Digital Realty Trust(DLR) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital Realty reported $177 million in new bookings for the quarter, with $135 million attributed to Digital Realty's share, marking a record performance in the zero to one megawatt plus interconnection product set with $90 million in bookings [5][9] - Core FFO reached a record $1.87 per share, a 13% increase year-over-year and 6% higher than the previous quarter, contributing to an increase in revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and core FFO per share guidance for the full year 2025 [6][10][26] - The backlog at the end of the quarter stood at $826 million, providing strong visibility through 2025 and beyond [10][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The zero to one megawatt plus interconnection category saw bookings of $90 million, an 18% increase over the previous record set two quarters ago, with over $300 million booked in the past four quarters, up from approximately $200 million in 2023 [9][10] - Leasing results included $45 million in the greater than one megawatt category, with average pricing skewed lower due to an expansion option exercised by a large enterprise customer [24][26] - Total churn declined to just 1%, with negligible churn in the greater than one megawatt category [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for data center capacity remains strong across all regions, with significant contributions from EMEA, The Americas, and APAC [9][12] - In North America, near-term capacity blocks are in high demand, with discussions focused on late 2026 and early 2027 deliveries [12] - AI deployments are growing in EMEA and APAC but still lag behind the U.S., with larger capacity blocks in these regions being smaller than those in the U.S. [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Digital Realty is focused on enhancing interconnection capabilities and services, with a strategy to double colocation bookings [8][16] - The company is positioning its large capacity blocks to support the growing needs of hyperscale customers, aligning development deliveries with power availability [12][16] - The U.S. Hyperscale data center fund has received over $3 billion in LP equity commitments, enabling the company to meet the diverse needs of hyperscale customers without overtaxing its balance sheet [15][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the acceleration of enterprise digital transformation, cloud computing, and AI adoption as key drivers for growth [7][11] - The company expects continued strength in the zero to one megawatt category and substantial hyperscale capacity to bolster its backlog and extend core FFO growth into 2027 and beyond [16][35] - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to capture market share and drive sustainable growth, with a focus on maintaining a robust backlog of signed but not yet commenced leases [35][90] Other Important Information - Digital Realty was recognized as one of the world's most sustainable companies of 2025, reflecting its commitment to clean energy and resource conservation [18][19] - The company reported a 9% increase in renewable energy usage, with 185 data centers matched with 100% renewable energy [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the growth in the zero to one megawatt category? - Management indicated that the growth is due to a combination of a growing market and Digital Realty capturing market share through strategic enhancements in its global footprint and go-to-market strategy [38][39][40] Question: Can you comment on interconnection bookings and pricing? - Management noted record interconnection bookings driven by sustained demand and global pricing standardization, with a positive outlook for the second half of the year [44][45][47] Question: What is the impact of large capacity block market dynamics? - Management highlighted strong demand for large capacity blocks, particularly in North America, with ongoing discussions about future capacity coming online [55][60] Question: How will the U.S. Hyperscale fund impact the financial model? - The fund is expected to ramp up contributions over the next few years, with asset management fees providing near-term benefits and development returns aligning with current balance sheet performance [92][97][98]