In this article, we will take a detailed look at the Top 10 Trending AI Stocks Amid Latest News and Analyst Ratings.
The reality is finally catching up to the AI hype as investors await to see ROI on huge spending on AI chips and infrastructure. Dan Niles, Niles Investment Management founder and portfolio manager, during an interview with CNBC last month, called the decline in Mag. 7 stocks after Q2 earnings representative of a “fundamental shift” in the industry.
“I know it’s popular to talk about AI because these stocks are driving the market, but at a certain point, you want to get a return on all of this money you are investing. And if your forward revenue estimate is going lower not higher but your CapEx is going up, at some point those two things are going to collide.”
Niles said that major tech companies went through a “digestion” period after seeing huge returns during the COVID-19 pandemic days, and he expects the same to happen as we move into the next year.
The analyst said that on an equal-weighted basis, the broader market is up when compared with Mag. 7 stocks. He recommended investors to buy the stocks that would benefit from rate cuts. These include consumer staples, utilities, telecom services, etc.
Niles said the other 493 companies could drive the market to new “all-time record highs.”
For this article, we picked 10 AI trending stocks that are moving after latest analyst ratings and earnings. With each company we have mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. 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).
10. HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 41
HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ) shares were under pressure amid the latest quarterly results in which the company issued a guidance cut. Wall Street analysts believe it would take time for HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ) to see a revival in PC demand amid the new AI wave.
Citi reaffirmed its Buy rating on the stock and a $37 price target saying AI PCs would revive growth in the coming fiscal years.
“We expect shares to trade modestly lower given the company lowered their FY24 EPS guide down modestly,” said Citi analyst Asiya Merchant.
What spooked investors in the latest quarterly results was the lackluster growth in PC revenue (about 4.9%) and a decline in the printing segment. The printing segment has never been the center of attention of HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ) investors. However, the latest data shows the growth in AI PCs everyone was banking on remains far into the future.
In the last couple of quarters, the company’s inventory levels have been climbing, reaching $7.5 billion as of the end of the last quarter.
HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ) Days of Inventory Outstanding (DIO) jumped to over 67 days, significantly above its five-year average of 55.96 days, nearing the highest level in recent years. With sales slowing, this spike in DIO suggests HP Inc (NYSE:HPQ) could face pressure on its stock price and uncertain returns in the next 1-2 years.
Amid all of this, the stock would be a risky bet who are just basing their hopes on the AI PC growth catalyst.
Greenlight Capital stated the following regarding HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“In addition to gold, we had four material winners in our long portfolio this quarter. HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) jumped from $30.22 to $35.02. After seven quarters of declines, PC sales turned marginally positive during the quarter. The industry appears to be in the early stages of an upcycle, perhaps to be enhanced by recently launched AI-enabled PCs that are expected to ramp up over the next several quarters.”
9. Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 74
Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) recently impressed Wall Street with its latest quarterly results.
Wall Street analysts are bullish on Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) because the company’s products are used in key products sold by major companies. Its 1.6T optical DSP is used in Nvidia’s (NVDA) Blackwell GPU platform while AI ASICS are used in Amazon’s (AMZN) Trainium 2 AI processor and Google’s (GOOG)(GOOGL) Axion CPU processor.
J.P. Morgan analyst Harlan Sur estimates that Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) will ship $575 million and $600 million in AI ASICs this year—well above their earlier estimate of $500 million. By year’s end, they expect Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) to hit a quarterly run rate of $300 million, compared to the previous target of $200 million.
In the second quarter, the company’s data center sales skyrocketed 92% year-over-year.
“Even more crucial, the company’s cyclical businesses are now on the upswing, with AI and cyclical tailwinds likely propelling a multi-quarter period of positive EPS revisions into CY25,” Sur noted.
Evercore ISI increased its price target for the stock to $98 from $91 following the results. The firm’s analysts Mark Lipacis and Natalia Winkler said Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) is riding two AI growth waves—custom ASICs and Electro-Optics—while its higher-margin Enterprise and Carrier businesses are rebounding from a two-year inventory slump.
Barclays also raised its price target to $85 from $80, maintaining an Overweight rating.
“We still like Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) story, with AI product ramps expected to drive further upside through next year, complementing core business growth fueled by accelerating fundamentals outside the data center,” analyst Tom O’Malley said.
O’Malley previously said that the potential Blackwell delays won’t affect the broader semiconductor supply chain and said Marvell is well-positioned to benefit from the launch of Blackwell and the increased demand for high-speed networking. He highlighted that Marvell’s custom ASIC business is expected to see growth, as key customers remain committed to accelerating orders. O’Malley also pointed to Credo’s (CRDO) recent earnings update, which he sees as confirmation that at least one major customer is moving forward with significant orders.
