We recently published a list of 12 Best Automation Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:PTC) stands against other best automation stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
The rise of generative AI has skyrocketed automation, while robotics are disrupting industrial automation. On the other hand, supply chain automation has reshaped traditional operations from removing warehousing bottlenecks to inventory management, and demand forecasting. In inventory tracking, advanced warehouse management networks, powered by AI and ML algorithms, assist in optimizing inventory placement, resource allocation, route planning, and more.
Robotics a Key Segment to Automation
Professional service robot sales soared by 30% in 2023, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). IFR’s statistics department data shows that over 205,000 robotics units were sold in 2023, with Asia-Pacific accounting for 80% of global robotics sales. Transportation and logistics service robots sales accounted for 113,000 units in 2023, a rise of 35% from 2022. In addition to that, Medical robots are in huge demand, and medical robot sales soared by 36% to nearly 6,100 units in 2023.
Apart from robotics, quantum computing is revolutionizing various industries. Other technologies including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), big data, data analytics, and 5G technology are key to driving automation across various segments.
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ) and Robo Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (NYSE:ROBO) have surged more than 11% and 8.50% over the last year, respectively. Considering the growing demand for automation systems and robotics, automation stocks hold much promise.
Our Methodology
We used automation and robotics ETFs along with online rankings to shortlist an initial list of automation stocks. We then selected the 12 automation stocks that were the most widely held by hedge funds. The list is sorted in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders, as of Q3 2024.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? 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).
13 AI News That Broke the Internet
PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:PTC)
No. of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:PTC) is a leading software company that serves industrial and manufacturing companies to digitally manage how they manufacture, engineer, and service physical products. The company’s product lifecycle management (PLM) portfolio allows companies to transform product data and manage processes.
The modern-day industrial revolution is driven by a new age of integrated smart digital technologies that automate processes in real time. These technologies have a massive impact on the manufacturing industry, and PTC Inc.’s software plays a key role in them. For instance, a product is designed using PTC Inc.’s computer-aided design (CAD) software. The design then develops a manufacturing process using the company’s PLM software, which monitors and controls production.
On February 4, Rosenblatt analyst Blair Abernethy maintained a Buy rating on PTC shares with a price target of $204. The analyst is bullish on the stock with its sustained customer renewal rates and extended selling cycles. PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:PTC) has struggled in the last two years as manufacturers scaled back investment plans due to a sluggish economy. However, M&A activity is expected to gain momentum in 2025, which will potentially create a better business environment and add more clients to PTC’s customer base.
In addition to that, PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:PTC) continues to experience a double-digit growth in its annual run rate (ARR) and software as a service (SaaS). PTC Inc. is also focusing on its Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution’s performance, particularly in the automotive sector, including OEMS and supply chains.
Overall, PTC ranks 7th on our list of best automation stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of PTC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PTC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
