With AI-Driven Shopping a 'Major 2026 Theme,' Experts Like This Pair of Stocks

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence is expected to significantly enhance online shopping experiences, potentially benefiting fintech stocks like Mastercard and Visa over competitors such as PayPal, Stripe, and Adyen [1][3][5] Group 1: Market Opportunities - The concept of "agentic commerce" is emerging, which relies on stable consumer spending despite concerns over job growth and layoffs, with analysts favoring payment firms that have diverse revenue streams [2][3] - AI agents are anticipated to play a crucial role in personalizing shopping experiences and facilitating transactions within apps, leading to increased consumer engagement and revenue for payment processors [4][5] Group 2: Company Positioning - Mastercard and Visa are positioned as top picks among large-cap fintech stocks, with initiatives aimed at integrating AI for secure and personalized transactions [5][7] - PayPal is also involved in AI partnerships but faces challenges due to its exposure to retail and declining consumer discretionary spending, resulting in a neutral stance from analysts [6]