Jim Cramer presented his top stock picks for the data center sector during the CNBC Investing Club Monthly Meeting on Wednesday [1].

These recommendations come as artificial intelligence continues to drive a massive build-out of digital infrastructure. Because data centers provide the physical housing and power for AI processing, the sector has become a primary focal point for investors seeking exposure to the AI boom.

During the meeting, which took place at 12 p.m. ET [2], Cramer identified specific companies he believes are best positioned to profit from this growth. He said Equinix is a "great way to play the data center" [3].

Cramer also focused on the role of hardware in this expansion. He said that NVIDIA is "at the heart of the data center" [4], noting the company's critical position in providing the chips required to run complex AI workloads.

The host emphasized the scale of the current infrastructure trend, suggesting it represents a historic market opportunity. "We are always prepared to pounce, even willing to break our discipline, because the data center explosion may be the greatest stock story of all time," Cramer said [5].

Cramer's analysis suggests that the growth story is not limited to chipmakers but extends to the real estate, and connectivity providers that manage the facilities. By diversifying picks across both hardware and infrastructure, he aims to capture the broader trajectory of the AI build-out [3, 4].

“"NVIDIA's at the Heart of the Data Center"”

The focus on data center stocks reflects a shift in AI investing from purely software and chip-level speculation to the physical infrastructure required to sustain those technologies. As power demands and cooling needs for AI increase, companies that control the physical space and connectivity—known as the 'picks and shovels' of the digital age—become critical bottlenecks and potential growth drivers for the broader economy.