Stockchase Opinions

Stockchase Insights Digital Realty Trust DLR-N BUY Nov 24, 2023

Trevor Rose’s Insights - Trevor’s most-liked answers from 5i Research

DLR is a fundamentally strong REIT, with expanding net profit margins and ROE, and it generates good free cash flows. Its yield is attractive, although its Funds From Operations (FFO) to debt have been declining over the past few years, indicating its debt levels have increased at a faster rate than FFO. It trades at a high valuation, but this can be justified given its strong fundamentals. Given a potential peak in interest rates, the underlying secular trend growth in the data center industry, and its strong fundamentals, we would be comfortable holding or adding slowly to this name.
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COMMENT
Which of the two is better. They are in the digital realty space. DLR is difficult to grow because of the size. Of the two he would prefer SWCH.
HOLD
Smallest position in his fund. Prefers EQIX and SWCH, as these are more defensible businesses with better pricing power. Likes the space, selloff has been overdone. See his Top Picks.
BUY
AHY: Accidental high-yielding stocks that have fallen so far that their dividends now pay huge. A REIT that runs data centres. Usually pricey, now is the time to buy on weakness. Shares have fallen from $178 to $128 today. Pays a 3.8% dividend and could go higher. The data centre buiness isn't vanishing anytime.
WATCH

The chart shows a nice uptrend since late May, and coming after a 2-year downtrend before peaking at $180. It's a recovery story. Is there enough interest for this to break above $120 to $140? Watch weekly closes, rather than daily closes, because there are five data points in a week.

PARTIAL BUY

Buy in tranches with each increase of 0.25% in interest rates. Likes DLR.

TOP PICK

One of two pure plays on data centres. Beat on top and bottom raised guidance. 12-month price target of $162.50. Yield is 3.4%.

Owns most of its data centres, whereas EQIX has arrangements with customers. As well, EQIX stock went through the "death cross", which is usually not good. 

(Analysts’ price target is $146.87)
TOP PICK

Second-largest data centre REIT globally. Record industry leasing last quarter, 4 times as much as a year ago. Tenants are big tech, with lots of capital to put into data centres to support cloud rollout. Coming AI boom, will benefit. Pricing power. Over 5% internal growth annually, could be higher. Modest premium to NAV, and the NAV will increase over the years. Yield is 3.4%.

(Analysts’ price target is $147.70)
BUY

They reported great bookings. To play AI, invest in data centres. 

BUY ON WEAKNESS

The stock got overheated during the data centre rally. Wait for it to come back down. This could go much lower after going parabolic.