Artisan Mid Cap Fund stated the following regarding Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“During the quarter, we initiated new GardenSM positions in CCC Intelligent Solutions, Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) and Insmed. Marvell Technology is a semiconductor company offering networking, secure data processing and storage solutions to customers worldwide. We believe Marvell has among the broadest range of intellectual property in technological areas (e.g., high-bandwidth data switching and storage applications) that position it well for the growing requirements of data centers, wireless networks and autos. Several of the company’s product lines (e.g., custom silicon, optical connectivity and switching) are benefiting from the growth of AI data centers. And we believe a significant opportunity exists for the company to help design and manufacture cost-effective custom data center chips that would help cloud providers reduce their reliance on expensive graphics processing units (GPUs). Furthermore, like many other semiconductor companies, a portion of its business may be poised for a cyclical recovery after the industry’s recent inventory correction.”
8. Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 75
Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC) shares recently gained after a report said the company is working with advisers for strategic options to turn around the company.
Ed Snyder, Charter Equity Research co-founder and managing director, said while talking to CNBC that the current CEO of Intel, Pat Gelsinger, will have to go for the company to see a turnaround because after joining the company as CEO he just followed the “playbook” of the former management and continued to “run with it.”
“Intel is “incapable” of being a foundry… Intel’s culture is…. we are Intel we know what’s best.. Shutup and do what you are told.”
Ariel Global Fund stated the following regarding Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“Alternatively, several positions weighed on performance. One of the world’s largest semiconductor chip manufacturers by revenue, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), underperformed in the period on news of a longer than expected turnaround in profitability within the Foundry business. This was exacerbated by disappointing near-term guidance due to a weakening demand environment signaling an extended replacement cycle. We view the quarter as a temporary trough that should dissipate as we see signs of a cyclical recovery for personal computers (PCs) and central processing units (CPUs), driven by the Windows 11 upgrade. In our view, the market is overlooking the progress Intel is making to advance its manufacturing process. Not to mention, the company’s efforts to serve as a viable second source foundry partner of leading-edge silicon. We believe the separation of the design and manufacturing businesses will be a key catalyst in unlocking improved financial performance while also enhancing the competitiveness of the foundry business.”
7. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 85
Tesla is in the limelight as its robotaxi event inches near.
William Blair recently started covering TSLA shares with an Outperform rating.
The firm’s bullish stance is based on the belief that Tesla’s energy storage business is underappreciated by the market.
Analyst Jed Dorsheimer said Tesla Energy as a key part of the company’s future, noting that investor focus is likely to shift from electric vehicles to energy storage in light of tempered EV expectations. He pointed to grid stabilization, data center expansion, and renewable energy integration as major growth drivers for Tesla’s energy storage segment.
Dorsheimer also called Tesla a technology leader, comparing its future potential to Apple’s ecosystem, with opportunities in AI, robotaxis, and robotics adding to its growth prospects.
Tesla trades at 29 times William Blair’s 2026 EBITDA estimate and 49 times its 2026 EPS estimate. While these high multiples are hard to justify, the firm believes that Tesla’s strong leadership under Elon Musk, along with its culture of innovation and technological edge, supports the stock’s premium valuation.
During the second quarter, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) automotive gross margin fell to 18.47% from 19.22% the previous year. Non-automotive revenue, now 22% of total sales compared to 14.67% in Q2 2023, has a lower gross margin, negatively impacting overall profitability. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is still heavily reliant on EVs where demand is falling. Tesla energy business is not strong enough to offset declines in the core business.
Cathie Wood recently set a $2600 price target on Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) for 2029, which presents a whopping 1300% upside potential from the current levels. Wood thinks the robo taxi project has the potential to deliver $8 to $10 trillion in revenue by 2030.
However, many believe Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) won’t be able to live up to the hype around its robo taxi plans. Each robo taxi is expected to have a price target of around $150K to $200K, with some estimates suggesting Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) would need about $35 billion to develop a global fleet of such cars. Amid inflation and lack of preference for electric cars, American families will probably stay away from spending a fortune on robo taxis, which could cause a blow to Tesla Inc’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) plans in the future.
