Artificial intelligence (AI) may be the hottest story in markets today, but its most powerful effects are only beginning to spill over into robotics. Over the next five to 10 years, AI-driven machines are expected to reshape daily life -- robots performing delicate surgeries, fleets managing warehouses, autonomous vehicles moving goods, and delivery bots navigating sidewalks.
By fusing digital intelligence with physical action, robotics could trigger a new era of automation on par with the Industrial Revolution. For investors, that creates a unique chance to get in early on the companies building this future. These seven robotics stocks could reward early investors with outsize gains.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. The surgical precision play
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG -3.16%) pioneered robotic surgery with its da Vinci system, now with 10,488 systems installed worldwide as of June 30, 2025. The company's razor-and-blade model generates lucrative recurring revenue from instruments and services, producing 70% gross margins. Competition is emerging with Medtronic's Hugo system gaining market share and Johnson & Johnson's Ottava progressing through clinical development.
2. The factory floor backbone
Rockwell Automation (ROK 0.48%) is a leading force in industrial automation and controls, particularly dominant in North America. The company is not a pure-play robotics provider, but its Allen-Bradley programmable logic controllers, FactoryTalk software, and digital services place it at the heart of Industry 4.0 adoption.
Rockwell has been embedding artificial intelligence into its automation platforms to improve design, throughput, and predictive maintenance. Still, its results remain highly sensitive to manufacturing cycles, and global rivals such as Siemens and ABB continue to apply competitive pressure.
3. The warehouse revolution
Symbotic (SYM 7.87%) is transforming fulfillment with its AI-powered fleet of autonomous warehouse robots and software. The company continues to broaden its customer base beyond Walmart -- its foundational partner since 2017 -- now serving grocers and retailers like Albertsons, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Giant Tiger, and Target, operating in over 1,400 stores across the U.S. and Canada.
A landmark development in early 2025 saw Symbotic agree to acquire Walmart's Advanced Systems & Robotics business for $200 million in cash (plus up to $350 million contingent on future orders), under a broader $520 million program to develop and deploy automated pickup and delivery (APD) centers in hundreds of Walmart stores. This deal is expected to boost Symbotic's backlog by over $5 billion and broaden its addressable market by more than $300 billion in the United States.
4. The semiconductor and cobot hybrid
Teradyne (TER 0.79%) offers dual exposure to chips and robotics -- testing semiconductors while owning Universal Robots, the collaborative robot pioneer, and MiR, a mobile industrial robotics firm. This diversification provides multiple growth avenues as automation spreads across industries. Yet semiconductor cycle swings and rising cobot competition could introduce volatility.
5. The eyes of autonomy
Hesai Group (HSAI -0.24%) manufactures lidar sensors that provide the "eyes" for robotaxis and autonomous vehicles, holding the top share of both China's and the global market. The lidar sector is under pressure from falling prices and consolidation, with growth slowing across the industry. Hesai's China base adds geopolitical risk that could hinder Western adoption, while rivals like Luminar and Innoviz remain strong competitors.
6. The logistics modernizer
Zebra Technologies (ZBRA 1.83%) serves as the digital backbone of modern logistics, from RFID tracking and barcoding to mobile computing. Moreover, the company has expanded into robotics through its acquisition of Fetch Robotics, offering end-to-end automation for today's supply chains. Key risks include exposure to e-commerce investment cycles and the complexity of integrating its robotics assets into its core operations.
7. The robot vision leader
Cognex (CGNX 0.54%) is the global leader in machine vision, holding about 45% market share. Its cameras and software give robots the ability to locate parts, inspect products, and catch defects -- functions that underpin efficiency across factories worldwide.
Demand tracks industrial and automotive cycles, and rising low-cost rivals from China are starting to pressure margins, making Cognex's earnings swing more than its dominant position might suggest.
Balancing risk and opportunity
Together, these seven companies capture the breadth of the robotics landscape, from entrenched leaders with recurring revenue streams to younger players racing into high-growth niches. For investors, this emerging space blends stability and disruption, offering exposure to one of the decade's defining themes: AI-powered automation reshaping how industries move, build, and deliver.
