JMP INITIATES COVERAGE ON DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE STOCKS

Published 27/01/2025, 11:56
JMP INITIATES COVERAGE ON DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE STOCKS

On Monday, JMP Securities initiated coverage on a group of companies in the digital infrastructure sector, assigning Market Outperform ratings to seven key players. The firms receiving this positive outlook include Digital Bridge (NYSE:DBRG), a $2 billion market cap company currently showing a GOOD financial health score according to InvestingPro analysis, Digital Realty (NYSE:DLR), Equinix (NASDAQ:EQIX), GDS Holdings (NASDAQ:GDS), American Tower (NYSE:AMT), Crown Castle (NYSE:CCI), and SBA (LON:SBA) Communications (NASDAQ:SBAC).

The move comes amid expectations of a significant uptick in digital infrastructure spending. JMP analyst Greg P. Miller highlighted the industry's potential in a morning note, stating that the sector is on the cusp of the largest digital infrastructure investment since the internet's inception. Over the next five years, spending is projected to surpass $1 trillion. This surge is anticipated to support the development of AI, cloud computing, edge computing, and potentially other yet-to-be-conceived applications.

Miller emphasized that the expected increase in spending would stem not only from current major players in the hyperscale computing space but also from emerging companies that are yet to be identified. He noted that this early stage of heightened investment in digital infrastructure could lead to upward revisions in earnings estimates and an expansion of valuation multiples for the stocks involved. For investors seeking deeper insights, InvestingPro data reveals that Digital Bridge trades at a P/E ratio of 14.8 and has a beta of 1.94, indicating higher volatility than the market. Additional ProTips and comprehensive analysis are available through InvestingPro's detailed research reports.

The companies now under JMP Securities' coverage operate within a technology-focused ecosystem centered around digital infrastructure, which includes towers, fiber, and data centers. These elements are considered critical in meeting the growing demand for data processing and storage, driven by the increasing reliance on digital technologies.

With the initiation of market outperform ratings, JMP signals its confidence in the selected companies' prospects. The positive outlook reflects an expectation that these firms will benefit from the industry's robust spending trajectory and play a pivotal role in shaping the future digital landscape. According to InvestingPro's Fair Value analysis, Digital Bridge currently appears slightly undervalued, though investors should note that analysts anticipate a revenue decline in the current year.

In other recent news, DigitalBridge Group, Inc. reported substantial growth during its third-quarter earnings call. The company showed a 42% year-on-year increase in fee-related earnings (FRE) and a 34% FRE margin. Furthermore, DigitalBridge raised $6.1 billion towards its $7 billion annual fundraising target, 13% ahead of the previous year. The company's strategic investments include DataBank, Vertical Bridge, Yondr, and JTOWER.

DigitalBridge has revised its 2024 fee revenue target to $305 million - $320 million, anticipating a 14% to 20% increase over 2023. The firm maintains a strong balance sheet with $1.4 billion invested alongside partners and $127 million in available cash. However, it revised its FEEUM target down to $35-$37 billion due to a higher proportion of co-invest capital.

These are recent developments that indicate the company's robust growth in fee revenues, which rose by mid-teens, and optimism about the Japanese tower market through JTOWER and data center growth with Yondr. Despite the revised fee revenue and FRE targets for 2024 falling short of initial expectations, DigitalBridge anticipates a strong Q4, with over $3 billion in new capital projected.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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