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The AI Data Center Boom Is Bigger Than One Stock—These ETFs Spread the Bet
Submitted by Nathan Reiff. First Published: 7/17/2026.
Key Points
- Investors can access the data center theme through ETFs that hold REITs, infrastructure companies, semiconductor names and power-related suppliers.
- The Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF offers concentrated exposure to data center REITs and related digital infrastructure companies.
- The VanEck Data Center Supply Chain ETF is a newer fund that broadens the theme beyond real estate into chips, cooling, power and electrical equipment.
- Special Report: SpaceX is offering you shares. Don't take them.
Though a handful of companies have emerged as frequent topics of conversation in AI, investors would do well to remember that the industry is still very much in a developmental phase. It's possible, and even likely, that the list of leading AI companies in the coming years will differ from today's. This is just as true of data center companies as any others within the industry, particularly given potential changes to regulations, shifting public opinion on data centers, and the possible impact of new technology.
Investors can approach the data center industry in multiple ways, including individual stocks,real estate investment trusts (REITs), and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The last of these options may be best for those seeking diversified exposure to the space without making too specific a bet on any one company. This approach may also suit investors who want to lean into the data center trend without the burden of closely tracking every new update and advance.
A Combination of REITs and Individual Tech Stocks With DTCR
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One company has spent 60 years developing an energy source the International Energy Agency estimates at 140 times global electricity demand - with zero competition.
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See the full story behind the 60-year energy monopolyOne of the most prominent ETFs in the data center space is the Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (NASDAQ: DTCR). DTCR tracks an index of companies operating data centers and other digital infrastructure, including firms in both the real estate and information technology sectors. More than half of DTCR's assets are dedicated to REITs, with other notable portions of the portfolio allocated to semiconductor stocks and software names.
DTCR is primarily a U.S.-focused fund, with about three-quarters of its assets invested in domestic equities. It also holds stocks based in China, Australia, South Korea, and elsewhere, making it a good option for investors seeking a domestic core with some international exposure as well. Although DTCR holds 28 stocks, a small handful of oversized positions dominate the portfolio.
DTCR's performance has excelled this year, with the fund returning over 30% in 2026. That may entice investors otherwise wary of the fund's annual fee of 0.50%, which is quite high compared with most passively managed ETFs.
Leaning Toward Real Estate Brings Higher Dividend Yield
The Pacer Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate SCTR ETF (NYSEARCA: SRVR) adopts a similar approach to DTCR, following an index composed of companies in the global data and tech infrastructure space, including data center REITs. To be included in the portfolio, firms must generate at least half of their revenues from power generation, digital infrastructure, and connectivity systems. The firms are weighted using a modified market capitalization approach.
The result is a portfolio of 75 names, considerably broader than DTCR, but similarly concentrated at the top with a handful of prominent positions. SRVR leans even more heavily toward real estate investments, with this segment of the portfolio accounting for more than 62% of the fund. With a focus on REITs comes an added dividend benefit, and the fund offers a dividend yield of 2.79%.
Year to date (YTD), this fund has returned nearly 8%, which is less than the broader market but still fairly impressive considering the AI-related sell-off that has taken place in recent weeks. At an expense ratio of over 0.50%, the fee may be on the high side, but investors anticipating a resurgence in the space may find it worthwhile for the potential of stronger returns.
A New Means of Accessing Data Center Supply Chains
One of the most recent additions to the data center ETF space is the VanEck Data Center Supply Chain ETF (BATS: RACK). This fund launched in June 2026, meaning it is still in its earliest stages of growth and has relatively low assets and trading volume for now. Still, compared with the real estate-focused funds above, RACK offers a unique way to play the data center industry that may appeal to investors seeking a broader view of the supply chain.
RACK tracks an index of data center supply chain firms involved in building, operating, and powering modern data centers. That includes companies that build software and hardware, as well as those providing building and contracting services, electrical support, power management, and more. The 51 companies making up RACK's portfolio are relatively evenly weighted, with no single name recently accounting for more than 5% of the basket.
This fund's expense ratio of 0.50% is in line with the other two offerings on this list. Because it is so new, it's difficult to assess the ETF's performance so far, so it does present somewhat more risk for investors.
Which Storage Stock Is Best Positioned to Win the AI Memory War?
Submitted by Nathan Reiff. First Published: 7/16/2026.
Key Points
- Seagate, Western Digital, and Sandisk have each posted strong revenue growth and rising margins amid memory industry volatility and surging AI demand.
- Shares of all three companies have rallied dramatically year to date, with analysts maintaining mostly Buy ratings and additional upside targets despite recent price swings.
