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GDS Holdings Ltd (GDS)
NASDAQ:GDS
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GDS Holdings (GDS) AI Stock Analysis

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GDS

GDS Holdings

(NASDAQ:GDS)

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Neutral 69 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:
$44.00
▲(12.94% Upside)
GDS Holdings' strong financial performance and technical momentum are offset by valuation concerns due to a high P/E ratio. Earnings call insights provide a positive outlook, but challenges such as high leverage and potential growth impacts from asset monetization remain significant.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue and EBITDA growth indicate strong market demand and effective business strategies, supporting long-term expansion.
Strategic Milestones
The successful C-REIT IPO enhances financial flexibility, allowing GDS to capitalize on new growth opportunities and strengthen its market position.
Strong Utilization and Bookings
High utilization rates and strong bookings reflect robust demand for GDS's services, supporting sustained revenue growth and operational efficiency.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage can limit financial flexibility and increase risk, potentially impacting the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities.
Negative Free Cash Flow
Negative free cash flow can strain liquidity and hinder the company's ability to fund operations and growth initiatives without external financing.
Impact of Asset Monetization on Growth
Asset monetization could slow growth rates, affecting the company's ability to maintain its historical growth trajectory and market competitiveness.

GDS Holdings (GDS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

GDS Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGDS Holdings Limited, together with its subsidiaries, develops and operates data centers in the People's Republic of China. The company provides colocation services comprising critical facilities space, customer-available power, racks, and cooling; managed hosting services, including business continuity and disaster recovery, network management, data storage, system security, operating system, database, and server middleware services; managed cloud services; and consulting services. It serves cloud service providers, large Internet companies, financial institutions, telecommunications and IT service providers, and large domestic private sector and multinational corporations. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China.
How the Company Makes MoneyGDS Holdings generates revenue through several key streams, primarily from colocation services where customers rent space, power, and cooling for their IT equipment within the data centers. The company charges fees based on the amount of space and power consumed by its clients. Additionally, GDS earns revenue from cloud services, which include infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offerings that enable customers to deploy and manage their applications in the cloud. The company also benefits from long-term contracts with major clients, ensuring stable cash flow. Strategic partnerships with major technology firms and cloud providers enhance its service offerings and customer base, further contributing to its earnings. Factors such as the increasing demand for data storage, cloud computing growth, and the expansion of internet services in China play significant roles in driving GDS's revenue growth.

GDS Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 20, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 25, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a solid financial performance with significant revenue and EBITDA growth, successful capital raising, and strategic milestones such as the C-REIT IPO. However, challenges such as AI demand uncertainty due to chip supply issues and the potential impact of asset monetization on future growth were noted.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue and EBITDA Growth
GDS Holdings reported a 12.4% increase in revenue and an 11.2% increase in adjusted EBITDA year-on-year for Q2 2025.
Successful Capital Raising
Raised USD 676 million through convertible bonds and equity, strengthening the holdco balance sheet.
C-REIT IPO Success
Completed a major milestone in the onshore asset monetization strategy with C-REIT IPO, with units trading at implied cap rates below 5% on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Strong Utilization and Bookings
Gross move-in during Q2 '25 was 20,000 square meters with a utilization rate of 77.5%. Gross new bookings were 23,000 square meters.
DayOne Expansion
DayOne added 246 megawatts of new commitments, bringing the total to over 780 megawatts, and announced a second campus site in Finland.
Negative Updates
AI Demand Uncertainty
AI demand was relatively quiet due to uncertainty of chip supply in China, leading to a 'wait and see' period for AI-driven demand.
EBITDA Margin Decline
Adjusted EBITDA margin for Q2 '25 was 47.3%, slightly lower than 47.8% in Q2 '24.
Impact of Asset Monetization on Future Growth
Future reported revenue and EBITDA growth will be impacted by asset monetizations, with an estimated 6 percentage points lower growth rate.
Company Guidance
During GDS Holdings Limited's Second Quarter 2025 earnings call, significant metrics were highlighted, showcasing the company's robust performance and strategic advancements. Revenue grew by 12.4% and adjusted EBITDA increased by 11.2% year-on-year, with a utilization rate reaching 77.5%. The company successfully raised USD 676 million through convertible bonds and equity, fortifying its balance sheet. A major milestone was achieved with the C-REIT IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, featuring units trading at an implied cap rate below 5%. In Q2 2025, gross move-ins totaled around 20,000 square meters, while gross new bookings reached 23,000 square meters, predominantly from traditional Internet and cloud sectors. GDS secured 246 megawatts of new commitments through its investment in DayOne, bringing total power commitments to over 780 megawatts. Despite a slight decline in MSR per square meter by 1.7% compared to Q2 2024, the company projects continued solid growth, with plans to deliver 35% of its current backlog in the second half of 2025.

