University of Kwazulu-Natal

3 Ai Stocks To Buy In 2026

Bonisiwe Shabane
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3 ai stocks to buy in 2026

The three best AI stocks in 2026 are likely to be familiar names — Nvidia, Microsoft and Alphabet. Nvidia, which had a market capitalization more than $5 trillion in October, has been a driving force behind the artificial intelligence boom thanks to its dominance in AI chip design. Microsoft and Google have capitalized on the demand for generative AI by providing the cloud-services platforms to train and operate applications such as chatbots. With hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on AI, these companies are likely to be among the leading beneficiaries in 2026. Read on to learn the criteria used to pick these stocks, how they passed the tests and what analysts are saying about the future of AI. Wall Street has been abuzz about an AI bubble and the chances it will burst, washing away billions of dollars in value.

The evidence of such a bubble is well-known: Will the AI bubble burst in 2026? In October, I wrote about three scenarios: GenAI keeps booming, there’s a soft-landing in which valuations decline somewhat, and the OpenAI bankruptcy scenario, which brings it all down abruptly should the company be unable... These three stocks look well-positioned to be winners next year. With 2025 beginning to wind down, it's time for investors to start looking toward what could be the best stocks to buy for next year. Here are three stocks that have real potential to outperform in 2026 and beyond.

Where Nvidia (NVDA +1.42%) goes, the market is likely to follow. The maker of graphics processing units (GPUs) has grown to become the largest company in the world and is the poster child of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Its chips are the backbone of AI data centers, and right now, there appears to be no let-up in AI infrastructure spending. Large language models (LLMs), such as OpenAI, as well as cloud computing companies and other tech giants have all committed to increasing their AI spending in the coming years, which bodes well for Nvidia. The company has a tight grip on the GPU market, which involves the chips most commonly used to provide the muscle to train AI models and run inference. Nvidia's edge comes from its CUDA software platform, which is the platform on which most developers learned to program GPUs and on which most foundational AI code is written.

With AI set to lead the market higher again in 2026, Nvidia is a stock to own. Risk Warning: this article represents only the author’s views and is for reference only. It does not constitute investment advice or financial guidance, nor does it represent the stance of the Markets.com platform.When considering shares, indices, forex (foreign exchange) and commodities for trading and price predictions, remember that... This information is provided for informative purposes only and should not be construed to be investment advice. Trading cryptocurrency CFDs and spread bets is restricted for all UK retail clients. For privacy and data protection related complaints please contact us at privacy@markets.com.

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The rise of AI has created new risks in financial markets. Investors have been rushing to tech stocks and companies are making huge investments to buy AI technology they can’t make in-house. During a panel discussion with Citadel Chief Risk Officer Joanna Welsh at the Reuters Momentum AI 2025 conference, Matthew Danzig from Lazard pointed out that AI has become the “number one topic of conversation”... Companies are rushing to form their AI strategies while also investing in skills or proprietary datasets in order to compete. Danzig said that “every company that’s a potential target is figuring out their AI angle.” He also noted that valuations are reaching record highs as investors focus on future gains instead of current fundamentals. According to McKinsey & Company, the sector will require about $7 trillion in capital by 2030 just for data centers to fund its growth.

Yet investors have mostly ignored the rising leverage in the system and weak revenue to support all the debt required to finance this growth. Additionally, fears of an AI bubble keep returning, which pulls down tech stocks. Joanna Welsh said Citadel, which has $71 billion in assets under management, is ready for market drops at any given time. The hedge fund’s risk models reveal that today’s markets amplify shocks. Welsh pointed out that the “markets are just faster” and that “these volatility spikes and pulses, they hit harder, they fade faster, they repeat more often.” Written by Keithen Drury for The Motley Fool->

Taiwan Semiconductor is providing the chips powering the AI megatrend. Alphabet is starting to get the respect it deserves in the AI world. It's odd to say it, but 2026 is right around the corner. It's time for investors to start thinking about what 2026 will bring and position their portfolio appropriately. Although the artificial intelligence (AI) boom has driven the market higher since 2023, I think it will persist throughout 2026 and beyond. As a result, some of the best investments over the past few years will continue to be leaders.

