In this article, we discuss the 35 trending AI stocks on latest analyst ratings and news.
As the earnings season unfolds, investors are eager to see how artificial intelligence (AI) investments among S&P 500 companies are yielding results. Analysts anticipate profit growth to decelerate, with S&P 500 earnings projected to rise by 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year, down from a 13.2% increase in the second quarter, per a report by news agency Reuters. The technology and communication services sectors are expected to show the strongest year-over-year growth, with technology earnings forecasted to increase by 15.4% and communication services by 12.3%. AI-related firms have dominated earnings narratives since last year, driving substantial market gains. The S&P 500 is currently at record highs, having risen approximately 21% year-to-date, largely fueled by robust performance in the tech and communication sectors.
Read more about these developments by accessing 10 Unsexy AI Stocks According to Goldman Sachs and 10 Buzzing AI Stocks According to Goldman Sachs.
Howard Chan, CEO of Kurv Investment Management, noted that analysts are keen to evaluate how major companies monetize their AI initiatives, with those succeeding in this regard being notably rewarded. Meta, for instance, experienced a surge in share prices after projecting strong sales growth, suggesting that its digital ad revenue is effectively funding its AI investments. Conversely, the expenditures of giants like Google on AI technologies have raised questions regarding their integration with existing business models. With the S&P 500 trading at 22.3 times future 12-month earnings estimates, surpassing its long-term average of 15.7, many investors hope that this quarter’s earnings will justify higher stock valuations. Solita Marcelli from UBS Global Wealth Management expressed optimism that upcoming third-quarter results could catalyze further gains, particularly as the semiconductor sector remains a focal point for AI investment.
Read more about these developments by accessing 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock and Beyond the Tech Giants: 35 Non-Tech AI Opportunities.
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Our Methodology
For this article, we selected AI stocks by combing through news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. These stocks are also popular among hedge funds.
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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Trending AI Stocks on Latest Analyst Ratings and News
35. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) is a real estate investment trust that focuses on storage and information management services. Barclays analyst Brendan Lynch recently raised the price target on the stock to $133 from $91 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares. After the stock’s 70% year-to-date rally, the investment firm reassessed Iron Mountain’s valuation, growth prospects and long-term guidance targets. It concluded the Asset Lifecycle Management business can lead the next leg of share price appreciation. Barry Hytinen, CFO of the company, shared insights at the Goldman Sachs 2024 Communacopia and Technology Conference regarding their data center operations. He highlighted the firm’s significant role as a trusted partner to the largest hyperscalers in the market, with ample growth opportunities in the sector. Hytinen revealed that the company is currently operating 265 megawatts of data center capacity, which is leased out at an impressive 96% to 97% occupancy rate. In addition, the firm has another 305 megawatts of capacity under construction, reflecting its commitment to expanding its presence in the fast-growing data center space.