GDS Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
GDS Holdings shows strong revenue growth and improved profitability margins. However, high leverage and negative free cash flow pose challenges. Positive trends in profitability and cash flow efficiency suggest potential for future financial stabilization and growth.
Income Statement
75
Positive
GDS Holdings exhibits strong revenue growth with a notable increase in total revenue from 2024 to TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The gross profit margin remains robust, although the net profit margin is buoyed by a large net income figure in the TTM, which requires careful interpretation. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have improved significantly over the years, indicating enhanced operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet reflects moderate stability with a substantial stockholders' equity base. However, the debt-to-equity ratio is relatively high, suggesting leveraged financial operations. The equity ratio indicates a strong asset base, but the significant amount of total liabilities presents a potential risk factor.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
The cash flow statement highlights a substantial increase in operating cash flow, which is a positive indicator of liquidity. The company has managed to improve its free cash flow position from a deficit, though it remains negative in the TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is robust, indicating efficient cash management relative to earnings.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue11.21B10.32B9.96B9.33B7.82B5.74B
Gross Profit2.52B2.22B1.92B1.94B1.78B1.55B
EBITDA5.83B4.39B1.36B4.19B3.36B2.43B
Net Income4.53B3.43B-4.29B-1.27B-1.19B-669.21M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets73.46B73.65B74.45B74.81B71.63B57.26B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments7.58B7.87B7.71B8.61B9.97B16.26B
Total Debt43.88B44.46B47.99B44.68B37.79B24.63B
Total Liabilities49.02B49.98B54.32B50.63B47.10B31.69B
Stockholders Equity24.31B23.54B19.96B24.07B24.47B25.57B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-3.45B-1.32B-4.19B-4.95B-8.50B-7.70B
Operating Cash Flow2.81B1.94B2.07B2.86B1.20B320.89M
Investing Cash Flow-8.53B-8.76B-6.33B-11.27B-13.69B-9.38B
Financing Cash Flow16.88B17.06B3.14B4.86B8.12B20.14B

GDS Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price38.96
Price Trends
50DMA
35.33
Positive
100DMA
31.47
Positive
200DMA
29.07
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.32
Negative
RSI
61.27
Neutral
STOCH
83.95
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GDS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 38.96 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 35.37, above the 50-day MA of 35.33, and above the 200-day MA of 29.07, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.32 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 61.27 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 83.95 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for GDS.

GDS Holdings Risk Analysis

GDS Holdings disclosed 119 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. GDS Holdings reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 2 New Risks
1.
If GDSH's beneficial ownership in GDSI falls below 50% or cease to have the ability to appoint the majority of the board of directors of GDSI or otherwise ceases to have the control over the management and policies of GDSI, a change of control would be triggered under certain of GDSI's real property leases, customer agreements and/or loan agreements, and the business development, financial condition and future prospects of GDSH and/or GDSI may be materially and adversely affected. Q4, 2023
2.
Our customer agreement commitments are subject to reduction, potential cancellation and non-renewal upon expiry; if renewed, the renewal may be at lower pricing terms or for a lower commitment of utilization. Q4, 2023

GDS Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
3.27B20.3220.43%1.94%26.15%
69
Neutral
$8.07B2,686.901.40%7.29%
66
Neutral
2.47B6.7212.05%-4.93%497.03%
61
Neutral
7.25B25.6323.99%-3.44%0.00%
60
Neutral
2.59B493.850.92%18.00%0.00%
54
Neutral
448.65M92.212.18%-14.36%-73.74%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GDS
GDS Holdings
38.96
18.45
89.96%
VNET
VNET Group, Inc. Sponsored ADR
9.63
6.10
172.80%
WNS
WNS
76.19
22.38
41.59%
CNDT
Conduent
2.84
-0.98
-25.65%
DXC
DXC Technology
13.79
-7.19
-34.27%
KD
Kyndryl Holdings Incorporation
31.35
7.73
32.73%

GDS Holdings Corporate Events

GDS Holdings Reports Strong Q2 2025 Financial Results and Strategic Milestone
Aug 20, 2025

GDS Holdings Limited announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, reporting a 12.4% year-over-year increase in net revenue to RMB2,900.3 million and a significant reduction in net loss to RMB70.6 million. The company achieved a gross profit margin of 23.8% and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 47.3%, reflecting strong operational performance and strategic financial management. The successful public offering of their C-REIT on the Shanghai Stock Exchange is a strategic milestone, enhancing their financing flexibility and positioning them to capture new business opportunities driven by AI advancements.

GDS Holdings Announces Financial Reconciliation for H1 2025
Aug 20, 2025

On August 20, 2025, GDS Holdings Limited announced a reconciliation between its financial statements prepared under U.S. GAAP and IFRS for the six months ended June 30, 2025. The reconciliation process, reviewed by KPMG, identified material differences in accounting policies and quantified their financial effects. This initiative reflects GDS Holdings’ commitment to transparency and compliance with international accounting standards, potentially impacting its financial reporting and investor relations.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 18, 2025