Which company is leading in machine learning?

Opinions about who is the absolute leader in machine learning vary, but Nvidia commands respect as the company that provides leading hardware to make machine learning possible.

How can I evaluate a machine learning stock?

There are a variety of ways to evaluate machine learning stocks, from free-cash-flow margin to net revenue retention.

Are machine learning stocks suitable for long-term investors?

Machine learning stocks are great options for long-term investors. Since it's a growth industry, there may be some bumps in the road as the industry matures, but those with long investment horizons should prosper.

How do machine learning stocks differ from general tech stocks?

Machine learning stocks have more concentrated exposure to artificial learning than most tech stocks.

Do machine learning stocks pay dividends?

For the most part, machine learning stocks don't pay dividends. Nvidia pays a nominal dividend, but most machine learning companies reinvest in their businesses instead of returning capital to shareholders.

How can investors stay updated on trends in machine learning stocks?

For those interested in keeping abreast of developments in machine learning stocks, it's best to research the companies thoroughly, such as reading through their quarterly earnings reports. Of course, following The Motley Fool's coverage of these stocks is also a great strategy.

Best Machine Learning Stocks of 2026 and How to Invest in Them

An in-depth look at the best machine learning stocks in the U.S. stock market this year.

By Scott Levine – Updated Jan 26, 2026 at 5:49 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Investing in machine learning has potential benefits and risks, requiring awareness for optimal portfolio impact.
Machine learning stocks are ideal for long-term investors comfortable with market volatility and growth potential.
Key players like Nvidia demonstrate significant advances in AI technology, influencing long-term investment decisions.

Machine learning stocks give investors exposure to one of the most powerful branches of artificial intelligence: software that learns from data and improves over time without explicit programming.

This technology already shapes everyday life, from Google search results to Netflix recommendations, and it’s becoming core to how businesses operate across industries. With global machine learning spending expected to grow rapidly over the rest of the decade, companies building and deploying these systems could be positioned for long-term growth.

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An infographic defining and explaining the term machine learning. — Image source: The Motley Fool.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market cap	Dividend yield	Industry
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)	$4.3 trillion	0.02%	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)	$1.5 trillion	0.00%	Automobiles
Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN)	$132.3 billion	2.89%	IT Services
ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW)	$130.1 billion	0.00%	Software
Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW)	$61.8 billion	0.00%	IT Services
CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD)	$108.1 billion	0.00%	Software
Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR)	$375.9 billion	0.00%	Software

Data as of Mar 7, 2026. Showing 7 of 7 tickers.

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NASDAQ: NVDA

Nvidia

Today's Change

(-2.94%) $-5.39

Current Price

$177.95

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$4.3T

Day's Range

$176.83 - $182.75

52wk Range

$86.62 - $212.19

Volume

Avg Vol

177M

Gross Margin

71.07%

Dividend Yield

0.02%

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There is a changing of the guard in the semiconductor industry, and Nvidia is quickly emerging as the technological leader in the space. It's powering high-end computing with its GPUs that accelerate the production of data centers and training of AI models. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Nvidia reported revenue of $51.2 billion for its data center business, a 66% year-over-year increase.

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Semiconductor

A semiconductor is a basic element or compound substance that conducts electricity in certain situations.

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NASDAQ: TSLA

Tesla

Today's Change

(-2.17%) $-8.82

Current Price

$396.73

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.5T

Day's Range

$394.21 - $402.35

52wk Range

$214.25 - $498.83

Volume

64M

Avg Vol

65M

Gross Margin

18.03%

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NYSE: ACN

Accenture Plc

Today's Change

(1.41%) $3.01

Current Price

$217.01

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$132B

Day's Range

$212.09 - $218.55

52wk Range

$188.73 - $339.90

Volume

284K

Avg Vol

5.4M

Gross Margin

31.90%

Dividend Yield

2.89%

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This is a slow-and-steady growth stock, so it isn't the most exciting company on this list. But what Accenture stock lacks in excitement, it makes up for in shareholder returns with dividends and share repurchases.

The company has steadily increased the capital it has returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock repurchases from 2019, when it returned $4.6 billion, to fiscal 2025, when it returned $8.3 billion. In October 2025, Accenture increased its dividend to $1.63 per share, 10% over its previous quarterly dividend.

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Accenture has research labs dedicated to various branches of AI, and some of its projects require the company to determine how to apply machine learning to solve real-world problems. Where relevant, the company recommends the use of machine learning to its clients to support and increase the productivity of a human workforce, in addition to increasing the efficiency of cloud computing.

Machine learning is likely to proliferate among businesses in the decade ahead. And Accenture is well positioned to help them implement it.

4. ServiceNow

ServiceNow (NOW +3.33%) is a cloud computing platform powered in part by machine learning. As a provider of workflow automation software, the company uses machine learning to help its customers eliminate monotonous and redundant tasks. This ensures that employees are spending more time working rather than discussing how to do work.

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NYSE: NOW

ServiceNow

Today's Change

(3.33%) $4.01

Current Price

$124.39

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$130B

Day's Range

$120.50 - $124.64

52wk Range

$98.00 - $211.48

Volume

1.6M

Avg Vol

17M

Gross Margin

77.53%

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NYSE: SNOW

Snowflake

Today's Change

(1.71%) $3.03

Current Price

$180.48

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$62B

Day's Range

$173.91 - $183.25

52wk Range

$120.10 - $280.67

Volume

Avg Vol

5.9M

Gross Margin

66.30%

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Snowflake calls its platform the "data cloud." Companies can use the software for a near-endless number of applications, including analytics and machine learning algorithm training.

