AI Stocks: My 2026 Bets (Don’t Blame Me If It Goes South)

Right. Let’s talk money. Everyone’s obsessed with AI, convinced it’s either going to solve all our problems or, you know, steal our jobs and launch the robots. Honestly? I think it’s mostly hype, but some of it is real. And where there’s real money to be made, well, I tend to pay attention. The market’s jittery, sure, whispers of a bubble. But I’m leaning towards ‘boom continues,’ mostly because I’ve got a mortgage to pay. So, here are three AI stocks I’m betting on for 2026. Don’t come crying to me if I’m wrong. I’m just a woman with opinions and a brokerage account, alright?

1. Nvidia

Nvidia (NVDA 0.72%). Let’s be honest, this is the least risky play. It’s a bit boring, maybe, but sometimes boring wins the race. I mean, it’s Nvidia. They’re practically printing money right now. The key? Agentic AI. Apparently, that’s the next big thing. Jensen Huang – that’s the CEO, for those keeping track – calls it a “new wave.” Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? OpenAI, Google, all the cool kids are playing with it. So, yeah, Nvidia’s going to benefit. It just feels…inevitable.

And then there’s Rubin. The new GPU. Honestly, the names these companies come up with… Rubin. Sounds like a dodgy accountant. But apparently, it’s going to be a game-changer. Ten times faster, fewer GPUs needed. The CFO already sees half a trillion dollars in revenue. Half a trillion. I’m starting to feel slightly less anxious about that mortgage. The biggest hurdle? Manufacturing. But Taiwan Semiconductor is finally ramping up capacity. Nvidia’s snagged most of it, naturally. It’s a bit like the best table at a restaurant – you have to know someone.

2. Broadcom

Alright, so Nvidia’s the safe bet. Let’s talk about the slightly more…complicated one. Broadcom (AVGO +0.17%). Look, the more Nvidia dominates, the more everyone else wants to build their own chips. It’s a bit like wanting a bespoke suit when everyone else is wearing off-the-rack. And Broadcom? They’re the tailor. They control about 60% of the market for these custom AI chips. Smart. Very smart.

Data centers are going crazy for GPUs. Millions of them. Which means they need to upgrade their networking. And guess who makes the switches? You guessed it. Broadcom. They’ve got a $73 billion backlog. That’s…a lot of switches. I’m expecting strong revenue growth, which, frankly, is a relief. It’s all very logical. And logic is reassuring. Especially in this market.

3. Meta Platforms

Now, this one surprised even me. Meta Platforms (META 2.95%). I wasn’t initially convinced. All that metaverse stuff… Honestly, it felt like a very expensive distraction. But then they released their fourth-quarter results, and…wow. Their advertising revenue soared. Apparently, they tweaked their ad ranking model. Which resulted in more clicks and conversions. It’s amazing what a little bit of optimization can do. It’s almost…underwhelming. But effective. And that’s what matters, isn’t it?

And then there are the AI glasses. They’re selling like hotcakes. Seriously. Apparently, the market for smart glasses is enormous. And Meta’s leading the charge. It’s the one bright spot in their Reality Labs division. They’re finally focusing on something that actually makes sense. It won’t boost their bottom line in 2026, probably. But it’s a long-term play. And investors like long-term plays. Or at least, they pretend to. I suspect it will provide a nice little bump in the stock price later in the year. It’s all a bit…hopeful, isn’t it? But hey, a girl can dream. And invest.

2026-02-01 12:54

1. Nvidia

2. Broadcom

3. Meta Platforms

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