TD Cowen Maintains Buy Rating on GDS Holdings (GDS)
TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating on GDS Holdings (NASDAQ:GDS) and cut its price target to $36 from $37 on May 21, 2026. The firm expects upside to GDS’s 2026 bookings target of over 500MW, with 340MW signed YTD. GDS reported Q1 EPS of $1.53 vs 48c and revenue of $488.07M vs $375.26M, with about 200MW net new bookings.
Analyst PT cut but Buy maintained; the key trade input is the stated 2026 bookings momentum and AI-driven demand thesis.
TD Cowen maintained a Buy on GDS and cut its price target to $36, citing upside to 2026 bookings and AI hyperscale demand in China.
Near-term sentiment likely mixed: PT reduction may cap upside, but the reiterated Buy and bookings/AI demand framing can support dips.
Background
The piece summarizes TD Cowen’s updated valuation stance on GDS and reiterates recent company performance (Q1 EPS/revenue, net new bookings).
Why it matters
For trading, the actionable element is the analyst price-target cut paired with a maintained Buy, anchored to 2026 bookings momentum and an AI hyperscale demand acceleration thesis.
Market relevance
A Buy is maintained but the price target is trimmed; the market may weigh valuation downside against the bookings/AI demand narrative.
Market effects
Reinforces the data-center/AI hyperscale demand read-through for China-focused operators, potentially supporting sector sentiment.
Highlights China AI hyperscale demand as a driver for bookings, which can influence regional DC/data infrastructure sentiment.
Supports the broader AI infrastructure capex narrative, though limited to one analyst’s framing for China.
Alternative perspectives
PT was lowered (to $36 from $37), implying valuation risk or less confidence in near-term upside despite the Buy rating.
The note leans on bookings targets and AI demand acceleration; traders may discount if bookings conversion, pricing, or regulatory/FX risks in China offset the demand thesis.
Key entities
- companyGDS Holdings Limited
China data-center operator; subject of the analyst rating/target update and recent quarterly performance recap.
- analyst_firmTD Cowen
Maintained Buy on GDS while lowering the price target to $36 from $37.
- executiveWilliam Huang
CEO/Chairman quoted on strong 2026 sales and net new bookings in Q1.