Baron Partners Fund stated the following regarding Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) manufactures electric vehicles, related software and components, and solar and energy storage products. The stock contributed as Tesla continued to drive vehicle manufacturing costs lower, accelerate the launch of new models, and invest heavily in its lucrative AI initiatives. Shareholders reaffirmed the CEO’s compensation plan, alleviating personnel and legal uncertainties. Despite material operational complexities resulting in significant shutdowns of key manufacturing facilities and lower sales volume, Tesla presented better-than-expected margins in the quarter. It expects to launch a lower cost model as soon as late 2024, which should result in accelerated revenue growth, reduced manufacturing costs, and increased factory utilization. The company continued to advance its autonomous driving capabilities, expanding its already significant data centers and developing its humanoid robot Optimus. These investments increased confidence in the attractive growth opportunities that remain ahead.”
6. Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 88
Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL) recently posted second-quarter results which impressed Wall Street.
Bill Baruch, founder and president at Blue Line Capital, said in an interview with CNBC that there were margin concerns in the previous quarter report but in the latest results we saw “significant” margin improvement in the infrastructure solutions group which holds the AI server subsegment. This subsegment saw about 80% year-over-year growth.
“This was a great report. It’s everything we wanted to see.”
The analyst said that the stock could reach $134 by the end of this year.
Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL) got attention when Elon Musk said on Twitter that the company, along with Super Micro Computer, would make servers for his AI startup xAI. But Dell is expanding its partnerships with other companies, too. In just a few quarters, AI servers have surged to account for 12.4% of total revenue, up from 2.2% three quarters ago. Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL) closed the quarter with a record $3.8 billion backlog, which is impressive. In May 2024, Dell expanded their AI factory with Nvidia to include the new PowerEdge XE9680L server, as well as storage, edge, and workstation solutions.
Carillon Scout Mid Cap Fund stated the following regarding Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:
“Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) reported results that exceeded earnings expectations and announced a better than expected AI-optimized server order pipeline. We expect Dell to participate in the growth of artificial intelligence hardware in its server, storage and personal computing franchises. Long-term, we like the company’s depth and breadth of products and services, as well as its focus on keeping costs low.”
5. Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:GOOG)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 165
Dan Niles, Niles Investment Management founder and portfolio manager, said the following about GOOG while talking to CNBC:
“I don’t see how they keep 90% + share in search when you’ve got all of this spending on AI going and you’ve got to believe some of those companies take share.”
Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:GOOG) shares slipped recently following reports that OpenAI is working on a web search product called SearchGPT. Before that, the stock fell following earnings despite posting strong numbers. Revenue in the second quarter jumped 14% year over year driven by search and Cloud. At a forward P/E of 22, analysts believe Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:GOOG) continues to be one of the cheapest AI stocks in the market as its valuation remains depressed amid fears caused by an overreaction.
Despite constant alarms going off about its search business, Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:GOOG) search revenue jumped about 13.7% in the second quarter year over year. As of the end of June, Google has about 91.06% share of the search engine market, just 1.65% lower than the December 2019 levels. With AI overviews and other search initiatives, Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:GOOG) will be able to stave off any competitors given its dominance in the market.
Cloud and YouTube are two key strong catalysts for Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:GOOG) shares. During the second quarter, Alphabet’s Cloud revenue rose 28.8% to $10.35 billion, crushing past analysts’ forecasts of $10.16 billion. Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:GOOG) is on the path to reach a $100 billion revenue run-rate from YouTube Ads and Google Cloud by the end of 2024.
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“We also added to Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). The company reported solid financial results with first quarter revenue growth of 15% year-over-year, driven by 14% growth in search, 21% growth in YouTube, and 28% growth in cloud (which accelerated from 26% growth in the fourth quarter). The company has also increased its cost discipline efforts, which drove operating margins to 31.6% (compared to 25% in the first quarter of 2023). With regards to GenAI, while we are cognizant of the potential risks to the dominance of search, we believe that on the range of outcomes, Alphabet remains well positioned through its massive user distribution (9 products with over 1 billion users each), long-standing AI research labs (DeepMind and Google Brain), top AI talent, a solid cloud computing division in Google Cloud, and deep pockets for investing in AI. During the quarter, Alphabet also held its annual I/O conference, where it provided an update on its efforts in AI including: Gemini is now used by 1.5 million developers; model quality is expanding rapidly (e.g., context window is now 2 million tokens of length); the new genomics model, Alphafold 3 can predict structures of molecules and potentially accelerate drug discovery; new TPU6 AI chips has shown a 4.7 times improvement in compute performance compared to the prior generation; and Gemini for workspace is showing early data on a 30% increase in user productivity. Alphabet also has real value in assets such as Waymo, which are not factored into valuation today (and are potentially included at a negative valuation as they currently generate losses, hurting EPS). We continue to believe that the current valuation of Alphabet presents an attractive risk/reward for long-term owners of the business and have therefore increased our position.”
