I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.Driven by rising hyperscale data center and experiential real estate needs, US utilities and REITs are accelerating capital deployments. Major firms have upwardly revised their 2026 earnings guidance and expanded multi-billion-dollar joint ventures.
US utility companies and real estate investment trusts are accelerating capital deployments to meet surging power demands and real estate infrastructure needs, with key industry players raising their full-year forecasts and expanding their investment capacity, according to people familiar with the matter.
American Electric Power (AEP.US)
American Electric Power recently raised its 2026 full-year operating earnings forecast to USD 6.25 to USD 6.55 per share. The company anticipates that new large-scale loads will increase to 69 gigawatts by 2030, driven largely by data center expansion.
AEP is targeting an operating earnings compound annual growth rate of 7% to 9% through 2030, supported by a USD 78 billion capital plan over five years. Its subsidiary also secured up to USD 3.26 billion in federal loan guarantees to fund critical grid infrastructure improvements.
Realty Income (O.US)
Realty Income reported Q2 2026 total revenue of USD 1.54 billion, representing a 9.7% increase, and upwardly revised its full-year adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) guidance to USD 4.44-4.45 per share.
The company formed a programmatic joint venture with a global institutional investor targeting hyperscale data centers, featuring an initial seed asset valuation exceeding USD 6 billion. Additionally, Realty Income declared its 674th consecutive monthly common stock dividend at USD 0.2710 per share.
VICI Properties (VICI.US)
VICI Properties reported Q2 2026 total revenue of USD 1.1 billion, a 5.7% increase year-over-year, as AFFO per share rose 4.6% to USD 0.62.
The experiential REIT finalized the acquisition of seven casino properties from Golden Entertainment for USD 1.16 billion and inked a 30-year triple-net master lease agreement. To fund its ongoing real estate consolidation, the company closed a USD 1.75 billion offering of senior unsecured notes.
The rapid expansion of hyperscale facilities and experiential assets has driven total capital commitments in these segments beyond initial estimates, reshaping the competitive landscape for traditional yield-generating equities as they seek stable, long-term rental streams.
This article does not constitute investment advice.