Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
Q1 FY26 Earnings Call Analysis
Specialized REITs
fundraise: Yescapex: Yesrevenue: Category 3margin: Category 3orderbook: Yes
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- No specific new fundraising through debt or equity was announced in the provided transcript.
- The company emphasized maintaining a strong balance sheet with leverage at multiyear lows (debt-to-adjusted EBITDA at 4.7x).
- They highlighted having substantial "dry powder" within an $8+ billion hyperscale development joint venture.
- A $3.25 billion U.S. hyperscale data center fund was completed recently, leaving approximately $10 billion to support hyperscale development and investment.
- Capital recycling via dispositions and JV capital of $500 million to $1 billion is planned, supporting growth while managing leverage.
- Overall, the focus is on disciplined growth and leveraging existing capital resources rather than new debt or equity issuance.
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- Spent $910 million on development CapEx in the quarter (net of partner share).
- Delivered 63 megawatts of new capacity; started about 464 megawatts of new data center capacity (~50% pre-leased).
- Total development under construction valued at $16.5 billion, up over 60% from year-end.
- Nearly 80% of development volume situated in Americas, driven by AI workloads demand.
- Acquired 873-acre land parcel in greater Atlanta to support 1-gigawatt data center campus.
- Acquired 30-acre land parcel in Hillsboro, Portland to support 160 megawatts of IT capacity.
- Made three strategic market entries: Milan, Italy; Sofia, Bulgaria; and Cyberjaya, Malaysia, enhancing global connectivity footprint.
- Increased overall growth capacity up to 6 gigawatts.
- Completed $3.25 billion U.S. hyperscale data center fund; ~$10 billion available for hyperscale development.
- Capital expenditures net of partner contributions expected to rise to $3.5 billion - $4 billion for the year.
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- Digital Realty has a strong growth runway with approximately 3 GW operating and an additional 6 GW owned, including 1.2 GW under construction, representing a near-term 40% expansion.
- Development pipeline increased to $16.5 billion, up over 60% from year-end, with 60% pre-leased, indicating robust future revenue visibility.
- Record leasing activity with backlog reaching an all-time high, boosting long-term growth visibility.
- Core FFO per share guidance for 2026 raised by $0.10 to a range of $8 to $8.10, representing 9% growth over 2025.
- Continued strong demand for hyperscale AI-oriented workloads in Americas drives expansion in key markets like Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas, and Northern Virginia.
- Expect 4%-5% same capital cash NOI growth and power-based occupancy improvement by 50 to 100 basis points.
- Capital expenditures projected to increase to $3.5-$4 billion to support growth, accompanied by $500 million to $1 billion in planned capital recycling.
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- Digital Realty raised its 2026 Core FFO per share guidance range to $8.00-$8.10, implying approximately 9% growth over 2025.
- The company expects accelerated same-store cash NOI growth of 4%-5% for the full year on a constant currency basis.
- Operating expense growth is expected to ramp in Q2 and Q3 due to increased development spending and capital recycling activities.
- Long-term growth is supported by a record backlog of $1.8 billion in leases and a development pipeline of $16.5 billion with 61% pre-leased capacity.
- Renewals are anticipated with cash spreads between 6.5% and 8.5%, slightly up from prior forecasts.
- Capital expenditures net of partner contributions are increased by $250 million to $3.5-$4 billion for 2026 to support hyperscale growth.
- The company is confident its platform and backlog position will deliver sustainable earnings growth into 2027 and beyond.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
- Total backlog at the end of Q1 reached a new record of $1.8 billion.
- Digital Realty's share of the backlog stood at $1 billion.
- New bookings in Q1 were $423 million, exceeding commencements of $204 million.
- Leases scheduled to commence:
- $544 million ratably throughout 2026,
- $247 million in 2027,
- $242 million in 2028 and beyond.
- Strong visibility over long-term growth driven by a scaling backlog.
- Development pipeline increased dramatically to $16.5 billion while maintaining constant pre-leasing.
