AI Infrastructure Stocks Backed by Data Center Demand and Earnings Growth
Western Digital Corporation WDC | 0.00 |
Global bond markets are reacting to softer recent US payroll data, which has eased expectations for rapid interest rate moves. That puts more focus on where real cash flows are being generated right now. AI infrastructure stocks sit at the heart of this story. They help power AI data centers that still need energy, cooling, and hardware. This article highlights three stocks from the AI Infrastructure Stocks screener that stand out.
The three stocks below are just a starting sample from this theme, and the full screen surfaced 53 more AI infrastructure companies with equally compelling narratives that are not covered here. To identify and analyze the highest conviction opportunities in this space, head straight to the AI Infrastructure Stocks screener.
Western Digital (WDC)
Overview: Western Digital is a long established US storage hardware company that designs and sells hard disk drives and data storage solutions used in everything from consumer devices to cloud and AI data centers across multiple regions worldwide.
Operations: Western Digital currently generates around US$12.9b in revenue from its Hard Disk Drives segment.
Market Cap: US$149.7b
Western Digital sits right in the flow of AI data center spending, with management reporting that capacity is effectively pre sold well into the next few years as hyperscale cloud customers lock in high capacity drives for AI workloads. That AI demand helps explain why recent revenue of about US$3.34b in a quarter and very strong margins have drawn attention, along with rapid earnings growth and a large gap between current pricing and some fair value estimates. The catch is that this is a classic cyclical hardware business. High margins, concentrated data center exposure, reliance on disciplined supply from a small group of competitors, significant borrowing and recent insider selling all leave investors with important questions to weigh.
Western Digital sits at the crossroads of heavy AI data center demand and a classic hardware cycle, yet the real story could be in how sustainable those earnings look once you read the 4 key rewards and 3 important warning signs (1 is major!)
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Western Digital and the two other stocks in this article all surfaced from a single Simply Wall St screen, but the real value comes when you shape the filters around your own approach. Use our flexible Screener to mix metrics like valuation, future growth, balance sheet strength and risks, or jump straight into our curated Investing Ideas.
Digital Realty Trust (DLR)
Overview: Digital Realty Trust is a global data center REIT that owns and operates more than 300 facilities where cloud providers, AI companies and large enterprises house and connect their critical IT systems and data across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and Africa.
Operations: Digital Realty Trust currently generates about US$6.8b in revenue from its commercial data center REIT activities, with roughly US$3.6b from the United States and US$3.2b from customers in other regions.
Market Cap: US$73.0b
Digital Realty Trust sits at the center of AI and cloud data center build outs, with a record US$1.9b leasing backlog, rising funds from operations guidance and large power rich campuses under development in hubs like Northern Virginia and Kansas City. That scale and global reach are what attract many investors, along with analyst support and a long history in the sector. Yet the picture is not one sided. Earnings fell sharply last year, profit margins have compressed, interest costs are a key watchpoint and the P/E multiple is high compared with other specialized REITs. For investors who want pure play exposure to AI infrastructure, the real question is whether the growth in contracted demand and new capacity justifies those risks and today’s valuation.
Digital Realty Trust’s leasing and power projects are building a big AI story, yet the full picture on concentration, funding and rates is more complex. Read the 3 key rewards and 2 important warning signs (1 is major!)
Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT)
Overview: Vertiv Holdings Co supplies the critical power, cooling and thermal management equipment that keeps AI data centers, communication networks and other digital infrastructure running across more than 100 countries, backed by lifecycle services and software that help customers maintain uptime and efficiency.
Operations: Vertiv generates about US$7.5b of revenue from the Americas, US$2.7b from Asia Pacific and US$2.4b from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with intersegment sales of roughly US$1.2b.
Market Cap: US$104.9b
Vertiv sits at the core of the AI buildout because its liquid cooling and power systems directly support high density GPU racks. Recent results show that demand is tying into reported numbers, with Q2 2026 sales up 24%, adjusted EPS up 60% and a backlog of about US$15b. Analysts expect revenue and earnings growth well above the broader US market, supported by rising margins and very high forecast ROE. A series of acquisitions is deepening Vertiv’s liquid cooling capabilities and NVIDIA collaboration. The flip side is valuation and funding risk, with the stock trading on a rich P/E and the balance sheet relying fully on external borrowing. For investors who can accept that trade off, the fuller Vertiv story is worth a closer look.
Vertiv’s accelerating AI order book and richer P/E have many investors focused on the headline story, yet the key question is how long that momentum can run. Get the full analyst forecasts for Vertiv Holdings Co before one detail shifts the whole picture.
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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.
