Emily Flippen

Yes, exactly.

And that's why I'm so excited about this opportunity because so many people stop at that one level of degree where they think about data centers and they think about the companies physically building data centers and they don't get to the next degrees of separation about the companies that are helping make data centers a reality.

So up next, we're going to be breaking down the investment opportunities for data centers, but at different points on the value chain.

So stick with us.

We're going to be taking that one step further, talking about some specific companies benefiting from the AI data center build out.

Welcome back to Motley Fool Money.

We're discussing data centers and the businesses that not only benefit from them, but also help make them a reality.

Luckily for investors, there are plenty of stocks that are playing critical roles in this value proposition from operators, REITs, energy, and the like.

In our last segment, we'll get to some picks and shovels plays, but for now, let's keep it to the direct beneficiaries.

Anders, I want to start with you.

If an investor wants public market exposure to the data center build-out, where are you sending them first?

It's so interesting to hear you mention HPE because when I think about HPE, I think about the company that it probably was a decade ago, more than a decade ago, which was the consumer electronics laptop company.

I think it was the brand that made my first laptop, but they've spun off their consumer business now and

this is a business that is trying to reinvent itself.

Making that acquisition of Juniper has given it exposure to the AI data center boom and build out.

It's valued like a legacy business.

And to an extent, I can understand why.

I think Wall Street, myself included, as part of that, have a maybe outdated view of this company.

It's valued maybe a

bit like a value trap, but if they're able to get some of that exposure and get that return to growth of the AI data center build out, you can also understand how this is a business that has a management team that is trying to turn things around and is forward thinking in a way that the market is just simply not giving them credit for.