Core Viewpoint - The technology sector, particularly data centers, is experiencing significant growth in the U.S., creating investment opportunities in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and semiconductors [1] Company Overview - Equinix Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that leases data centers to major customers, presenting a substantial long-term investment opportunity [2][3] - The stock is currently trading at $787.32, with a 52-week range of $701.41 to $994.03 and a dividend yield of 2.38% [2] Financial Performance - Equinix reported adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) of $9.91 for the latest quarter, an 11% increase year-over-year, despite only 4% revenue growth [6][7] - The company's scale allows for favorable cost distribution, which is expected to translate into higher revenue as leases are booked [7] Market Sentiment - Wall Street analysts have a consensus Buy rating for Equinix, with a price target of $959.9 per share, indicating a potential upside of 23.7% [8] - The 12-month stock price forecast averages $962.24, with a high forecast of $1,200.00 and a low of $798.00 [9] Valuation Comparison - Equinix's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 76.0x, significantly higher than the REIT industry average of 30.7x, positioning it as a premium name in the sector [11][12] - This premium valuation is justified by the strong fundamentals and financial story of Equinix, especially as attention shifts back to data centers [13]

Core Insights - American Tower Corporation is focusing on transforming its business model from a passive tower operation to a more technical and integrated approach, including investments in data centers and satellite technology [3][4]. Company Strategy - The company has successfully acquired CoreSite in 2021, which is now a significant part of its capital plan, indicating a strategic shift towards data center operations [3]. - Investments in AST SpaceMobile highlight the company's commitment to integrating satellite technology with terrestrial networks, reflecting a trend towards convergence in telecommunications [4]. - The introduction of Power-as-a-Service in Africa demonstrates the company's innovative approach to addressing energy needs and enhancing operational efficiency [4]. Technological Development - The company is working on virtualized platforms that will transform tower operations into small data centers, emphasizing the importance of edge computing in its future strategy [4].

Core Insights - Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) is focusing on enhancing its modular construction capabilities and pursuing inorganic growth through mergers and acquisitions, driven by increasing market demand for data centers, AI infrastructure, and utility grid modernization [1][3] Group 1: Business Operations and Market Trends - The E-Infrastructure Solutions segment, which includes modular buildings and data centers, accounted for 51% of STRL's revenues in the first quarter of 2025, with a backlog growth of 27% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, where over 65% is related to data center projects [2][7] - STRL is actively pursuing strategic investments in mergers and acquisitions, recently announcing a definitive agreement to acquire CEC Facilities Group, LLC for $505 million, which is expected to enhance its market reach and cross-selling opportunities in Texas and other key regions [3][7] Group 2: Financial Performance and Projections - For 2025, STRL anticipates capital expenditures between $70 million and $80 million, an increase from $70.8 million in 2024, which is expected to improve revenue visibility and profit structure [4] - STRL's earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 is forecasted to grow by 41.2% to $8.61, with further growth of 10.1% to $9.48 in 2026 [12] Group 3: Stock Performance and Valuation - STRL's stock has surged 69% in the past three months, outperforming competitors in the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry and the broader market [5][8] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27.78, indicating a premium valuation compared to industry peers, suggesting strong market potential [9][11]

Core Insights - Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. is strategically focusing on high-value infrastructure projects, which is enhancing its margin profile and earnings quality [1] - The company reported a gross margin of 22% in Q1 2025, an increase of 400 basis points from the previous year [1][9] - The E-Infrastructure segment's adjusted operating margins expanded nearly 618 basis points year over year to 23.2%, driven by a focus on mission-critical projects like data centers [1][9] Company Strategy - Sterling's disciplined project selection strategy prioritizes large, complex builds, allowing it to avoid lower-margin work [2] - The shift towards aviation and rail projects in Transportation Solutions, along with reduced exposure to low-bid heavy highway work, has contributed to margin expansion [2] Future Outlook - The company expects full-year infrastructure growth supported by a multi-year backlog visibility, with the E-Infrastructure segment holding a backlog of $1.2 billion [3] - The total pipeline is nearing $2 billion when including future phase work, weighted towards higher-margin projects, indicating potential for sustained profitability [3] Industry Context - Competitors like Quanta Services, Inc. and EMCOR Group, Inc. are also focusing on high-return sectors such as data centers and transportation [5] - Quanta Services reported a 12-month backlog of $16.37 billion as of March 31, 2025, reflecting growing demand for electric grid upgrades and AI-driven infrastructure needs [6] - EMCOR Group's U.S. Electrical Construction and Facilities Services segment reported an operating margin of 12.5%, while the U.S. Mechanical Construction and Facilities Services segment posted an operating margin of 11.9% [7] Performance Metrics - Sterling's stock has gained 107.9% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry's growth of 48% [8] - The company is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.14X, compared to the industry's average of 21.56X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sterling's EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 41.2% and 10.1% for 2025 and 2026, respectively [13]

