The Motley Foolยท2025-11-22 20:41Core Viewpoint - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has experienced a decline as investors reassess valuations of AI beneficiaries, leading to a rotation out of some aggressive AI stocks [1][2]. Group 1: Microsoft - Microsoft is positioned as a strong investment in the AI sector, benefiting from its Azure cloud platform and generative AI tools integrated into Microsoft 365 [4][5]. - In Q1 of fiscal 2026, Microsoft reported revenue of $77.7 billion, an 18% year-over-year increase, with cloud revenue growing 26% to $49.1 billion [5]. - The company's intelligent cloud segment revenue rose 28% year-over-year to $30.9 billion, supported by a 40% increase in Azure and other cloud services [7]. - Microsoft stock has a price-to-earnings ratio of 34, reflecting a premium valuation but supported by strong revenue growth and a solid balance sheet [7][8]. - Microsoft is recommended as a buy for long-term exposure to the AI boom without excessive valuation risks [8][14]. Group 2: Palantir Technologies - Palantir's stock has increased over 100% this year, but it has faced a significant pullback recently [9]. - The company reported a 63% year-over-year revenue increase to approximately $1.2 billion in Q3, a notable acceleration from 48% growth in the previous quarter [9][10]. - Palantir's GAAP profit for Q3 was $476 million, representing 40% of its revenue [10]. - However, Palantir's stock trades at about 165 times forward earnings, indicating a bubble-like valuation with little margin for disappointment [12]. - The company faces competition in analytics and AI platforms and is heavily reliant on government contracts, making it vulnerable to shifts in government spending [13][15]. - Due to its high valuation and lack of diversification compared to Microsoft, Palantir is considered a riskier investment option [15].