NVIDIA Vs. Palantir: Which is the Best AI Stock to Buy for 2026?

Core Insights - NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) experienced a 31.4% increase over the past year, while Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) saw a remarkable 150.8% rise, raising questions about which stock is the better investment in the AI sector [1] - NVIDIA is viewed as a diversified and reasonably valued stock, whereas Palantir is considered high-risk due to its reliance on government contracts and high valuation [1] NVIDIA Insights - NVIDIA is optimistic about future growth, driven by its competitive edge in the AI hardware market and ongoing demand for its CUDA software platform [1] - The company projects fiscal Q4 2026 revenues of approximately $65 billion, with a 2% margin of error [1] - Strong demand for Blackwell chips and cloud GPUs contributed to outstanding fiscal Q3 2026 results, with revenues of $57 billion, a 62% year-over-year increase and a 22% sequential rise [2] - Both data center and gaming revenues increased, with net income reaching $31.91 billion, up from $19.31 billion a year earlier, alleviating concerns about an AI growth bubble [3] - NVIDIA's forward P/E ratio is 39.44, which is lower than the Semiconductor - General industry's average of 44.97, indicating reasonable valuation [10] - The diversified business model across AI hardware, software, and gaming provides additional market resilience [10] Palantir Insights - Palantir's AI Platform (AIP) has driven robust demand, expanding its U.S. commercial client base while maintaining valuable government contracts [4] - U.S. commercial segment revenues reached $397 million in Q3, a 121% year-over-year increase and a 29% sequential rise [4] - Government revenues for the quarter were $486 million, a 52% year-over-year increase and a 14% quarter-over-quarter rise, contributing to total revenues of $1.18 billion, a 63% year-over-year increase and an 18% sequential rise [5] - Palantir anticipates an increase in large AI enterprise contracts, projecting full-year revenues between $4.396 billion and $4.400 billion [6] - However, Palantir's forward P/E ratio of 250.36 significantly exceeds the Internet-Software industry's average of 39.25, raising concerns about valuation [8] - The company's dependence on government contracts exposes it to political risks, making it more suitable for risk-takers [11]