Goldman Sachs pinpoints the 5 stocks that will get the biggest productivity boost from AI

Core Insights - Hyperscalers are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, leading to speculation about when small- and mid-cap stocks will benefit from this technology [1] - Goldman Sachs identifies distinct phases of AI development, with current gains concentrated in hardware makers like Nvidia, while suggesting investors should focus on the next phase [1][2] AI Adoption and Market Focus - Despite ongoing AI adoption, returns have primarily been seen in the infrastructure sector rather than in applications or productivity [2] - Analysts note that corporate AI adoption and concerns about AI infrastructure risks have shifted investor focus towards potential beneficiaries of AI-driven productivity gains [3] Companies Highlighted for AI Potential - Goldman Sachs has identified several companies that are sensitive to AI disruption and have high labor costs, making them potential beneficiaries of AI productivity gains [4] - Five stocks were flagged, including H&R Block, Robert Half, and Cognizant, which are expected to see significant profit boosts from AI adoption [4] Detailed Company Analysis - H&R Block (Ticker: HRB) - Share of wage bill exposed to AI automation: 41% - Labor costs as % of sales: 46% - Average percentile rank of potential AI boost among Russell 1000 companies: 97th - Potential boost to earnings: 51% [5] - Robert Half (Ticker: RHI) - Share of wage bill exposed to AI automation: 38% - Labor costs as % of sales: 79% - Average percentile rank of potential AI boost among Russell 1000 companies: 96th - Potential boost to earnings: 270% [5] - Cognizant Technology Solutions - Specific data not provided, but included among the companies expected to benefit from AI adoption [4]