In this article, we will look at the 10 Best Performing Data Center Stocks So Far in 2026.
Data center stocks are getting more attention as the AI buildout keeps spreading beyond chips into the physical systems needed to run them. The theme spans data center REITs and colocation operators, networking and connectivity, storage infrastructure, power and thermal management, custom silicon, servers, and enterprise hardware.
BlackRock says “AI compute investments have risen massively” and expects “approximately 148GW of additional power capacity” to be needed by the end of the decade to satisfy data center demand. The firm also says “Power is the gate to that cash flow,” which helps explain why investors are looking closely at power equipment, cooling, grid, and infrastructure names alongside the usual semiconductor leaders. Fidelity adds that it sees “no prospect of flagging AI spending,” and expects “graphics processing units, high-speed memory, and data centers” to remain integral in 2026 and beyond. Cohen & Steers makes the real estate angle more direct, saying “Data centers led the market to start the year” as data center REITs benefited from “rising hyperscaler spending tied to AI and cloud demand.”
Against this backdrop, the best-performing data center stocks so far in 2026 deserve a closer look. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 Best Performing Data Center Stocks So Far in 2026.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz screener to identify data center stocks that rallied by at least 20% year-to-date. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQIX)
On May 5, 2026, Deutsche Bank raised the firm’s price target on Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQIX) to $1,207 from $1,042 previously and maintained a Buy rating on the shares following the company’s Q1 results.
Truist also raised the firm’s price target on Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQIX) to $1,215 from $1,127 while reiterating a Buy rating. The firm said it has become increasingly constructive on Equinix’s ability to deliver approximately 10% compound annual growth in funds from operations per share over the next several years.
Last month, Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQIX) reported Q1 adjusted funds from operations of $10.79 per share, versus the consensus estimate of $10.89. Revenue totaled $2.44B, versus the consensus estimate of $2.51B. CEO Adaire Fox-Martin said the company continued to see strong demand across its business, supported by customer spending on AI, cloud, and networking infrastructure solutions. Management also highlighted double-digit recurring revenue growth alongside margin improvement during the quarter.
Equinix raised its 2026 AFFO guidance range to $42.31-$43.11 per share from its prior outlook of $41.93-$42.74. Fox-Martin added that the company’s infrastructure platform continues to support enterprise innovation while strengthening Equinix’s broader market position.
Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQIX) operates digital infrastructure and interconnected data center ecosystems that support cloud, networking, and enterprise connectivity services globally.
9. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR)
On May 18, 2026, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) announced the opening of BCN1, its first data center in Barcelona. Located in the Sant Adria de Besos innovation district, the facility is expected to provide up to 14 MW of planned capacity and was designed to support connectivity across a broad range of network providers. The company said the site is strategically positioned near major global connectivity routes.
On May 14, 2026, Truist raised the firm’s price target on Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) to $208 from $207 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares following the company’s Q1 results. The firm said Digital Realty continues to benefit from several long-term industry tailwinds, including AI infrastructure demand, cloud adoption, and digital transformation spending, while also operating in an environment marked by historically low vacancy rates and ongoing power and grid constraints in key markets.
Last month, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) reported Q1 core FFO of $2.04 per share, versus the consensus estimate of $1.94. Revenue totaled $1.635B, versus the consensus estimate of $1.6B. CEO Andy Power said the company saw further acceleration in data center demand during the quarter, supported by record leasing activity for interconnection deployments above one megawatt and the largest hyperscale lease in the company’s history. Management added that Digital Realty is continuing to expand hyperscale AI-focused capacity in the U.S., grow its connectivity-focused portfolio across global markets, and broaden its capital base to support future growth initiatives.
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) owns, develops, and operates data centers through its operating partnership subsidiary, Digital Realty Trust, L.P.