Core Insights - The AI trade significantly supported the stock market in 2025, with the Nasdaq-100 increasing by 20.2% despite geopolitical tensions and fears of a tech bubble [1] - A shift towards the "physical" layers of the AI stack was observed, focusing on infrastructure needs such as storage, memory, and energy [2] Performance Highlights - SanDisk Corp. (NASDAQ:SNDK) emerged as the top performer in the S&P 500 with a remarkable return of 559.4%, driven by high demand for AI flash storage [2] - Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE:BE) saw a 291.2% increase by addressing power constraints in data centers, indicating a shift from digital hype to hardware scarcity [3] - Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) achieved a 135% return, supported by strong fundamentals and a 62.8% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3, driven by its AI Platform [4][5] 2026 Outlook - Analysts suggest that the performance of 2025 provides a blueprint for 2026, emphasizing the importance of companies that can leverage high demand into operational efficiency and margin growth [6] - The focus is expected to remain on securing competitive advantages in memory, storage, and energy, which are essential for sustaining the digital economy [6] Top 10 Tech Stocks of 2025 - The top performers included: - SanDisk Corp. (NASDAQ:SNDK): +559.4% from AI Flash Storage & S&P 500 Inclusion [8] - Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE:BE): +291.2% from AI Data Center Power & Fuel Cells [8] - Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC): +282.3% from High-Capacity AI HDD Demand [8] - Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU): +239.1% from High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) [8] - Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD): +203.5% from Prediction Markets & Crypto Expansion [8] - Digital Turbine Inc. (NASDAQ:APPS): +195.9% from AI Ad-Tech Turnaround [8] - Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR): +135.0% from AI Software Platform (AIP) Growth [8] - GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV): +98.7% from Power Grid Infrastructure [9] - Optical Tech Supplier: +339.1% from AI Optical Interconnects & Blackwell [9] - AI Ad-Tech Leader: +108.1% from AI-Powered Advertising Engine [9]