** AI server maker Super Micro Computer's SMCI.O shares surge 12.4% to $36.45 premarket

** SMCI forecasts Q1 revenue and profit margin above estimates, signaling resilient AI data-center demand despite last week’s sharp selloff in AI stocks

** Co forecasts first-quarter revenue of between $18.5 billion and $19.5 billion, above analysts' expectations of $15.23 billion — data compiled by LSEG

** SMCI raises Q1 profit margin expectations to be within the range of 12% to 12.5%, up from earlier estimate of between 10.4% and 10.8%

** J.P.Morgan says SMCI's numbers, propped up by AI demand, could bode well for peers Dell DELL.N and Hewlett Packard Enterprise HPE.N, though investors will focus on the sustainability of its margin improvement

** Peers DELL and HPE gain 5.1% and 4.2%, respectively

** As of last close, SMCI up nearly 11% YTD, vs 13.7% gain for Nasdaq Composite index .IXIC