3 Brilliant AI Stocks That Could Double in 2026
The Motley Fool·2026-01-09 10:00

Core Insights - The AI investment sector is expected to present significant opportunities in 2026, with potential for stocks to double in value within a year [1][16] Company Summaries - Nebius: - Focuses on providing computing power by renting data center space and utilizing advanced GPUs. It has sold out all available capacity and anticipates an annual run rate (ARR) of $7 billion to $9 billion by the end of 2026, up from $551 million at the end of Q3 [3][4] - Currently has a market cap of $25 billion and trades at 60 times sales, but its rapid growth may justify this valuation [5][13] - Applied Digital: - Operates data centers in North Dakota and is expanding its computing capacity. It has signed long-term leases for its facilities, indicating a stable future outlook. Revenue increased by approximately 84% year over year in Q1 of fiscal year 2026 [6][7] - Valuation remains stable as construction milestones are not expected until late 2026 [15] - SoundHound AI: - Combines generative AI with audio recognition to create versatile software platforms. Revenue surged by 68% year over year, and the company raised its full-year outlook, indicating strong growth potential [8][10] - Currently has a market cap of $4.6 billion and trades at 19 times sales, positioning it in the middle of the valuation spectrum among the three companies [9][15] Market Dynamics - The demand for computing power is unprecedented, with Nebius reporting that it has "sold out" all available capacity, highlighting the robust growth in the AI sector [4] - The AI arms race continues, with companies like Nebius and Applied Digital competing in similar markets, which could lead to significant stock performance in 2026 [3][16]