- Rising competition, including China's ChangXin Memory Technologies' pending IPO, could reshape the memory storage landscape even as demand for HDDs and SSDs remains robust.
- Special Report: SpaceX is offering you shares. Don't take them.
Continued supply shortages, sharp price increases, surging AI demand, and persistent competition in international markets have all contributed to volatility in the computer memory industry. With the impending IPO of China's ChangXin Memory Technologies, the landscape is likely to become even more competitive and uncertain in the near term. Still, many tech firms are scrambling to secure supply despite the intensifying marketplace and new competition.
The result is an environment that could benefit many participants in the memory storage space, although for different reasons. Makers of hard disk drives (HDDs) face different challenges and opportunities than companies behind NAND flash tools or enterprise solid-state drives (SSDs), for instance. This means that companies including Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX), Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC), and Sandisk Corp. (NASDAQ: SNDK) can all find a niche and, potentially, room for further share price appreciation.
Seagate's HDD Business Soars, But What Upside Remains?
The quietest monopoly in energy (Ad)
One company has spent 60 years developing an energy source the International Energy Agency estimates at 140 times global electricity demand - with zero competition.
Last year, their crew drilled in 16 days what the government projected would take 64. Now Google has a 15-year deal locked in, Bill Gates has committed $100 million, and the Pentagon has made it a top priority. On August 18th, a new Washington policy adds another advantage rivals cannot match.
See the full story behind the 60-year energy monopolySeagate is a major manufacturer of HDDs, which are increasingly popular among hyperscalers because they remain cheaper alternatives to some other types of memory products. The company is also an emerging leader in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), an advanced technology that may be poised for a surge in demand in the coming years.
This positioning has benefited Seagate's financial performance considerably: in the latest quarter, the company grew revenue by 44% year over year (YOY) to $3.1 billion while achieving a non-GAAP gross margin of 47%. Both top- and bottom-line performance came in well ahead of analyst expectations, as the firm beat predictions for earnings per share (EPS) by a solid 59 cents. HAMR momentum in particular helped drive some of these gains.
Strong guidance for the foreseeable future and a long-term revenue growth target of at least 20% per year suggest that Seagate may be able to continue riding this momentum, which has already contributed to shares coming close to tripling year to date (YTD). Even so, analysts expect additional upside, with a consensus price target close to $899, and 22 of 27 ratings for STX are Buys.
What investors might watch out for with this stock is its potential for future growth, given its dramatic rally in recent months, as well as its heavy reliance on HDDs and related technologies.
Western Digital's Cleaner Post-Spin-Off Business Finds Its Legs
Western Digital has had almost a year and a half since officially spinning off Sandisk as a separate company focused on flash memory and SSDs. The result is a company streamlined to focus on enterprise HDDs, with strong pricing and improving profitability metrics. While the firm is likely behind Seagate in its ability to commercialize HAMR products and has a smaller share of the enterprise HDD space, its long-term agreements provide strong support for years to come.
In the most recent quarter, Western Digital boosted revenue by 45% YOY to $3.3 billion while almost doubling EPS over the same period. Its gross margin of 50.5% is also notable, as the firm was able to cut more than $3 billion in debt and generated close to $1 billion in free cash flow. At the same time, Western Digital has been aggressive about shareholder returns, repurchasing $752 million in stock last quarter and boosting its dividend in the process.
Like STX, WDC shares have almost tripled YTD, and analysts suspect that this momentum may have stalled somewhat. Still, 20 out of 24 call WDC a Buy heading into the second half of the year.
Sandisk Stock Remains in Focus After Its Spin-Off
Investors considering Western Digital will also want to look at how Sandisk has fared after the spin-off. SNDK shares are up some 458% YTD, a massive rally to be sure, but they have fallen by more than 27% in the last month. This volatility makes SNDK stand out somewhat in the memory space, but it could also present opportunities for investors willing to accept the risk.
On the business side, Sandisk has performed exceptionally well: the latest quarter brought several multi-year new business agreements worth tens of billions of dollars, 251% YOY revenue improvement to nearly $6 billion, adjusted free cash flow of almost $3 billion, and gross margin of 78.4%. Management sees a strong quarter ahead as well, including revenue between $7.75 billion and $8.25 billion and gross margin as high as 81%. The company is also engaging in a massive share buyback program.
It says a lot about how well Sandisk has performed that even after its massive rally, Wall Street still sees 17% in possible upside. In terms of ratings, 21 Buys and five Holds suggest a very bullish perspective among analysts, making SNDK a standout even within a strong industry.
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