REITs to Watch Amid the Tech Selloff: Digital Realty Trust (DLR)

Tech Stock Selloff and REITs

Following the recent Jobs Report that has intensified economic concerns and the tech sellout triggered by big tech companies falling short of market expectations, investors are seeking alternatives. One viable option is real estate investment trusts (REITs), which stand to benefit from potential interest rate cuts and offer attractive dividend yields.

Today, let’s take a closer look at Digital Realty Trust, a company expected to see profitability growth driven by strong demand for data centers. We’ll explore the recent trends in its stock performance and why it might be a solid investment opportunity in these uncertain times.

 

About Digital Realty Trust | Data Center REITs

Digital Realty Trust connects businesses and data by offering a comprehensive range of data center, colocation, and interconnection services. Their global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL®, offers clients a secure hub for data exchange and employs the Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) methodology to drive innovation and address Data Gravity challenges efficiently. With over 300 facilities in more than 50 metropolitan areas across 25+ countries on six continents, Digital Realty provides its clients with access to essential connected communities.

 

DLR News & Trends

Transactions Trends

  • Lazard Asset Management and Tidal Investments increasing their stakes suggests confidence in the company.
  • Large sale of shares by Price T Rowe Associates might signal reduced confidence from major shareholders.
  • Recent outperformance relative to competitors shows robust market sentiment.

Ratings Trends

  • Upgrade in IBD rating signifies better technical performance.
  • Both Seeking Alpha and Argus have downgraded DLR to Hold, indicating potential concerns over valuation.

Key Articles

  • IBD Rating Upgrades: Digital Realty Trust Flashes Improved Technical Strength
    • Investor’s Business Daily, August 2, 2024 Read More
  • Lazard Asset Management LLC Grows Holdings in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE)
    • Defense World, Date: August 2, 2024 Read More
  • Digital Realty cut to Hold as certain metrics signal fair value (NYSE)
  • Digital Realty Trust (NYSE) Rating Lowered to Hold at Argus
  • Digital Realty Trust Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading day
  • Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD Sells 307,275 Shares of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE)
  • Tidal Investments LLC Boosts Holdings in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE)

 

DLR Upside Opportunities

Data Center Market Position and Growth Drivers

  • Strong Leasing Demand: Digital Realty Trust (DLR) benefits from the growing demand for data centers driven by the expansion of AI and cloud computing.
  • Strategic Locations: Significant capacity in Northern Virginia and major global markets provides a competitive advantage.
  • Bookings and Renewals: Recorded the highest bookings in 1Q24, with a substantial portion driven by AI-related demand.

Financial Performance and Outlook

  • Revenue and EBITDA Growth: Expected to continue growing over the next few years, with stable revenue and EBITDA increases anticipated.
  • Earnings Forecast: Core FFOPS and AFFOPS are expected to increase by approximately 5% and about 3% respectively.
  • Capital Raising: Recent capital raising of $1.6 billion has strengthened the financial structure and supports development projects.

Pricing Environment

  • Positive Pricing Trends: Data center demand exceeds supply by 60-70%, creating a multi-year positive pricing environment.
  • Lease Renewals: Significant potential for rental income growth from renewals in the >1MW category.
  • Favorable Pricing: Lower vacancies and power constraints in key markets suggest a positive pricing environment.

Portfolio and Infrastructure

  • High-Density Solutions: Portfolio designed to support high-density cloud and AI applications, with capabilities up to 150kW.
  • Northern Virginia Presence: As the largest data center market in the world, Northern Virginia is a key strategic location where Digital Realty Trust holds substantial capacity and development potential.

 

For more detailed information on business, downside risks, valuation of Digital Realty Trust, please refer to the attached company analysis report (PDF).

Digital Realty Trust_Analysis Report_TIA.pdf


* Reference: Alpha Vantage, Seeking Alpha, Investopedia, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank
**
Warn: This blog content is not a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any securities. The information contained herein is not intended as financial advice and should not be construed as such. All investment decisions are the sole responsibility of the investor.

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