5 Best Pick and Shovel AI Stocks to Invest In

In this article, we will list the 5 Best Pick and Shovel AI Stocks to Invest In. Please visit 10 Best Pick and Shovel AI Stocks to Invest In if you would like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.

5. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR)

On July 1, 2026, Barclays raised its price target on Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) to $197 from $189 and kept an Equal Weight rating. Barclays raised targets across the communications infrastructure real estate investment trust group, citing higher growth expectations than previously modeled. The firm said the companies are benefiting from ongoing hyperscale demand and accelerating enterprise AI demand.

On June 30, Digital Realty and Blackstone announced that Digital Realty agreed to purchase stakes from Blackstone-affiliated funds in three fully leased Northern Virginia data centers with 288 megawatts of total IT capacity. The transaction values the assets at a gross value of $7.8B and reflects an expected initial stabilized capitalization rate of over 6.5%. Digital Realty will pay Blackstone $3.5B for its blended 64% equity interest, including $1.2B in cash and $2.3B in Digital Realty shares, based on the last reported sale price of the company’s common stock on June 29.

The portfolio includes two data centers in Manassas and one on the Digital Dulles campus in Sterling, each with 96 megawatts of IT capacity and 100% leased to three distinct investment-grade hyperscale customers. Two of the data centers are expected to stabilize in the first half of 2027, while the third is expected to stabilize in the first half of 2028. The purchase is expected to be completed on June 30, subject to customary closing conditions.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR) provides data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions.