QTS - Evercore ISI rates Equinix QTS Realty Outperform among data center REITs

Evercore ISI analyst John Belton starts coverage of five data center REITs with a positive bias on the sector, though he's wary of increasing competition and rising rates.Expects demand for data centers to remain strong, but advises "a selective approach to investing in the group given an influx of new capital which has entered the space over the last few years and which appears to be putting pressure on pricing (and returns) in certain segments of the market."Initiates Equinix ([[EQIX]] +0.1%) and QTS Realty Trust ([[QTS]] +0.8%) with Outperform ratings and CyrusOne ([[CONE]] -1.5%), CoreSite Realty ([[COR]] -0.9%), and Digital Realty Trust ([[DLR]] -1.6%) with In Line ratings.Names EQX preferred large-cap name and considers the stock's valuation spread more than justified by its pricing power, adding that EQX "looks as much like a connectivity provider as a real estate operation."QTS is Belton's preferred mid-cap name as it has consistently reported

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Evercore ISI rates Equinix, QTS Realty Outperform among data center REITs