Data storage is defined as the organized preservation of digital information, which is vital for today’s computing and businesses. It ensures that data, which includes text, images, and videos, remains accessible and secure for future use. This involves storage systems that range from direct attached storage to cloud solutions. Each of these offers different levels of scalability and accessibility. Fortune Business Insights reported that the global data storage market was valued at $218.33 billion in 2024. It’s projected to reach $774.00 billion by 2032 at a 17.2% CAGR. This growth is expected to be driven by the increasing need for data storage solutions due to the rise of big data.
The data storage industry is undergoing a transformation that is primarily driven by the explosive growth of AI workloads. As the global data volume surges towards a projected 181 zettabytes by 2025, AI demands high levels of storage capacity and performance, according to Avnet Integrated Solutions. AI applications are generating and processing massive datasets. The median size of AI training datasets has seen exponential growth with immense storage requirements. This is fueled by AI-generated content and real-time analytics, both demanding rapid data access and processing.
This surge in data necessitates high-performance storage solutions, which pushes the industry towards SSD dominance. The speed and efficiency of SSDs make them ideal for AI’s demanding requirements. Key advancements in SSD technology, such as 3D NAND and QLC NAND, are driving increased storage densities and improved performance. Emerging standards like EDSFF E3 and PCIe Gen 6 are optimizing SSDs for AI server and data center applications, with a focus on performance, efficiency, and the growing field of Edge AI. While SSDs are gaining prominence for active AI processing, HDDs remain relevant for cost-effective, large-scale storage of archived data. Their cost per gigabyte makes them suitable for data archiving, backup, data lakes, and surveillance applications. Technological advancements like HAMR and MAMR are increasing HDD capacities.
SSD prices are expected to decline as production scales and technology improves, while HDD pricing faces potential plateaus due to the maturity of the technology and increased manufacturing costs. The rise of AI is undeniably accelerating the transition towards SSD-dominated storage solutions. While HDDs retain their value for specific applications, SSDs’ performance and efficiency make them the preferred choice for handling AI’s immense data demands. The data storage industry must adapt to this evolving landscape and prioritize high-performance storage solutions to support the ever-growing needs of AI applications.
That being said, we’re here with a list of the 11 best data storage stocks to invest in according to analysts.
A cybersecurity expert monitoring the security of the company’s assets, emphasizing the importance of data protection.
Our Methodology
We sifted through ETFs and financial media reports to compile a list of the top data storage stocks. We then selected the 11 stocks with high analysts’ upside potential, at least 15%, as of March 28 and that were also the most popular among elite hedge funds. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their upside potential. We have also added the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as of Q4 2024, which was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
11 Best Data Storage Stocks to Invest in According to Analysts
11. Quantum Corp. (NASDAQ:QMCO)
Average Upside Potential as of March 28: 32.45%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 6
Quantum Corp. (NASDAQ:QMCO) provides data storage and management solutions. It caters to the needs of digital video and unstructured data. Its portfolio spans high-performance all-flash & hybrid storage, scalable object storage, robust backup appliances, and secure tape archiving. It addresses the data storage challenges of modern enterprises, particularly in AI, analytics, and media workflows.
The company’s data storage segment saw a 15% year-over-year increase in secondary storage revenue in FQ3 2025. This growth is attributed to the launch of the DXi data protection appliances, which are designed with advanced cybersecurity features and are prompting existing customers to upgrade their systems. The company is emphasizing subscription-based revenue, with over 90% of new sales coming from subscriptions.
The company secured significant deals, which included a multimillion-dollar agreement with a top European retailer. A major American multinational technology manufacturer chose Quantum Corp. (NASDAQ:QMCO) for their global backup and recovery strategy by deploying DXi9200 and DXi T-Series appliances. Archive solutions are experiencing growth, with a 7-figure deal secured with a Japanese research informatics institute for a 10+ petabyte capacity expansion. A South African cloud service provider transitioned to Quantum ActiveScale cold storage to manage over 10 petabytes of data, which includes a large archive component.
