Why Shares in This Data Center REIT Slumped Today

Core Viewpoint - Equinix's shares have declined nearly 10% following multiple analyst downgrades after its analyst day presentation, raising concerns about future growth prospects [1][2]. Analyst Downgrades - The stock's decline is attributed to high expectations prior to the analyst day, particularly regarding the intersection of data centers and artificial intelligence [2]. - Six major Wall Street firms, including JPMorgan, BofA, and Wells Fargo, have reduced their price targets and recommendations for Equinix [3]. Analyst Concerns - Analysts are particularly worried about Equinix's guidance for AFFO per-share growth of only 5% to 9% for 2025-2029, which is lower than the previous estimate of 7%-10% given in 2023 [5]. - The revenue growth guidance of 7%-10% is considered acceptable, but there is concern over a 2% reduction in AFFO growth due to increased spending for long-term growth initiatives [6]. Implications for Investors - While the market may react negatively in the short term, Equinix's strategy of investing for long-term growth is viewed as a positive move for long-term investors, despite the potential impact on medium-term AFFO [7].