Is DataBank profitable in 2026?

DataBank's own executives say the company is scaling toward roughly $1 billion in annualized EBITDA run rate by the end of 2026, up from about $25 million EBITDA at the 2016 DigitalBridge acquisition, per CEO-elect Kevin Ooley's July 20, 2026 interview with Observer.

Could AI replace DataBank's business?

No. DataBank sells physical colocation real estate, power, cooling and interconnection, not software; AI workloads are a demand driver filling its data centers rather than a substitute for its core service, per its own 2026 CEO commentary.

DigitalBridge Group has controlled DataBank since acquiring it in 2016. Later investors include Swiss Life Asset Management ($2.2B recap, 2022), AustralianSuper (~$1.5B equity, October 2024), and TJC ($250M equity plus a $600M secondary sale, January 30, 2025).

Is Equinix or Digital Realty a bigger threat to DataBank?

Both are larger by US colocation revenue share, Equinix at 10.28% and Digital Realty at 9.98% as of a September 5, 2025 market report, but neither has shipped a competing edge/enterprise product line in DataBank's specific niche as of mid 2026.

What is DataBank's revenue?

DataBank's own CEO succession announcement (May 19, 2026) states revenue grew from roughly $50 million to over $1 billion during Raul Martynek's decade as CEO, though third-party estimates from data aggregators list lower, likely stale figures.

Is DataBank building new data centers?

Yes. DataBank secured $2.0 billion in construction financing on April 21, 2026 for its 480MW Red Oak, Texas campus, with Phase 1 targeted for ready-for-service in Q2 2026, and a 32MW Los Angeles joint venture with Goodman Group opening December 2026.

Telecom operators · subsidiary of DigitalBridge Group · United States

DataBank

databank.com ↗

Runs 70+ US colocation and edge data centers for enterprise and hyperscale customers.

Defensible for now

Assessed 22 July 2026 · Evidence as of 22 July 2026

Real protection, with named pressure against it.

On the recordSince 22 July 2026 · Checkable from Q2 2026 · Every call on the record Checkpoint: Red Oak Phase 1 ready-for-service target

The call

DataBank sits on land, power, and permits that AI labs need but can't build overnight, leaving financing execution as the bigger swing factor than any AI or big-tech encroachment.

DataBank builds and operates data centers, the physical buildings where companies store servers and data. It is hard to copy because it takes years to get zoning permits, lock in power and utility connections, and sign long-term leases with customers, and it has already done this 70 times over. Bigger rivals like Equinix and Digital Realty could compete, but they have not yet moved aggressively into DataBank's market. The big question mark is whether DataBank can add enough power capacity fast enough, since the electrical grid might become a bottleneck starting in late 2026 and early 2027.

Why

AI pressure: None apparent. AI training and inference demand fills DataBank's centers rather than replacing them; more AI usage means more racks leased. Could AI do the core job? Unlikely.

Bigger players: Equinix and Digital Realty. Both hold bigger US colo share but haven't pushed into DataBank's edge and enterprise niches; that could change if margins pull them in. Could a giant copy it? Probably.

What protects it. Zoning approvals, utility interconnects, and long enterprise leases across 70+ sites take years for anyone to replicate.

What would change this call

Red Oak Phase 1 reaches ready-for-service by targeted Q2 2026. Confirms DataBank can execute large-scale capacity builds on schedule.
Vernon/LA JV 32MW facility opens Dec 2026 with full buildout by Sept 2027. Shows DataBank can deliver multi-phase projects and grow footprint as planned.
DataBank's next ABS or credit facility refinancing around Q4 2026 to Q1 2027 closes on similar terms. Indicates capital markets still support DataBank's growth despite AI-capex and credit conditions.

Key numbers

$1B+ revenue run rate (2026-05-19)
$2.0B Red Oak construction loan (2026-04-21)
352 MW installed UPS capacity (2026-07-08)

Named risks

Continued dependence on capital markets for financing cadence (five securitizations since 2021). Severity: high
Red Oak Phase 1 construction delay or cost overrun ahead of Q2 2026 target. Severity: medium
~15GW grid interconnection bottleneck could delay capacity deployment late 2026 into 2027. Severity: medium
AI-capex reversal could strand hyperscale-oriented Red Oak build. Severity: medium
CEO transition on Jan 1 2027 introduces leadership continuity uncertainty. Severity: low

Rivals, as read in July 2026

Rival	Direction	Evidence
Equinix	contesting	Holds 10.28% US colo revenue share (Sept 2025) but has not entered DataBank's edge/enterprise niche
Digital Realty	contesting	Holds 9.98% US colo revenue share (Sept 2025), REIT scale but no competing niche product shipped
Flexential	gaining on	DataBank posted 206% three-year revenue growth (Inc 5000, Jan 2026) outpacing similarly sized peer
TierPoint	gaining on	DataBank's rapid expansion (70+ facilities, 2026) exceeds similarly regional mid-market rival

Questions people ask

Is DataBank profitable in 2026?: DataBank's own executives say the company is scaling toward roughly $1 billion in annualized EBITDA run rate by the end of 2026, up from about $25 million EBITDA at the 2016 DigitalBridge acquisition, per CEO-elect Kevin Ooley's July 20, 2026 interview with Observer.
Could AI replace DataBank's business?: No. DataBank sells physical colocation real estate, power, cooling and interconnection, not software; AI workloads are a demand driver filling its data centers rather than a substitute for its core service, per its own 2026 CEO commentary.
Who owns DataBank?: DigitalBridge Group has controlled DataBank since acquiring it in 2016. Later investors include Swiss Life Asset Management ($2.2B recap, 2022), AustralianSuper (~$1.5B equity, October 2024), and TJC ($250M equity plus a $600M secondary sale, January 30, 2025).
Is Equinix or Digital Realty a bigger threat to DataBank?: Both are larger by US colocation revenue share, Equinix at 10.28% and Digital Realty at 9.98% as of a September 5, 2025 market report, but neither has shipped a competing edge/enterprise product line in DataBank's specific niche as of mid 2026.
What is DataBank's revenue?: DataBank's own CEO succession announcement (May 19, 2026) states revenue grew from roughly $50 million to over $1 billion during Raul Martynek's decade as CEO, though third-party estimates from data aggregators list lower, likely stale figures.
Is DataBank building new data centers?: Yes. DataBank secured $2.0 billion in construction financing on April 21, 2026 for its 480MW Red Oak, Texas campus, with Phase 1 targeted for ready-for-service in Q2 2026, and a 32MW Los Angeles joint venture with Goodman Group opening December 2026.

Timeline

2026-05-19DataBank announces CEO succession: Kevin Ooley to succeed Raul Martynek effective Jan 1 2027
2026-04-21DataBank secures $2.0B construction financing for Red Oak, TX campus phases 1-3
2026-04-07DataBank and Goodman Group announce 32MW AI-ready data center JV in Los Angeles
2025-10-17DataBank upsizes credit facility to $1.6B
2025-09-25DataBank secures $1.1B hyperscale asset-backed securitization, total securitized portfolio hits $3.23B
2025-06-26DataBank launches Employee Ownership Program covering nearly 1,000 staff
2025-01-30TJC invests $250M equity plus $600M secondary share sale in DataBank
2024-10AustralianSuper invests roughly $1.5B equity in DataBank
2022DataBank completes $2.2B recapitalization led by Swiss Life Asset Management
2019-12-17Colony Capital acquires 20.4% DataBank stake for about $185M as Edgewater exits

Revision history

22 July 2026

First assessed. Defensible for now. The text above is fixed as of this date and is not edited afterwards.

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