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President-elect Donald Trump’s $20 billion plan to invest in data centers is setting the stage for big changes in U.S. technology infrastructure. Backed by UAE-based DAMAC Properties, this initiative will help bring advanced data centers to key states like Texas, Arizona, Illinois, and Michigan. The timing couldn’t be better, with artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing growing rapidly and reshaping industries across the board.
AI is expanding at an incredible pace, with the global market expected to grow to $364.62 billion at a yearly rate of 11.39% by 2034. Its impact is being felt everywhere — from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and retail — with generative AI alone projected to add $1.3 trillion by 2032. Cloud computing is also becoming essential for businesses globally, with spending on public cloud services forecast to double by 2028 from $805 billion in 2024. These technologies are changing how industries work while creating a huge need for data centers that can handle heavy workloads and keep everything running smoothly.
The rapid rise of AI and cloud computing highlights why building strong digital infrastructure is so important. One great way to tap into this growth is through the Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (DTCR), which focuses on companies leading the way in data center technology. Let’s dive into why this ETF could be a top pick in today’s digital world.
DTCR ETF Overview
The Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (DTCR) follows companies that build and run the backbone of our online world. Started in October 2020, the fund now manages roughly $160 million, investing in companies that run data centers and build the networks we use to communicate.
The fund spreads its money across different parts of the world. Most of it (67.4%) stays in the U.S. The next largest portion (17.7%) is allocated to China, and then 5.2% to Singapore. This mix helps catch both steady and fast-growing opportunities in digital real estate.
Right now, you can buy DTCR for roughly $16. The ETF has had modest recent performance, up about 12% over the past 52 weeks.
The fund owns shares in 30 different companies but focuses on its top 10, which comprise 73.8% of all its holdings. The most significant holdings are Equinix (EQIX) at 12.9% and Digital Realty Trust (DLR) at 12.44% — both big names in digital real estate. GDS Holdings (GDS), comes in at 9.92%, giving the fund a strong foothold in Asia, while American Tower (AMT) adds 9.5% with its network of communication towers.
Other key players include Crown Castle (CCI) at 7.01%, Keppel DC REIT at 5.25%, and China Tower Corp. Ltd.-H at 4.55%. Finishing up the top 10 are VNET Group (VNET) at 4.42%, Uniti Group (UNIT) at 3.98%, and SBA Communications (SBAC) at 3.93%. This mix covers everything from data storage buildings to cell towers.
The fund charges a reasonable expense ratio of 0.5%, or $50 on an initial $10,000 investment, and pays out a distribution that yields 1.86%. With a monthly trading volume of 173,760 shares, DTCR shows solid trading activity that lets investors move in and out of positions smoothly - a key factor for those looking to capitalize on Trump’s data center expansion plans.
Why Data Centers Are the New Frontier
Data centers are growing faster than ever in 2025, and experts say this growth will keep going strong, at a rate of about 20% each year until 2030. To put this in real terms, Microsoft (MSFT), just announced it is spending $80 billion on new AI-powered data centers, with more than half of that money going into U.S. facilities. This shows just how much computing power companies need these days.
At CES 2025, Nvidia (NVDA) showed off some impressive new technology. The company unveiled its Blackwell GPU system, which can process AI tasks incredibly fast, and introduced something called the Cosmos platform for robots and self-driving systems. These aren’t just fancy gadgets - they’re signs that companies need bigger, better data centers to handle all this new tech.
Not to be left behind, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is putting $11 billion into Georgia to build AI and cloud computing facilities. This shows how the Big Tech companies are racing to grab their share of data center space. All this new technology needs a lot of power; experts say data centers will use twice as much electricity by 2030, jumping from 536 terawatt hours in 2025 to 1,065 terawatt hours in 2030. AI systems alone will use about 70% of all that computing power.
With all these powerful computers running, companies are working hard to find better ways to keep everything cool and manage power use. This is especially important as more companies run complex calculations and AI programs that need lots of computing power.
Money is pouring into this sector; analysts predict companies will spend over $1 trillion on U.S. data centers by 2030. These facilities are becoming the foundation of our digital world, running everything from simple cloud storage to complex AI programs. With all this investment and new technology, data centers are becoming more crucial than ever for our digital future.
Conclusion
As Trump’s $20 billion investment plan looks to propel data center expansion, DTCR stands out as a compelling way to tap into this digital infrastructure boom. With its focused portfolio of industry leaders and strategic geographic exposure, this ETF is perfectly positioned to capitalize on the massive technological transformation ahead.
On the date of publication, Ebube Jones did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
