Beyond Nvidia: 5 Stocks Riding the AI Wave
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By: AI Journalist, February 14th, 2026
Nvidia's meteoric rise has captivated the financial world, leaving investors searching for the next opportunity to capitalize on the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. While replicating Nvidia's success is a tall order, identifying companies exhibiting similar growth characteristics - specifically, rapid revenue expansion fueled by AI demand - is a logical strategy. Fundstrat Global Advisors recently published a list of five stocks demonstrating precisely these traits, and today we'll delve deeper into each, exploring their potential and the underlying market forces driving their growth.
Nvidia's dominance stems from its control of the high-end GPU market, essential for training and deploying AI models. The demand for these chips, driven by everything from generative AI (think ChatGPT and image generation) to autonomous vehicles and data centers, has propelled the company to unprecedented heights. The key to finding "the next Nvidia" isn't necessarily about finding a direct competitor in the GPU space, but rather identifying companies providing crucial infrastructure and enabling technologies within the broader AI ecosystem. The Fundstrat list suggests investors look beyond the hardware and focus on the applications and support systems that are vital for AI's continued advancement.
1. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): While often discussed alongside Nvidia, AMD's potential shouldn't be understated. The company has made significant inroads into the CPU and GPU markets, offering competitive alternatives to Intel and Nvidia. Crucially, AMD is increasingly focused on developing AI-specific accelerators and software. Recent advancements in their MI300 series of data center GPUs demonstrate a clear commitment to challenging Nvidia's dominance. The competition between AMD and Nvidia is driving innovation and lowering costs for consumers and businesses alike, a positive dynamic for the overall AI landscape. AMD's strength in CPUs also provides a diversified revenue stream, mitigating some risk associated with the volatile AI chip market. Analysts predict that AMD's AI revenue could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 50% for the next five years.
2. CrowdStrike (CRWD): AI's proliferation creates new and sophisticated cyber threats. CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm specializing in endpoint protection, is uniquely positioned to benefit. Their Falcon platform utilizes AI and machine learning to detect and respond to threats in real-time. As organizations increasingly adopt cloud-based solutions and rely on AI-powered systems, the need for robust cybersecurity becomes paramount. CrowdStrike's subscription-based model and high customer retention rates point to a sustainable and scalable business. Moreover, the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks requires continuous innovation in security protocols - something that AI itself facilitates for CrowdStrike.
3. Datadog (DDOG): Monitoring and observability are crucial for managing complex cloud environments, and Datadog's platform is a leader in this space. Their solution provides real-time insights into application performance, infrastructure health, and user experience. This is increasingly vital as companies deploy AI models into production. Troubleshooting and optimizing AI systems requires detailed monitoring and analytics, and Datadog provides the tools to do just that. The integration of AI-powered anomaly detection and predictive analytics within Datadog's platform further enhances its value proposition. Essentially, Datadog helps companies understand how their AI systems are performing, preventing costly downtime and ensuring optimal efficiency.
4. Palantir (PLTR): Palantir has long been known for its work with government and defense agencies, providing data analytics platforms for complex problem-solving. However, its commercial business is rapidly expanding, focusing on industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Palantir's platform, Foundry, allows organizations to integrate and analyze vast amounts of data from disparate sources, identifying patterns and insights that would otherwise be impossible to detect. This capability is incredibly valuable for AI applications, enabling data-driven decision-making and automating complex processes. The company's recent focus on AI-powered solutions for fraud detection and risk management demonstrates its commitment to this evolving market.
5. Snowflake (SNOW): Data is the fuel that powers AI, and Snowflake provides a cloud-based data platform that makes it easy for organizations to store, process, and analyze massive datasets. Snowflake's architecture allows for seamless data sharing and collaboration, facilitating the development and deployment of AI models. The company's commitment to data governance and security further enhances its appeal. Snowflake isn't necessarily building AI, but it's providing the infrastructure that enables others to do so. This "picks and shovels" approach to the AI gold rush can be a highly profitable strategy.
Looking Ahead:
While these five stocks represent compelling opportunities, investors should remember that the AI landscape is constantly evolving. Thorough research and due diligence are essential before making any investment decisions. The success of these companies will ultimately depend on their ability to innovate, adapt, and capitalize on the ever-changing demands of the AI market. It's not just about identifying the next Nvidia; it's about understanding the intricate web of technologies and services that will underpin the future of artificial intelligence.
Read the Full CNBC Article at:
[ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/14/five-compelling-stocks-to-buy-like-nvidia.html ]