Market Overview - The bull run in Wall Street that began in early 2023 faced challenges last month, primarily due to a significant rally in the technology sector driven by generative AI growth [1] - Market participants have experienced increased pain, with U.S. stock markets in negative territory year-to-date and the Nasdaq Composite in correction [2] - Key factors contributing to this downturn include overstretched valuations of AI stocks, recession fears in the U.S. economy, uncertainty regarding future interest rate cuts by the Fed, and competition from low-cost generative AI platforms from China [3] AI-Powered Non-Tech Stocks - Five non-tech companies utilizing extensive AI applications are recommended for investment: PayPal Holdings Inc. (PYPL), Visa Inc. (V), Upstart Holdings Inc. (UPST), Netflix Inc. (NFLX), and Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) [4][5] PayPal Holdings Inc. (PYPL) - PYPL is experiencing robust growth in total payment volume, with improved customer engagement and rising adoption rates across platforms [7] - The company leverages AI to enhance transaction efficiency and consumer insights, with platforms like Fastlane and Ads providing a technological edge [8] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for PYPL are 3.7% and 8% respectively, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings improving by 2.4% in the past 60 days [9] - PYPL's current valuation metrics indicate an attractive position compared to peers, with a forward P/E of 13.58X, P/S of 2.12X, and P/B of 3.30X [10] - The average price target suggests a potential increase of 36.2% from the last closing price of $68.62, indicating a maximum upside of 82.2% [11] Visa Inc. (V) - Visa's strategic acquisitions and alliances are driving long-term growth, with expected net revenue growth in low double-digits for fiscal 2025 [12] - The shift to digital payments and increased demand for AI-driven services, particularly in fraud prevention, are beneficial for Visa [13] - Visa has invested $3.5 billion over the past decade to enhance its data platform, preventing $40 billion in fraud attempts annually [14] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Visa are 10.2% and 12.4% respectively, with a current dividend yield of 0.71% [15] - The average price target indicates a potential increase of 15.2% from the last closing price of $332.84, with a maximum upside of 23.2% [16] Upstart Holdings Inc. (UPST) - UPST operates as an AI lending platform, partnering with banks to provide affordable credit across various lending segments [17] - The company's AI-driven credit risk models allow for more approvals at lower APRs, enhancing efficiency and fraud detection [18] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for UPST are 59.3% and over 100% respectively, with earnings estimates improving significantly in the past 30 days [19] - The average price target suggests a potential increase of 61.5% from the last closing price of $49.66, indicating a maximum upside of 117.5% [21] Netflix Inc. (NFLX) - Netflix utilizes AI and machine learning to enhance user experience through personalized content recommendations [22] - The company reported strong engagement levels, with an average of two hours of viewing per member per day [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Netflix are 14% and 24% respectively, with earnings estimates improving by 4% in the past 60 days [25] - The average price target indicates a potential increase of 20% from the last closing price of $919.68, suggesting a maximum upside of 62.4% [26] Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) - JCI is benefiting from strong demand in its Building Solutions segment, particularly in HVAC and security [27] - The company is investing in digital offerings, enhancing its AI capabilities through the OpenBlue platform [28] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for JCI are -11.9% and -1.9% respectively, with a current dividend yield of 1.92% [30] - The average price target suggests a potential increase of 23.4% from the last closing price of $78.68, indicating a maximum upside of 33.5% [31]

Core Insights - Analysts have identified three AI stocks with significant upside potential, with price targets suggesting increases of 95% to 167% over the next year [4][10][16] Group 1: AI Market Overview - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a major catalyst for stock market growth, contributing to record highs in major indices like the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq [2] - PwC analysts forecast a 26% increase in global GDP by 2030 due to the impact of AI technology across various industries [3] Group 2: Nvidia - Nvidia is projected to have an implied upside of 95%, with a price target of $220 per share set by Rosenblatt analyst Hans Mosesmann [5] - The company's Hopper chip and Blackwell GPU architecture have generated $11 billion in sales during the fiscal fourth quarter, marking the fastest ramp of a new product in Nvidia's history [6] - Nvidia's CUDA toolkit has been crucial in maintaining customer loyalty, enabling developers to maximize GPU potential [7] - However, Nvidia faces increasing competition from both external rivals and internal customers developing their own AI chips, which could impact its market position [8] - Historical trends indicate that emerging technologies often face bubble-bursting events, raising concerns about Nvidia's reliance on its data center segment, which accounted for 88% of net sales last year [9] Group 3: SoundHound AI - SoundHound AI has an implied upside of 167%, with a price target of $26 per share predicted by H.C. Wainwright analyst Scott Buck [10] - The company aims to create an AI voice ecosystem, integrating voice technology in various industries, including next-generation vehicles and restaurants [11][12] - SoundHound AI is experiencing significant sales growth, with a forecast of 85% growth in 2024 and potential for sales to double [13] - Despite its growth, SoundHound AI is not yet profitable, with a net loss that nearly doubled in the fourth quarter and a significant increase in cash burn [14][15] Group 4: Upstart Holdings - Upstart Holdings is projected to have an implied upside of 105%, with a price target of $110 per share set by Mizuho's Dan Dolev [16] - The company utilizes AI and machine learning to streamline the loan-vetting process, partnering with over 100 banks and credit unions, and achieving 91% automation in its loans [17] - Upstart's platform has shown similar delinquency rates compared to traditional methods, allowing for a broader customer base without increasing risk [18] - Concerns exist regarding Upstart's performance during economic downturns, as its model has not been tested in such conditions [19] - The company's performance is also sensitive to monetary policy changes and interest rates, which could lead to stock volatility [20]

Core Insights - Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (BXSL) reported a revenue of $353 million for the quarter ended December 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 16.1% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.84, down from $0.96 in the same quarter last year [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $345.58 million, resulting in a revenue surprise of +2.15% [1] - The EPS fell short of the consensus estimate of $0.86, leading to an EPS surprise of -2.33% [1] Financial Metrics - Fee income was reported at $1.75 million, significantly higher than the average estimate of $0.54 million from three analysts [4] - Dividend income was $0.04 million, below the estimated $0.13 million from two analysts [4] - Interest income reached $332.56 million, surpassing the average estimate of $320.91 million from two analysts [4] - Payment-in-kind interest income was reported at $17.52 million, lower than the average estimate of $20.80 million from two analysts [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund have returned +3%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite experienced a decline of -2.3% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]