So Dan Ives from Wedbush just released his top 10 AI stock picks for year-end, and honestly? The guy might be onto something. While everyone else is freaking out about AI being a bubble (again), Ives is basically saying “hold my coffee” and doubling down.
His take? We’re not in some 1999 dot-com meltdown situation. We’re more like 1996 – you know, when the internet was actually starting to do cool stuff but most people still thought email was witchcraft. “We believe this is a 1996 Moment…and NOT a 1999 Bubble Moment,” he wrote, probably while cackling at all the bubble-fearers.
Here’s his logic: Consumer AI hasn’t even really started yet (true), autonomous cars are still figuring out how to not hit things (also true), robotics is mostly still in labs making awkward dance videos, and less than 5% of companies have actually gone full AI-mode. So yeah, we’re probably early to this party.
The Top 10 List (Because Everyone Loves a Good Ranking):
1. Microsoft (MSFT) – “Best positioned hyperscaler for AI enterprise deployments.” Translation: They’re the boring-but-reliable choice that actually makes money.
2. Palantir (PLTR) – Up 117% this year because apparently “AI use cases start and end with Karp & Co.” Peter Thiel’s data-crunching baby is having a moment.
3. Nvidia (NVDA) – Still “the one chip in the world fueling the AI Revolution.” Even after all the drama, they’re basically the iPhone of AI chips.
4. AMD (AMD) – The scrappy underdog “set to gain market share in AI Arms Race” with a “compelling valuation.” AKA the cheaper alternative that might actually work.
5. Tesla (TSLA) – Because “autonomous and robotics future on the doorstep.” Elon’s wild ride continues.
The rest of the list includes Apple (“consumer AI Revolution goes through Cupertino”), Meta (“way oversold on cap-ex concerns”), Alphabet (“Gemini the real deal”), CrowdStrike (“one of the best cybersecurity AI plays”), and Palo Alto Networks (“platformization strategy + AI = 2026 growth formula”).
Look, Ives has been covering tech since the ’90s and lived through the actual bubble, so when he says this isn’t that, it’s worth listening. Plus, his track record on tech calls is pretty solid.
The recent market jitters over AI capex and GPU depreciation? He’s basically shrugging them off like they’re background noise. Whether you agree or not, the man’s got conviction.
Bottom line: If you’re bullish on AI and looking for some year-end shopping ideas, this list isn’t terrible. Just maybe don’t bet the farm on any single pick, because even the smartest analysts sometimes get humbled by Mr. Market.