Investing in Data Centers: US and Canadian Stocks for Growth

Key Points

Research suggests investing in data centers in the US and Canada can be done by buying shares of publicly traded companies or through data center-focused funds.
It seems likely that key companies include Equinix, Digital Realty Trust, QTS Realty Trust, Iron Mountain (US), and Cologix (Canada), all with data centers in these regions.
The evidence leans toward strong growth potential due to increasing demand for cloud computing and AI, making these investments appealing for a blog like Positive Stocks.

Publicly Traded Companies

You can invest in data centers by purchasing shares of companies that own and operate facilities in the US and Canada. Notable options include:

Equinix (EQIX), listed on NASDAQ, with a global presence including the US and Canada.
Digital Realty Trust (DLR), a REIT on NYSE, with over 300 data centers in 25+ countries, including the US and Canada (Digital Realty).
QTS Realty Trust (QTS), a REIT on NYSE, focusing on the US market.
Iron Mountain (IRM), on NYSE, known for records management but also operates data centers in the US and Canada (Iron Mountain).
Cologix (CGIX), listed on TSX, a leading Canadian data center company with facilities in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver (Cologix).

An unexpected detail is that while most are US-based, Cologix offers a Canadian perspective, which could diversify your blog’s coverage.

Investment Options

Besides buying individual stocks, consider data center-focused funds like the Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (DTCR) or Defiance Connective Technologies ETF (SIXG) for broader exposure. These funds invest in companies supporting data center growth, ideal for reducing risk.

Comprehensive Analysis for Positive Stocks Blog

This section provides a detailed exploration of investing in data centers in the US and Canada, tailored for the Positive Stocks Blog. It covers publicly traded companies, investment strategies, and market trends, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers interested in this growing sector as of March 2025.

Overview of Data Center Investment Opportunities

Data centers are critical infrastructure for housing computer systems, servers, and networking equipment, supporting the digital economy’s expansion, particularly in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. Investing in data centers can be achieved through direct ownership, publicly traded companies, or funds, with a focus on those operating in the US and Canada for this analysis.

Research indicates that the data center industry is growing at approximately 12% per year, driven by increased data consumption and technological advancements (U.S. News). This growth makes it an attractive sector for investors seeking long-term opportunities, aligning with the positive outlook of the blog.

Publicly Traded Data Center Companies in the US and Canada

The following table lists key publicly traded companies with data centers in the US and Canada, based on recent market analysis:

Company	Stock Symbol	Exchange	Primary Focus	Locations (US/Canada)
Equinix	EQIX	NASDAQ	Data center colocation	US, Canada (global presence)
Digital Realty Trust	DLR	NYSE	Data center REIT	US, Canada (over 300 facilities)
QTS Realty Trust	QTS	NYSE	Data center REIT, US focus	US (implied, global operations)
Iron Mountain	IRM	NYSE	Records management, data centers	US, Canada (global presence)
Cologix	CGIX	TSX	Data center operations, Canadian focus	Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver)

Equinix (EQIX): With a market cap exceeding $90 billion, Equinix is the world’s largest data center colocation provider, operating about 250 facilities globally, including in the US and Canada. It holds a 13% share of the colocation market, benefiting from high-bandwidth, low-latency cloud and AI workloads (U.S. News).
Digital Realty Trust (DLR): As a REIT, it owns over 300 data centers across 25+ countries, serving over 5,000 customers, including enterprises, network providers, and cloud companies. Its PlatformDIGITAL® supports hybrid IT needs, making it a stable investment option (Digital Realty).
QTS Realty Trust (QTS): A growing REIT with a focus on the US, QTS operates state-of-the-art facilities, employing over 1,500 people worldwide, and is positioned for expansion in data center capacity.
Iron Mountain (IRM): While primarily known for records management, it operates data centers with a global platform capacity of 1.2 GW, serving major clients like Oracle and Boeing, with a presence in the US and Canada (Iron Mountain).
Cologix (CGIX): A Canadian leader, Cologix operates 45+ data centers across North America, with key facilities in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, offering connectivity to 710+ networks and 350+ cloud providers (Cologix).

An interesting note is that while US companies dominate, Cologix provides a Canadian angle, potentially appealing to readers interested in regional diversification.

Investment Strategies

Investors can purchase shares of these companies through their respective stock exchanges (NASDAQ, NYSE, TSX), providing direct exposure to their performance. For example:

Buy EQIX shares on NASDAQ for Equinix exposure.
Invest in DLR on NYSE for Digital Realty Trust’s REIT benefits.

Alternatively, data center-focused funds offer diversified exposure:

Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (DTCR): Tracks the Solactive Data Center REITs & Digital Infrastructure Index, focusing on companies operating data centers and digital infrastructure, with an expense ratio of 0.50% for cost-effectiveness (Global X ETFs).
Defiance Connective Technologies ETF (SIXG): Invests in companies driving connective technologies, including data centers, with a 45.2% gain over the past year, aligning with AI and cloud trends (Seibert Equity).
Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU): Focuses on cloud computing companies, which rely heavily on data centers, offering broad sector exposure.

These funds are particularly suitable for readers seeking to mitigate risk while tapping into the data center boom, as highlighted in recent analyses (Barchart).

Market Trends and Positive Outlook

The data center sector is poised for significant growth, with projections estimating data generation to surpass 181 zettabytes by 2025, a 150% increase from current levels (Pacer ETFs). This is driven by:

Increased adoption of cloud computing, with companies like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud expanding operations.
AI and machine learning, requiring extensive computing power and storage, boosting demand for data center capacity.
5G network expansion, enhancing connectivity and data processing needs.

For the Positive Stocks Blog, these trends suggest a bullish outlook, with companies like Equinix and Digital Realty Trust benefiting from long-term lease agreements and stable income streams, while Cologix offers a Canadian growth story.

Considerations for Investors

Investors should note:

Data center REITs like Digital Realty Trust and QTS offer stable dividends, appealing to income-focused readers, but face risks like interest rate fluctuations and environmental concerns (Motley Fool).
Non-REIT companies like Equinix and Cologix may offer growth potential but are subject to corporate tax rates, affecting net income.
Canadian investors might prefer Cologix for TSX listing, while US investors have more options with NYSE and NASDAQ listings.

This comprehensive approach ensures the blog can highlight positive investment opportunities while acknowledging complexities, aligning with reader interests in growth and stability.

Table: Key 2025 Data Center Market Statistics

Metric	Value	Implication
Annual Growth Rate	~12%	Strong demand for digital services
Projected Data Generation (2025)	181 zettabytes	Significant capacity expansion needed
Top US Market (Data Centers)	Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley	High concentration, growth potential
Canadian Data Center Density	#5 globally, 258 facilities	Thriving market, proximity to US

This table underscores the sector’s growth, providing data for blog readers to understand market dynamics.

Conclusion

For the Positive Stocks Blog, investing in data centers in the US and Canada offers a promising avenue, with publicly traded companies like Equinix, Digital Realty Trust, QTS, Iron Mountain, and Cologix leading the way. Funds like DTCR, SIXG, and CLOU provide additional options for diversified exposure. Given the sector’s growth trajectory, these investments align with a positive outlook, making them suitable for highlighting in your blog as of March 2025.