15 Best Small Cap AI Stocks to Buy Right Now

12. Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

​Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU) is a technology company that provides identity verification and access control solutions through its secure biometric platform. Its core offering, CLEAR Plus, enables expedited entry at airports by using fingerprint and iris recognition to verify identities. The company also offers digital identity tools for venues, stadiums, and other businesses, expanding its platform into areas such as health pass verification and age validation. YOU operates across the travel, sports, entertainment, and healthcare industries, with partnerships spanning major US airports and event venues. The company leverages AI to enhance biometric matching, fraud detection, and real-time identity verification, supporting future expansion into AI-driven security and identity solutions.

The year 2024 was transformational for Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU) as the company’s momentum accelerated in bringing its secure identity platform to more people in more places. The company achieved significant operational milestones, with CLEAR Plus now covering approximately 73% of airport volume through 166 lanes nationwide. The implementation of NextGen Identity has improved customer experience substantially, with 50% of members getting through CLEAR lanes in less than 2 minutes, 85% in under 5 minutes, and 91% in less than 7 minutes. The company’s EnVe rollout, which is expected to be complete by March, is delivering significant operational efficiencies by serving members with 30% fewer pods while being 5x faster.

In terms of financial performance, Q4 revenue, and total bookings grew 21% and 17% respectively, driven by member growth, pricing, strong member retention, and improvements in win-back activity. Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU) achieved a 24% full-year adjusted EBITDA margin, representing an improvement of over 1,000 basis points year-over-year. Total cumulative enrollments reached 28.9 million by year-end, with a record growth of 2.5 million in the quarter. Looking ahead to 2025, management expects another year of strong top-line growth, continued margin expansion, and free cash flow of at least $310 million. The company is also making strong progress with its emerging businesses, including TSA PreCheck and CLEAR1, which are contributing to total bookings and gross profit dollar growth. With 27 hedge funds owning the stock, YOU is one of the best small cap AI stocks to buy right now.