Cloud computing stocks give investors exposure to the companies that power how data, software, and digital services run today. These businesses provide the infrastructure and platforms that let organizations store information, run applications, and scale operations over the internet -- a foundation that’s becoming more critical every year.
After gaining traction in the 2010s, cloud adoption accelerated during the shift to remote work and is now entering a new growth phase driven by generative AI, 5G, and connected devices. Global cloud spending is projected to grow from about $752 billion in 2024 to $2.4 trillion by 2030, according to Grand View Research, reflecting how deeply cloud technology is embedded in modern business.
For investors, cloud computing stocks offer exposure to long-term digital transformation, access to leading tech innovators, and participation in some of the fastest-growing areas of the technology sector, making cloud a compelling investment theme for 2026 and beyond.
Top cloud computing stocks
To get started, these five public cloud giants offer exposure to the cloud computing industry:
- Amazon (AMZN +2.53%) Web Services (AWS)
- Microsoft (MSFT +2.34%) Azure
- Alphabet's (GOOGL +0.70%) (GOOG +0.69%) Google Cloud
- Oracle (ORCL -4.19%) Cloud
- IBM (IBM -0.74%) Cloud
Although these companies aren't pure plays in the cloud industry, all five provide infrastructure and services for organizations undertaking a digital transformation (a phrase that encompasses the migration to cloud-based operations). They have the most complete ecosystems of software and partnerships with third-party software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers.
Beyond those big five, here are seven additional companies that provide more direct exposure to the development of the cloud:
NYSE: CRM
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Salesforce's takeover of remote work and collaboration tool Slack put it on a collision course with Microsoft's Teams collaboration suite. Today, Salesforce offers a complete suite of software aimed at helping business teams manage data and get work done efficiently.
Due to its success in becoming a full-blown tech platform for businesses of all types and sizes, Salesforce is also a top way to play smaller cloud upstarts. It regularly invests in or acquires stakes in smaller cloud peers.
For instance, it invested in Snowflake (SNOW +0.42%) before its initial public offering (IPO) in 2020 (and sold it for a profit in 2021). It also acquired a stake in hot IPO Monday.com (MNDY -3.88%).
Salesforce fell on hard times in 2022 and faced activist investor pressure to boost profit margins. Founder and CEO Marc Benioff and the top team have made progress, though, and hope to become the world's largest and most profitable enterprise software company within the next few years.
NASDAQ: ADBE
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NYSE: SNOW
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NASDAQ: ZM
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NYSE: NOW
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ServiceNow helps about 8,400 companies around the world find chokepoints in their digital customer experiences, employee workflow management, or software development operations. Once these pain points are found, ServiceNow can help suggest and automate fixes.
In a new era of AI, ServiceNow could be a big winner, building on its recent success. After growing subscription revenue by 23% from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2024, ServiceNow forecasted a year-over-year increase in subscription revenue of about 20% for fiscal 2025 when the company reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results.
NASDAQ: TTD
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This is a lucrative niche. Most IT innovations are developed for and funded by large organizations. Yet, small businesses still make up about half of the global economy's production. Most are far behind the curve in making the necessary digital transformation. That's where DigitalOcean comes in, providing a full range of affordable services to help small companies find their way in the new cloud era.
Besides offering cloud infrastructure for small businesses to test and host web-based services and apps, it also offers services for the non-tech-savvy outfit. It acquired a company called Cloudways that offers website building and hosting.
Despite its tiny size, DigitalOcean is an efficient operation. It generates healthy, growing free cash flow, and while it has generated gross profits for years, it booked positive net income for the first time in 2023, reporting diluted EPS of $0.20.
Achieving significant bottom-line growth, DigitalOcean reported 2024 adjusted diluted net income per share of $1.92, and it projects this will grow to $2.00 to $2.05 in 2025. This could be a quality small- to mid-cap stock worth investing in for the long haul
Types of cloud computing
Just as a variety of clouds drift over our heads, various sorts of clouds exist in the world of computing. A public cloud, for example, exists when third-party providers provide cloud computing services over the public internet, making them available to anyone who wants to use or purchase them.
On the other hand, a private cloud is a cloud infrastructure operated solely for a single organization. Private clouds may be managed internally or by a third party, and they may be hosted either on-premises or externally. A hybrid cloud infrastructure provides a unified, interconnected system in which data and applications can move between environments.
Should you invest in cloud computing stocks?
Cloud computing picked up steam during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained an enduring growth story throughout the ensuing years for the following reasons:
- More efficient than legacy IT, it enhances technology such as AI, machine learning, and gaming.
- Organizations and their employees gain more flexibility with important functions such as remote work.
- Adopting cloud computing solutions is more cost-effective than developing more expensive hardware.
- It provides more sophisticated safety measures, helping users to protect their data against cyberattacks.
As is the case with all high-growth stocks, though, investing in cloud companies will have bumps in the road. Investors should stay focused on the long-term potential, not just stock price performance over the course of a year or two.
How to invest in cloud computing stocks
If you think you're ready to start investing in adtech stocks, there are a few basic steps you must take.
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
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Investing in Cloud Computing Stocks FAQ
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