At the top of my list of stocks that will perform well throughout 2026 are Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL). All three have been successful stock picks over the past three years and will continue to be outperformers during 2026. Updated: September 4, 2025 • ~15 min read • Forward-looking 2026 investing outlook Artificial intelligence has already reshaped the global economy, and by 2026 the pace will only accelerate. In this guide we reveal the top AI stocks 2026 investors should be watching closely. From Magnificent 7 tech giants to rising AI-focused companies, we analyze where growth, profits, and innovation are most likely to emerge in the next 12–18 months.

The artificial intelligence market is expanding at a pace few industries have ever matched. Analysts estimate that by 2026, AI will contribute more than $1 trillion in value creation annually, reshaping industries from healthcare to finance. For investors, understanding this macro trend is essential before identifying the top AI stocks 2026. Several factors fuel the acceleration of AI adoption. Advances in semiconductor hardware, particularly GPUs, continue to lower costs of training complex models. Cloud platforms from Microsoft, Amazon, and Google democratize access to AI tools, enabling small businesses and developers to compete with larger players.

Policy support and investment incentives from governments worldwide also create fertile ground for innovation. The European Union, United States, and China have all pledged billions in AI-focused research funding heading into 2026. Wedbush Securities released its updated IVES AI 30 winner list for 2026. The investment firm made three additions and three removals in its quarterly portfolio adjustment. CoreWeave, Iren, and Shopify earned spots on the revised list. SoundHound, ServiceNow, and Salesforce lost their positions in the December update.

CoreWeave, Inc. Class A Common Stock, CRWV The changes reflect Wedbush’s outlook on which companies will benefit most from AI growth. Daniel Ives leads the analyst team that manages the list. Wedbush predicts tech stocks will climb 20% in 2026. The firm credits the AI Revolution as the main catalyst for growth.

Analysts say AI infrastructure investments made in 2025 will generate returns next year. PATH Quick QuotePATH INOD Quick QuoteINOD FIVN Quick QuoteFIVN The momentum of the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure segment is in top gear this year. The AI space remains rock solid, supported by an extremely bullish demand scenario. Huge spending on AI infrastructure will dramatically change the world over the next five years in fields such as hyperscale automation, robotics, healthcare, energy, materials, financials and cybersecurity. Here, we recommend three mid and small-cap AI infrastructure stocks to strengthen your portfolio in 2026.

These are: Innodata Inc. (INOD Quick QuoteINOD - Free Report) , Five9 Inc. (FIVN Quick QuoteFIVN - Free Report) and UiPath Inc. (PATH Quick QuotePATH - Free Report) . Each of our picks currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The chart below shows the price performance of our three picks year to date. Innodata has established itself as a crucial partner in the AI revolution, providing high-quality data needed to train advanced language models. This mid-cap data engineering service provider for AI applications is expected to benefit from the massive demand for supplying state-of-the-art data engineering to large language model building and maintenance over the long term. Ready to ride the AI wave? Uncover the top AI stocks poised for explosive growth in 2026. From Nvidia to TSMC, find out which companies are worth your investment now!

Financial market analysis from 07/10/2025. Market conditions may have changed since publication. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to catch a wave just as it’s about to crest? That’s the vibe in the AI investment space right now. The artificial intelligence revolution isn’t just a tech buzzword—it’s a seismic shift reshaping industries, economies, and portfolios. I’ve been diving deep into market trends, and let me tell you, the opportunity to invest in AI feels like finding a hidden gem in a crowded market.

But where do you start? Which companies are truly leading the charge? Let’s unpack the top AI stocks that could turbocharge your portfolio in 2026, drawing from insights shared by industry experts. Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction—it’s the backbone of modern innovation. From self-driving cars to personalized marketing, AI is everywhere, and the companies powering this transformation are seeing explosive growth. The global AI market is projected to grow at a staggering 30% annually over the next few years, driven by massive investments in infrastructure, data processing, and applications.

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