Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have represented a major buying opportunity for investors over the past few years. The technology promises to help businesses save time, cut costs, and become more innovative -- and we're already starting to see results. Meanwhile, companies developing AI tools and platforms have been the early winners, bringing in billions of dollars in revenue. And this clearly could continue as these products and services are needed to power all phases of AI.
If your goal is to generate growth from this long-term AI story, it's a great idea to get in on "no-brainer" AI stocks. By this, I mean well-established tech companies that have proven themselves over time, before the AI boom, and also are well-positioned to benefit from this exciting technology. Let's check out the following three, which make outstanding buys right now.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Amazon
Amazon (AMZN +2.12%) is a company many of us know well thanks to its enormous e-commerce business. This player has built dominance here over the years and has constructed a solid moat, or competitive advantage, thanks to its delivery network and Prime membership program. So, this is a business investors can count on for progressive growth.
At the same time, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which already was Amazon's profit driver prior to the AI boom, today is experiencing a new era of growth. And this might last for quite some time. AWS sells a wide range of AI products and services, and this helped it recently reach a $132 billion annual revenue run rate. As the AI story unfolds, reaching into areas such as autonomous vehicles and robotics, AWS could continue to reap the rewards.
NASDAQ: AMZN
Key Data Points
Today, Amazon stock trades for 29x forward earnings estimates, and that looks like a bargain considering this company's overall strength and potential in the AI market.
2. Apple
Apple (AAPL 0.07%) is far from the biggest AI player around. The company took its time developing an AI platform, and still is in the process of rolling out all of Apple Intelligence's features across its devices. But this late arrival makes Apple a great bet today. Some investors may lock in gains from stocks that benefited earlier in the AI story -- and reallocate into a company such as Apple, that may deliver growth in the quarters to come.
The iPhone maker has said that it expects to launch its new version of its virtual assistant Siri, backed by AI, this year, and that could be a catalyst for stock performance. On top of this, Apple has delivered earnings growth over time and has demonstrated the strength of its brand as customers keep coming back for the latest versions of its devices.
NASDAQ: AAPL
Key Data Points
Apple shares trade for 30x forward earnings estimates right now, a very reasonable price for this player that could become the hot new AI stock to buy.
3. Microsoft
Software giant Microsoft (MSFT +3.45%) has been at the forefront of the AI story over the past few years. The company is a major investor in OpenAI and a key partner of the AI research lab. And Microsoft's Azure cloud services business, like AWS, is a significant provider of a huge array of AI products and services to customers.
In the most recent quarter, the company reported increases in AI revenue and said it continues to invest in infrastructure and employees "to meet the massive opportunity ahead." Microsoft Azure and other cloud service revenue soared 40% over the three-month period.
NASDAQ: MSFT
Key Data Points
There's reason to be optimistic that this momentum will continue, considering the comments from players across the industry regarding solid demand for AI. So, Microsoft's next earnings report, on Jan. 28, could represent a catalyst for the stock.
And trading for only 26x forward earnings estimates, Microsoft is dirt cheap, making it a no-brainer stock to buy -- and hold throughout this AI boom.