Ever since its 2021 initial public offering (IPO), the business has been in hypergrowth mode as it broadens relationships with existing customers, illustrating the attractiveness of its offerings. During its third-quarter 2026 financial results, for instance, Snowflake reported a 125% net revenue retention rate.

Despite the company's operational success, the stock has fallen sharply since then due to an excessive valuation when it went public and the ensuing bear market. However, Snowflake presents an intriguing investment possibility today.

The business is now profitable, as measured by free cash flow, and expects to continue expanding rapidly for the duration of the 2020s. However, as with any growth investment, Snowflake will likely be a wild ride but has massive potential as AI and machine learning grow in importance.

6. CrowdStrike Holdings

This cybersecurity company uses machine learning to detect and identify threats, recommend the next steps in the event of a security breach, and help information technology (IT) teams solve problems. CrowdStrike's (CRWD +0.74%) machine learning technology gathers data from thousands of customers, enabling it to continuously adapt and get smarter.

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NASDAQ: CRWD

CrowdStrike

Today's Change

(0.74%) $3.16

Current Price

$429.32

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$108B

Day's Range

$420.26 - $433.53

52wk Range

$298.00 - $566.90

Volume

298K

Avg Vol

3.5M

Gross Margin

74.53%

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CrowdStrike, a cloud-native company, got its start as a vendor of endpoint security software for devices used outside of traditional office settings. As a top security vendor, it is effectively leveraging machine learning to provide robust online protection that continues to improve over time.

The company maintains an incredible rate of growth. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2026, CrowdStrike reported annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $4.92 billion, a 23% year-over-year increase. It also reported a company record for third-quarter free cash flow of $296 million.

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7. Palantir Technologies

Palantir (PLTR +3.03%) is a software company that builds foundational software solutions for large enterprises. Thanks in no small part to the rapid increases in computing power, the cloud, and AI, the global economy is witnessing unprecedented change. To keep up, businesses need a better way to gain insight into their massive and ever-growing troves of digital data.

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NASDAQ: PLTR

Palantir Technologies

Today's Change

(3.03%) $4.62

Current Price

$157.29

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$376B

Day's Range

$150.34 - $161.43

52wk Range

$66.12 - $207.52

Volume

3.6M

Avg Vol

48M

Gross Margin

82.37%

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Investing in machine learning stocks FAQ

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About the Author

Scott Levine is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, industrials, technology, and materials. He is also a high school English teacher and a small business owner. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in secondary education from Adelphi University, and an advanced certificate in school building leadership from CUNY Queens College. A crossword puzzle enthusiast, he has solved more than 3,100 New York Times puzzles with a 97% solve rate.

TMFProudMonkey

@TMFProudMonkey

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Accenture Plc, CrowdStrike, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2028 $260 calls on Accenture Plc and short January 2028 $280 calls on Accenture Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Should you invest in machine learning stocks?

Companies around the world are pouring resources into developing AI and machine learning software for diverse purposes, but this alone doesn't mean that investing in machine learning stocks is right for everyone.

Here are some of the potential benefits of an investment in machine learning stocks:

Great growth opportunities, as the machine learning sector is poised to expand significantly

Portfolio diversification

Exposure to a wide swath of industries as various businesses adopt machine learning solutions

Naturally, there are also some risks that investors must recognize before buying machine learning stocks:

During market downturns, businesses may invest less in their businesses and decide against adopting new machine learning solutions.

A more compelling technology may emerge that makes machine learning less desirable.

Machine learning companies may invest heavily in R&D, compromising profits in the near term for long-term success.

As the technology continues to improve, it will increasingly influence the ways many companies operate and interact with customers.

But the sector is still emerging, so machine learning stocks are generally best suited for buy-and-hold investors who are comfortable with plenty of price volatility. As the machine learning industry advances and matures, those who stay invested in machine learning stocks for many years could realize substantial returns.

Factors to consider before investing in machine learning stocks

Since machine learning companies represent a niche within the tech sector, individuals should be aware of how a machine learning stock investment will affect their portfolios. To achieve adequate portfolio diversification, investors may, for example, want to trim positions in other tech stocks.

Another consideration for investors is whether passive income is a priority. Because many machine learning companies must make significant investments in R&D to keep up with competitors, they don't have the luxury of returning ample amounts of cash to investors.

A third factor that potential investors should weigh is whether they have a high enough risk tolerance to ride out volatility. Unlike the steadiness of utility stocks or consumer staples stocks, tech stocks like those specializing in machine learning may suffer steeper drops when the economy experiences a downturn.

Best Machine Learning Stocks of 2026 and How to Invest in Them

An in-depth look at the best machine learning stocks in the U.S. stock market this year.

Key Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

4. ServiceNow

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

6. CrowdStrike Holdings

Key Data Points

7. Palantir Technologies

Key Data Points

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Investing in machine learning stocks FAQ

About the Author

Stocks Mentioned

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Key Data Points

Investing in machine learning stocks FAQ

Which company is leading in machine learning?

How can I evaluate a machine learning stock?

Are machine learning stocks suitable for long-term investors?

How do machine learning stocks differ from general tech stocks?

Do machine learning stocks pay dividends?

How can investors stay updated on trends in machine learning stocks?

Should you invest in machine learning stocks?

Factors to consider before investing in machine learning stocks

Related investing topics

FAQ

Best machine learning stocks in 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

1. Nvidia

2. Tesla

3. Accenture

4. ServiceNow

5. Snowflake

6. CrowdStrike Holdings

7. Palantir Technologies