Space, Mining, Defence and Data Centre Opportunities and Events In 2026

#TwentyToSuccess (2026) is here, and markets may present a mix of opportunity and protection for investors as several structural and cyclical trends begin to align. New listings, mergers and acquisitions, and large-scale capital deployment across key industries could create attractive entry points for long-term growth.

In this environment, diversification across sectors and investment themes may be critical. Global economic conditions, geopolitics, and rapid technological change continue to reshape investment landscapes, potentially allowing investors to both grow and protect their portfolios over the period.

The Space Economy: From Exploration to Commercialisation

One area expected to move further into focus in 2026 is the space economy. NASA’s plans to return astronauts to the Moon, alongside increased government and private-sector investment, are accelerating activity across launch services, satellite manufacturing, and space-based data.

Companies such as Northrop Grumman could attract growing investor interest as momentum in the space economy builds.

• The company is expected to launch its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) in 2026, featuring robotic arms designed to extend the lifespan of satellites in geostationary orbit.
• It has partnered with NASA on several space missions, is involved in International Space Station resupply missions, and earlier this year invested in a defence-focused aerospace company.

Expectations around a potential SpaceX IPO have also contributed to heightened investor interest. At the same time, rising demand for Earth observation and communications is being reinforced by defence requirements and elevated geopolitical tensions. Together, these dynamics could support growth across a broader ecosystem of listed suppliers, manufacturers, and technology providers linked to space infrastructure.

Defence Spending and Capital Allocation Trends

Defence more broadly is expected to remain in focus in 2026 as global military spending trends higher. Recent geopolitical developments and policy signals from the Trump administration have reinforced expectations of increased defence budgets, including renewed emphasis on naval expansion known as the Trump-Class warships .

In addition, pressure on defence companies to reinvest capital domestically rather than prioritising dividends and share buybacks by the Trump administation could redirect cash flows toward expansion, innovation, and consolidation, potentially reshaping valuations across the sector. 

Many analysts argue that dividends and share buybacks are key ways for companies to reward the investors who support their growth and expansion. While reduced dividends or buybacks may be viewed negatively by some investors, companies may choose to preserve capital in the short term and resume shareholder returns once their balance sheets have strengthened.

Defence giants such as Rolls-Royce have been central to discussions around defence spending, dividends, and share buybacks among retail investors.

• The company is well known for securing government contracts and strategic partnerships and recently resumed dividend payments.
• Rolls-Royce previously announced a £1 billion share buyback programme, which concluded in November 2025, followed by an interim share buyback set to commence from January to February 2026, ahead of its financial results.

Mining Sector Consolidation: Gold and Copper in Focus

In the mining sector, consolidation is emerging as a key theme, particularly in copper and gold. Volatile commodity prices may create opportunities for mining companies to strengthen their balance sheets during periods of elevated prices.

Gold

Gold prices reached all-time highs in 2025, supported by geopolitical risk, economic uncertainty, and expectations of interest rate cuts. Stronger balance sheets among gold miners could encourage mergers and acquisitions, particularly in Australia, one of the world’s largest gold-producing regions. As highlighted by CNBC, the strong gold price and Australia’s relatively weaker dollar have made Australian gold producers especially attractive.

Against this backdrop, Gold Fields completed its acquisition of Gold Road, securing full ownership of the Gruyere gold mine in Western Australia. The transaction is expected to boost cash flows, enhance operational flexibility, and unlock exploration upside in the Yamarna Greenstone Belt, extending mine life and lowering costs.

Copper

Copper remains central to the global growth narrative. Supply constraints and rising demand driven by the energy transition, electric vehicles, renewable infrastructure, data centres, and digitalisation continue to keep the metal firmly in focus for major mining groups.

There have been several instances of merger discussions and takeover attempts among mining giants aiming to create large-scale copper producers. 

Previous talks between Glencore and Rio Tinto highlighted the scale of potential consolidation, while Anglo American has also been at the centre of industry attention following multiple takeover attempts by BHP.  Anglo American ultimately opted for a merger of equals with Teck Resources, forming AngloTeck and positioning the combined group as one of the world’s largest copper producers. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, and as part of the deal, Anglo American plans to pay a special dividend to shareholders.

Data Centres and the Acceleration of AI

Data centres are expected to reach a pivotal point in 2026 as AI adoption accelerates across industries. The rapid increase in computing intensity is driving demand for new data centre capacity globally, supporting investment opportunities across infrastructure, energy supply, and specialised technology providers. This environment may also encourage companies to pursue acquisitions or spin-offs to scale operations, unlock value, and capture a larger share of the growing market.

• Applied Digital, a data centre and digital infrastructure company focused on high-performance computing and AI workloads, announced a strategic spinoff, merging its cloud computing unit with EKSO Bionics to form ChronoScale Corporation, a new entity dedicated to AI workloads.
• Equinix, Inc., one of the world’s largest data centres, colocation providers and a US-listed REIT, announced plans in 2025 to open a data centre in Lagos in the first quarter of 2026. This forms part of its broader strategy to transform Africa’s digital landscape over the next two years, alongside land acquisitions in the UK for future development.

Data Centre Cooling and Efficiency

As AI and modern digital markets become increasingly dependent on data centres, overheating risks could create operational challenges and potential delays in activity and transactions, with the recent CME commodity market incident serving as a clear example of how infrastructure strain can disrupt market activity. 

Rising thermal density in modern data centres is driving a shift from air-based cooling to advanced solutions such as liquid cooling. As a result, companies specialising in cooling and thermal management could emerge as key enablers of the digital economy.

Positioning itself as a potential market leader, Vertiv completed several acquisitions in 2025, including the purchase of a leading fluid management firm and a Belgium-based specialist in hyperautomation and generative AI software platforms.

Conclusion 

As the year kicks off, investors may want to pay close attention to how capital is being allocated across balance sheets, especially the trade-offs between reinvestment, acquisitions, and shareholder returns. 

Shifts in dividend policies, buyback activity, and funding priorities could paint a picture of management confidence, growth expectations, and sector-specific pressures. Large-scale projects and events in areas such as defence, mining, data infrastructure, and advanced technologies often face delays, costs and regulatory hurdles, or policy changes that can materially affect outcomes. Companies that deploy capital efficiently while maintaining financial resilience may be better positioned to navigate periods of volatility and capture long-term value.

Sources – EasyEquities.

Author: Cay-Low Mbedzi

Government bonds offer a reliable way to earn fixed income by lending money to the government in exchange for regular interest payments. 

Dividends are one of the many key components of investing, representing a share of a company's profits distributed to its shareholders. 

Special dividends, also known as extraordinary dividends, are one-time payments made by companies to shareholders due to specific financial events, like windfall profits or asset sales.