Core Insights - Prologis Inc. (PLD) shares have increased by 10.3% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 6.3% [1][8] - The company is strategically positioned in high-demand industrial real estate markets, benefiting from its portfolio located near major distribution hubs [3][4] Company Performance - Prologis has shown strong operating performance due to solid demand for its strategically located facilities [3] - The company reported $811 million in acquisitions and $925 million in development stabilization in Q1 2025, with a significant portion being build-to-suit projects [4][8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Prologis' 2025 FFO per share has increased to $5.70, indicating positive analyst sentiment [2] Financial Position - Prologis maintains a robust balance sheet with $6.52 billion in liquidity and a weighted average interest rate of 3.2% on its debt [8][9] - The company has an A-rated credit rating, allowing it to borrow at favorable rates [9] - Prologis has demonstrated a commitment to dividend payouts, with a five-year annualized growth rate of 13.71% [10]

Core Viewpoint - Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP) is highlighted as a strong investment option for those seeking income, stable growth, and inflation protection, despite not being as prominent in the headlines as companies like Nvidia or Tesla [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - BIP owns and operates a diverse range of assets including toll roads, pipelines, utilities, and data centers globally, which contribute to its stable income generation [1]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - The company is characterized by steady growth in revenue, earnings, and free cash flow, making it attractive for investors looking for reliable returns [1]. - BIP is noted for having excellent growth prospects and favorable valuations, appealing to investors who prioritize these factors in their investment decisions [1]. - The company is also recognized for its high free cash flow margins, dividend payments, and share repurchase programs, which enhance its investment appeal [1].

Core Viewpoint - American Tower (AMT) has shown strong stock performance, rallying 18.7% year-to-date, outperforming its industry peers and the broader market [1][6][9]. Company Strategy - American Tower is strategically repositioning its portfolio by divesting non-core assets in developing markets to focus on developed markets, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency and returns [2][9]. - The company plans to invest over $600 million in expanding its data center footprint in 2025 to capitalize on the growing demand driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies [8][9]. Financial Performance - In the first quarter of 2025, American Tower reported revenue growth across its property and service operations, despite challenges from the Sprint-T-Mobile merger [3][9]. - The company achieved a year-over-year organic tenant billings growth of 4.7%, with total tenant billings rising 5.2% [7]. Market Position - American Tower operates approximately 149,000 communication sites globally, positioning it well to benefit from the increasing demand for wireless connectivity due to next-generation technologies [7]. - The company maintains solid liquidity with $11.7 billion in total liquidity as of March 31, 2025, and has achieved its net leverage target of 5X EBITDA [10]. Dividend Policy - American Tower has resumed a mid-single-digit dividend growth rate of 4.6% in 2025, reflecting its operational strength and commitment to rewarding shareholders [11]. - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend 15 times, with an annualized growth rate of 9.07% [11]. Estimate Revisions - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) per share for 2025 and 2026 has seen positive revisions, indicating bullish sentiment [12]. Valuation - American Tower's stock is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO of 20.85X, which is above the REIT industry average of 15.73X [17]. Analyst Recommendations - The average brokerage recommendation for American Tower is 1.40 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 18 out of 24 brokers rating it a "Strong Buy" [21].

Core Viewpoint - Investors are encouraged to explore several REITs that are currently trading under $12 and have made it to the Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) list, as these present favorable risk-to-reward opportunities amid a stock market rebound [1] Group 1: DigitalBridge Group (DBRG) - DigitalBridge Group focuses on investments in fiber networks, macro cell towers, and data centers, which are essential for the growth of 5G technology, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence [2] - The company has over $100 billion in assets and is projected to achieve over 20% EPS growth in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 [3] - DBRG stock has increased from a 52-week low of $6 in early April but remains 34% below its 52-week high of $17 from last October [3] Group 2: Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR) - Invesco Mortgage Capital manages residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and is currently trading at $7, which reflects a low valuation at just 3X forward earnings [5] - EPS is expected to decline to $2.26 this year from $2.88 in 2024, with a further projected dip of 12% in FY26, while offering an annual dividend yield of 18.5% [5][6] - The stock has a stable 52-week range, with a low of $5.86 and a high of $9.97, indicating less volatility [6] Group 3: New York Mortgage Trust (NYMT) - New York Mortgage Trust is trading at $6 and is expected to see a significant rebound in its bottom line, offering a generous annual dividend of 12.26% [7] - The stock trades at a reasonable forward earnings multiple of 10.5X and has a low-volatile 52-week range, making it appealing for investors [7][8] - EPS estimates for FY25 and FY26 have increased significantly over the last 60 days, supported by a leveraged portfolio of residential mortgage securities [8] Group 4: Honorable Mentions - Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) and Braemar Hotels & Resorts (BHR) are trading under $5 and are also on the Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) list, with expected positive adjusted EPS next year and annual dividends of 13.27% and 10%, respectively [9]