We recently compiled a list of the 10 Worst AI Stocks to Buy According to Reddit. In this article, we will look at where SoundHound AI Inc. (NASDAQ:SOUN) ranks among the worst AI stocks to buy.

Are AI Stocks on the Rise Again?

In the lead-up to the September rate cut decision, analysts had expressed a variety of opinions regarding the 50 basis-point cut, with some supporting and others opposing it. Some of them suggested that lower interest rates could create opportunities in small and mid-cap stocks, which may benefit from a more favorable borrowing environment.

Officials at the Fed maintained the opinion that this timely monetary policy adjustment was purely based on economic data and wasn’t politically motivated. Additionally, it isn’t just influenced by recent employment data but rather as a part of a broader strategy established earlier in July, aimed at managing inflation while maintaining low unemployment rates.

Lower interest rates are now encouraging investors to reconsider their AI stock holdings or diversify their portfolios with a greater focus on AI investments. Cory Johnson, Chief Market Strategist at Futurum Group, discussed how the Fed’s rate cuts have created a positive outlook for tech spending and venture capital investment, particularly in the AI and semiconductor sectors. His opinion was covered in another one of our articles, 10 Worst Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks To Buy According to Financial Media. Here’s an excerpt from it:

“Johnson pointed out that there had been a reset in tech stocks when the Fed was not pivoting as quickly as investors would have liked. However, with the recent cut, there seems to be a renewed coupling between tech stocks and market sentiment. Even a reduction of 50 basis points can ease borrowing and spending, leading to increased M&A activity. He said this trend will likely result in heightened investments in technology, particularly AI.

He also highlighted how lower interest rates could accelerate the shift towards AI computing by making capital more accessible for companies looking to invest in this area. Johnson mentioned that as rates decrease, expected returns on investments look more attractive, especially in growth sectors like tech. This shift could lead to greater confidence among companies to invest in AI.”

Johnson’s insights reflect an optimistic view of tech investments in light of the Fed’s actions, suggesting that companies are exploring new opportunities within AI. At the same time, markets are seeing AI and EVs creating a new wave of power demand growth.

Michael Khouw, OpenInterest.PRO Chief Strategist, discussed that the stock market experienced a broadly lower performance recently, with the NASDAQ Composite suffering the most significant decline, down 0.5%. The S&P 500 also saw a decrease, giving up 24 points to close below 5,700, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 60 points at the time of reporting. Despite this overall downturn, the utility sector outperformed the S&P 500 year-to-date and may become even more attractive following recent interest rate cuts and as AI  and electrification drive global power demand.

Khouw discussed the current state of utilities and acknowledged that while it may seem daunting to invest in a sector that has seen substantial gains, over 7.5% total return since the beginning of last year, it is still an opportune time to consider utilities as an investment. Historically, utilities have not been perceived as a growth sector, but Khouw emphasized that they are currently trading at about 19 times forward earnings, which is relatively high compared to their usual discount to the market.

He provided historical context regarding electricity demand, noting a significant increase in demand following World War II — a 6.5-fold rise until stagnation began around 2007. He predicts that a new phase of growth in electricity demand is on the horizon, driven primarily by two factors: the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and the increasing need for data centers fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). He estimates that by 2030, about 50% of vehicles on the road could be electric, significantly impacting electricity consumption. Additionally, expanding data centers to meet AI demands will further elevate electricity needs.

For investors looking to capitalize on this trend in utilities, Khouw suggested considering a major exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks utility stocks. He noted that the ETF has performed exceptionally well, gaining over 40% since October, but there are still investment opportunities. For those cautious about entering after such gains, he recommended using options strategies due to the relatively low premiums associated with utility stocks. Specifically, he proposed buying longer-dated call options and potentially selling downside puts as part of a diagonal risk reversal strategy.

This landscape indicates a promising rise in AI stocks, driven by the increasing recognition of AI’s transformative potential across various sectors. As electricity demand surges, fueled by the rise of EVs and the expansion of data centers necessary for AI operations, investors are likely to see significant growth opportunities in AI stocks as well. In that context, we’re here with a list of the 10 worst AI stocks to buy according to Reddit.

Methodology

We sifted through various Reddit threads to compile a list of 15 possible AI stocks with a short interest between 10% and 25%. We then selected 10 stocks with the highest short interest. We have also mentioned the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as of Q2 2024. The stocks are ranked in descending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them.

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).

SoundHound AI Inc. (NASDAQ:SOUN)

Short % of Shares Outstanding As of August 30: 22.29%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15

SoundHound AI Inc. (NASDAQ:SOUN) is a voice AI and speech recognition company that develops speech recognition, natural language understanding, sound recognition, and search technologies, with the help of advanced AI algorithms. It was the first company to introduce ChatGPT-like capabilities to in-vehicle assistants in Japan and Latin America.

It has cars in production in 20+ markets, with a new deal signed with a US-based EV maker, and an expansion of an existing EV manufacturer in Europe. It also acquired Amelia AI for $80 million in Q2 2024 and purchased Allset. It expanded its customer base by securing deals with 5 of the top 15 QSRs based on location.

In late August, On August 28, 2024, SoundHound AI Inc. (NASDAQ:SOUN) partnered with MUSC Health to launch Emily, an AI agent powered by the Amelia Patient Engagement solution. Integrated with Epic, Emily offers 24/7 appointment management and support for non-clinical questions, enhancing patient satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Since 2021, the company’s revenue has grown by 50% annually. In Q2 2024, revenue grew 54% year-over-year, primarily driven by strong customer momentum across various industries, including automotive and healthcare. Cumulative subscriptions and bookings backlog doubled to $723 million, and annual query volume surpassed 5 billion.

In September, it launched customization tools for its SoundHound Chat AI voice assistant to improve customer interactions in vehicles. These tools enable automotive manufacturers to tailor responses and provide onboarding features, enhancing the in-car experience for drivers.

The company’s advanced AI technology and strong foundation model are driving customer adoption, positioning the company for future growth. While investors should be prepared for volatility, SoundHound AI Inc.’s (NASDAQ:SOUN) focus on voice AI makes it a promising investment opportunity.

Overall SOUN ranks 3rd on our list of the worst AI stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of SOUN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SOUN 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 was originally published on Insider Monkey.