History Says the Nasdaq Will Soar: 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy Before 2026, According to Wall Street

Group 1: Nasdaq Bull Market Overview - The Nasdaq Composite entered a new bull market on April 8, advancing by 53% since then, with historical data suggesting further upside is likely over the next year [1] - Historically, the Nasdaq has returned an average of 281% during bull markets, compounding at 31% annually since 1990 [1] Group 2: Nvidia Overview - Nvidia reported a 62% increase in revenue to $57 billion in the third quarter, with non-GAAP net income climbing 60% to $1.30 per diluted share [4][11] - The investment thesis for Nvidia is based on its leadership in data center GPUs and generative AI networking gear, supported by its CUDA software platform [5][6] - Analysts estimate Nvidia will maintain a 70% to 90% revenue share in AI accelerators through the end of the decade, with spending in this market forecast to grow at 29% annually through 2033 [7] - Nvidia's earnings are expected to grow at 37% annually over the next three years, making its current valuation of 44 times earnings appear relatively cheap [7] - Among 71 analysts, Nvidia has a median target price of $250 per share, implying a 41% upside from the current price of $177 [8] Group 3: Zscaler Overview - Zscaler specializes in zero trust network access and cloud protection, modernizing corporate networks through its security service edge (SSE) platform [9] - The company processes trillions of signals daily, enhancing its threat detection capabilities, and was ranked as a leader in the SSE market by Gartner [10] - Zscaler reported a 26% increase in revenue to $788 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with non-GAAP earnings increasing 25% to $0.96 per diluted share [11] - Revenue from AI security products increased by 80% in the first quarter, indicating strong growth potential [12] - Wall Street expects adjusted earnings to grow at 17% annually through the fiscal year ending in July 2028, with a current valuation of 72 times adjusted earnings [13] - Among 51 analysts, Zscaler has a median target price of $330 per share, implying a 31% upside from its current price of $251 [8]