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Highlights
- Data centre stocks jump on AI-related investment signals '
- Meta and Microsoft boost outlook for infrastructure spending
- Investors focus on long-term AI growth tailwinds
Data centre-focused stocks witnessed a strong rally on Thursday, driven by fresh commitments from major US technology firms to expand their investment in infrastructure that supports artificial intelligence (AI). This momentum reflects investor optimism surrounding long-term AI adoption and the critical role that data centres will play in this transformation.
DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX:DGI) emerged as the top-performing entity on the ASX200 index by mid-morning, climbing 6.3% near 11:45 am. NextDC (ASX:NXT) also posted a significant gain, rising 5.7%, positioning itself among the top gainers of the day.
The sharp movement in stock prices follows statements from some of the world’s largest tech players. Meta Platforms – the parent company of Facebook and Instagram – revealed an upgraded capital expenditure forecast for the 2025 financial year. The company now plans to spend between $US64 billion and $US72 billion, marking a substantial increase from previous expectations. The revised outlook is driven by heightened demand for AI infrastructure, including data centres and hardware.
Meta said the change reflects "additional data centre investments to support our artificial intelligence efforts as well as an increase in the expected cost of infrastructure hardware."
On a parallel note, Microsoft also announced plans to increase its spending on data centre leases over the next fiscal year. However, this comes with a measured tone, as the tech giant has slowed the development of new data centres in recent months. The move has led to some market speculation that it may have overshot in preparation for the AI surge.
These developments have renewed market focus on infrastructure providers that form the digital backbone of AI growth. Companies like DigiCo Infrastructure REIT and NextDC stand to benefit as demand escalates for high-performance computing and storage solutions.
For investors tracking trends in ASX dividend stocks, the recent surge in infrastructure-driven entities could offer long-term thematic exposure. Although not traditionally seen as dividend-heavy sectors, evolving demand profiles could influence capital allocation strategies in the future.
With AI becoming a central theme for global tech, the supporting infrastructure is emerging as a crucial investment story. Data centre providers in the Australian market are showing strong momentum as global capital flows into the sector in anticipation of the next wave of AI-driven innovation.
