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2 AI Stocks That Could 10X Your Money

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 14:45 GMT by The Motley Fool
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Two AI‑Focused Shares That Could Deliver 10‑Fold Returns, According to Money‑Reporting Experts

A growing number of investors are looking for the next big name in artificial intelligence, and a recent Money‑News feature on MSN highlights two under‑the‑radar AI companies that could deliver a 10‑x return on a long‑term hold. The article—titled “2 AI stocks that could 10x your money”—examines the fundamentals, growth drivers, and risk factors of each stock, and it links to a number of supporting sources that help paint a fuller picture of the companies’ prospects.

Below is a concise, 500‑plus‑word summary of the original article, integrating key data points and the additional information found in the linked resources.

1. C3.ai, Inc. (Ticker: AI)

What it does
C3.ai offers a cloud‑based, end‑to‑end AI platform that enables enterprises to build, deploy, and operate AI applications at scale. Its flagship product, C3 AI Suite, integrates data ingestion, modeling, and deployment in one environment. The company serves a broad range of industries—from energy to manufacturing to financial services—providing AI solutions that reduce costs, improve efficiency, and unlock new revenue streams.

Why investors are bullish
- Massive market opportunity: AI market estimates from analysts such as McKinsey and Gartner place the global AI‑enabled productivity boost at roughly $5 trillion by 2030. C3.ai’s “AI‑first” strategy positions it to capture a sizable slice of this pie. - Enterprise adoption: In 2023, C3.ai secured a $500 million contract with a major energy firm to deploy predictive maintenance models, an example of the high‑margin, long‑term contracts the company is known for. - Recurring revenue: The company’s subscription‑based SaaS model generates 90 % of its revenue as recurring, providing predictability and a foundation for higher valuation multiples. - Strong financials: While the company has not yet reached profitability, its cash burn has slowed, and it generated $200 million in gross profit in FY23—up 40 % YoY.

Valuation and 10‑x potential
C3.ai trades at a price‑to‑sales (P/S) ratio of about 2.5×, which is near the 20th‑percentile for enterprise SaaS. At a 10‑x upside, a current share price of $15 would imply a target price of $150, corresponding to a P/S of 25×—comparable to the valuation of high‑growth cloud firms. Analyst reports cited in the article project revenue to reach $2.5 billion by 2028, supported by a 35 % compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast.

Risks highlighted
- Competition: Established AI platform providers such as Palantir, Snowflake, and even Microsoft’s Azure AI compete for the same customers. C3.ai’s ability to win new business hinges on its ability to differentiate on speed and domain expertise. - Execution risk: Rapid expansion of a SaaS platform requires constant software development, integration work, and customer success investment. - Financial uncertainty: The company’s operating loss margin is still significant, and a short‑term liquidity crunch could curtail growth.

Supporting links
The article links to a Bloomberg analysis of C3.ai’s “AI‑first” model and to a recent earnings call transcript where CEO Thomas Siebel explains the company’s growth strategy. Those sources reinforce the narrative that AI adoption is accelerating, and that C3.ai has both the technology and the commercial track record to ride the wave.

2. Cognex Corporation (Ticker: CNX)

What it does
Cognex is a leader in machine vision and industrial AI solutions, producing sensors, cameras, and software that enable automated inspection, barcode reading, and quality control in manufacturing lines. The company’s Vision Suite and Power‑IQ™ AI engine are widely adopted across automotive, electronics, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Why investors are excited
- Digital transformation: Manufacturing is increasingly adopting AI to reduce scrap, improve throughput, and enable predictive maintenance. Cognex’s solutions are at the heart of this trend. - Market leadership: The company holds a 70 % share of the industrial vision market and is expanding into AI‑driven robotics. In FY23, its Vision business grew 22 % YoY. - Recurring revenue: About 60 % of Cognex’s revenue comes from maintenance and subscription services, ensuring a stable cash flow. - Profitability: The firm posted an operating margin of 12 % in FY23 and has a healthy balance sheet with $2 billion in cash and a manageable debt load.

Valuation and 10‑x upside
Cognex trades at a P/E of roughly 18×, lower than the tech sector average. A 10‑x upside would imply a share price of about $60 (from $6 today), pushing the P/E to ~180×, which is steep but not unprecedented for high‑growth industrial tech firms. Analysts cited in the article project a revenue CAGR of 14 % through 2030, driven by expanding adoption of AI‑powered inspection systems.

Risks
- Capital expenditure: The manufacturing sector is cyclical; a downturn could delay capital spending and reduce orders for Cognex’s products. - Competitive pressure: New entrants from China and the U.S. (e.g., Keyence, HIKVISION) offer lower‑priced alternatives, especially for smaller manufacturers. - Technological change: Rapid advances in computer vision could render existing hardware obsolete if Cognex fails to keep pace.

Supporting links
The MSN article links to an InformaTech interview with Cognex’s CTO, where he discusses the company’s roadmap for integrating deep learning into its vision systems. Another link directs readers to a Reuters piece covering a recent partnership with a major automotive supplier, illustrating the company’s expanding footprint.

How the Article Weaves the Story

The original MSN article frames both companies as “growth stocks that stand to benefit from the explosive adoption of AI across multiple verticals.” It begins by noting the “AI revolution”—citing reports from McKinsey and the World Economic Forum that forecast a 30‑40 % CAGR for AI‑enabled businesses—and then zooms in on two firms that have already proven themselves in their respective niches.

Structure
1. Opening hook: The piece opens with a compelling question—“If you could pick a stock that’s likely to grow 10 times, which one would you choose?”—and immediately offers the two names.
2. Company profiles: Each section delivers a quick rundown of what the company does, why it matters in the AI ecosystem, and how its business model supports high growth.
3. Valuation math: The article includes a concise “10‑x calculation” that shows current share price, target price, and implied multiples.
4. Risk caveats: It ends each company’s segment with a bulleted list of key risks, reminding investors that growth comes with volatility.
5. Conclusion: The article concludes by urging investors to do their own research and to consider a diversified AI exposure rather than putting all eggs in one basket.

Tone and audience
The tone is optimistic yet balanced. It uses plain language for non‑technical readers, yet includes enough data and links to satisfy more advanced investors. The inclusion of external sources—Bloomberg, Reuters, and company earnings calls—adds credibility and allows readers to verify claims.

Takeaway for the Investor

The Money‑News article suggests that both C3.ai and Cognex could offer significant upside if AI continues to penetrate mainstream industries. Their differing business models—cloud‑based SaaS versus hardware‑centric industrial vision—provide a way for investors to diversify within the AI theme. However, as the article stresses, the high valuations implied by a 10‑x upside also carry higher risk. Key factors that could derail these prospects include competitive dynamics, execution delays, and macro‑economic headwinds affecting enterprise IT budgets.

Ultimately, the piece is not a buy recommendation but a call to pay close attention to how AI is reshaping both the software and hardware sides of the economy. For those willing to tolerate higher volatility for the chance of outsized gains, C3.ai and Cognex represent intriguing bets on the next wave of AI adoption.