Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, recently unveiled his 2026 AI investment list, highlighting major players like Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla. While NVIDIA was notably absent from the list, it continues to be regarded favorably by Ives and Wedbush, with the firm classifying it among the top technology stocks for the upcoming year.
Ives articulated that the excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) is tempered by a degree of apprehension about the substantial capital investments necessary to harness its potential. He characterized this moment as an inflection point for AI, which he believes could pave the way for what he terms the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
To capitalize on this AI trend, Ives identified five key stocks. Three of these belong to the so-called Mag 7, a cohort of high-growth technology companies. Alongside Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla, Ives recommended Palantir as a crucial player in AI demand.
As of Tuesday’s midday trading session, shares of Microsoft and Apple had seen respective gains of approximately 16% and 9% in 2025, although they lagged behind the S&P 500 Index, which rose by 17%. Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock climbed by 14%.
Ives underscored Wall Street’s underestimation of Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing business, anticipating significant growth as the company enhances its partnership with OpenAI. This partnership is aimed at further integrating Microsoft’s Copilot AI product with its Office 365 suite, signaling a strategic push into AI infrastructure.
For Apple, Ives noted that the company’s invisible AI strategy presents an opportunity for acceleration. Despite being more reserved in AI investments compared to competitors, Apple has faced challenges that Ives believes it can overcome. “Now is the time for Apple to accelerate its push into AI,” he asserted, suggesting that AI monetization could add up to $100 per share to Apple’s value in the coming years.
Tesla remains a long-standing favorite for Ives, who recently projected that the company could see its market value reach $3 trillion by the end of next year, a significant increase from its current valuation of about $1.5 trillion. The company plans continued advancements in autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots, aimed at refining its advanced driver-assistance system by 2026.
Palantir is also highlighted in Ives’ analysis as a ‘belief stock’. Ives noted the unprecedented demand for Palantir’s AI solutions among government and commercial clients, positing that the company is on a “golden path” to achieving a $1 trillion valuation from its current market capitalization of $439 billion.
The final stock Ives included in his recommendations is CrowdStrike, which he believes is undervalued and poised for growth amid heightened interest in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions. “In the most optimistic scenario, we could see CrowdStrike’s stock price reach $700 within the next year as the company executes its core growth strategy smoothly,” Ives projected. Currently, the stock is trading around $477 per share.
Despite not making the investment list, Ives maintains that NVIDIA remains a strong player in the technology sector, reaffirming its status as one of Wedbush’s top tech stocks for 2026. Ives’ insights point to a landscape where AI investment is not just a trend but a foundational element that could reshape industries moving forward.
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