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Top 3 must-have AI stocks to invest in now


Artificial Intelligence

Top 3 must-have AI stocks to invest in now

Geoffrey Seiler
The Motley Fool

Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have been some of the strongest drivers of the economy this year. Given that the AI pattern still appears to be in its early innings, though, it looks like a number of them could assist drive the economy higher next year as well.

These three AI stocks, in particular, are all market activity at reasonable valuations and look like intelligent buys correct now.

1. Nvidia

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been the biggest winner of the AI infrastructure construct-out, as its graphic processing units (GPUs) are the leave-to chips for data centers to use for their computing processing needs to train large language models (LLMs) and run AI inference. As AI models advance, they require more and more computing power. For example, xAI and Meta Platforms both used 10 times as many GPUs to train their latest LLMs than they used for their prior versions.

It is this continuing require for exponentially more computing power as well as the wide moat the business created with the assist of its CUDA software platform that make Nvidia a buy correct now. CUDA was initially created to make it easier for developers to program its GPUs for other uses beyond speeding up graphics rendering in video games, the job for which they were originally designed. This led to CUDA becoming the standard platform upon which developers learned to program GPUs, which has contributed to the moat NVIDIA now enjoys.

With AI infrastructure spending only expected to boost in 2025 and beyond, Nvidia still has a large chance in front of it. Meanwhile, the stake is attractively valued at a forward worth-to-returns (P/E) ratio of about 31.5 based on analysts’ estimates for 2025 and a worth/returns-to-growth (PEG) ratio of approximately 0.98. A stake with a positive PEG ratio below 1 is typically considered undervalued, but growth stocks will often have PEG ratios well above 1.

2. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Today, many chip companies use a fabless model, which means they design chips but then outsource the manufacturing to third parties. The reasons for this are straightforward. Building chip manufacturing facilities (also called fabs or foundries) is enterprise apportionment intensive (it costs a lot of money), and for a foundry to be profitable, it needs to be operated at as near to maximum capacity as feasible. Producing chips for multiple clients helps these companies keep their foundries busy. Manufacturing chips also requires a high degree of expertise, and in many cases, the adaption to the latest technologies that continue to drive down chip sizes and boost wafer sizes.

With demand for cutting-edge AI chips soaring, it is not surprising that the demand for foundry services has also been skyrocketing — and one business has been benefiting more than any other: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), or TSMC for short. Its two largest rivals, Intel and Samsung (each of which has both a third-event foundry business and a chip design arm), have struggled, leaving TSMC to become the dominant deal manufacturer of semiconductors in the globe, benefiting from both scale and technological advantages.

The top chipmakers in the globe are its customers, including Apple, Broadcom and Nvidia. Its rivals’ struggles have also given the business powerful pricing power; TSMC is set to raise its prices again next year. This is also leading to higher gross margins for the business.

In that context, TSMC looks positioned to remain a solid AI winner. Meanwhile, the stake is attractively valued at a forward P/E ratio of 23 and a PEG of 1.19.

Artist rendering of semiconductor wafer.

3. Alphabet

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) has been perhaps the biggest cloud computing infrastructure beneficiary of the AI pattern. Google Cloud’s returns growth accelerated to 35% last quarter as the unit’s top line hit $11.4 billion. That growth rate was faster than both Amazon’s AWS (19%) and Microsoft’s Azure (33%). More importantly, though, this high fixed-expense business has seen a profitability inflection point. As a outcome, the segment’s operating gain has been soaring. Its operating returns rose from $266 million a year ago and $1.2 billion in the second quarter to $1.95 billion in the third.

The business says its Gemini model has been gaining a lot of momentum and that customers are using its AI platform to construct and customize models. Alphabet also credits the custom AI chip that it developed with Broadcom as being a key differentiator, saying that the use of its customized TPUs (tensor processing units) in combination with GPUs was reducing AI inference processing times and lowering costs.

In addition, earlier this month, Alphabet was showing off its newest AI innovations with Veo 2, its next-production video AI generator, and Whisk, its recent AI image generator. The side-by-side test results I’ve seen comparing Veo 2 and ChatGPT’s Sora video generator, which launched just weeks earlier, were night and day, with Veo 2 vastly superior in every regard. Other reviews have also praised Veo 2 as being the obvious winner. Whisk, meanwhile, has also gotten excellent reviews.

Alphabet also announced its newest AI model, Gemini 2, which it will be incorporating across its product line, including into Google Search. While some investors have worried about the impact that AI might have on Google’s search dominance, I continue to view this as a large chance. Currently, Google only serves ads on about 20% of its searches, but AI Overviews will provide it a chance to monetize those searches it hasn’t been serving ads to by attaching recent ad formats to these AI answers.

Alphabet stake is also attractively valued, market activity at a forward P/E ratio of under 22. Given the size of the chance in front of it, this looks like a enjoyable level at which to buy the stake.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods economy, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of economy advancement and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Intel, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short February 2025 $27 calls on Intel, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content associate offering monetary information, analysis and commentary designed to assist people receive control of their monetary lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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On rare occasions, our specialist throng of analysts issues a “Double Down” stake recommendation for companies that they ponder are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best period to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers talk for themselves:

  • Nvidia:if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009,you’d have $363,593!*
  • Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $48,899!*
  • Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $502,684!*

correct now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.

view 3 “Double Down” stocks »

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