Hidden Gems: Two AI Stocks You’ve Never Heard Of

AI Chip Schematic

You know, it’s a funny thing, this stock market. Everyone chases the shiny objects – the Apples, the Googles, the companies with logos you recognize from billboards. But often, the real money isn’t made in the spotlight, it’s made in the quiet corners, with companies you’ve never even heard of. It’s a bit like searching for rare stamps, really. Everyone knows the Penny Black, but the truly valuable ones are the obscure, slightly damaged, oddly perforated ones that only a handful of people even know exist. And sometimes, those are the ones that really appreciate. Take, for example, The Trade Desk or Pinterest. Popular, yes, but not necessarily translating to stock price success. A curious thing, isn’t it?

So, let’s venture into those quiet corners, shall we? Today, we’re looking at two companies deeply involved in the artificial intelligence boom, but that somehow, remarkably, haven’t become household names. It’s almost as if they’re deliberately trying to avoid attention, which, in a world obsessed with self-promotion, is rather refreshing.

ASML

First up is ASML Holding (ASML +2.81%). They’ve rather boldly branded themselves “the most important company you’ve never heard of.” A claim, you might think, that requires a good deal of justification. But, remarkably, they actually make a pretty compelling case. ASML, based in the Netherlands – a country that consistently punches above its weight in technology – doesn’t actually make chips. They make the machines that make the chips. Specifically, the extraordinarily complicated, mind-bogglingly precise machines needed to create the most advanced semiconductors on the planet.

They have competitors, certainly, in the more traditional chipmaking equipment arena – Canon and Nikon spring to mind – but ASML dominates the market for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. EUV is, to put it mildly, a big deal. It’s the technology that allows manufacturers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Intel, and Samsung to cram ever more transistors onto ever smaller chips. Without EUV, your smartphone would be the size of a small refrigerator, and the entire digital world would be significantly less… digital. It’s a bit like the invention of the printing press, really – a foundational technology that enables everything else.

And yet, despite all this, ASML often gets overlooked. Which is baffling, when you consider the numbers. In 2025, they reported revenue of almost 33 billion euros (about 38 billion dollars), a 16% increase over the previous year. And, crucially, they managed to keep costs in check, resulting in a net income of 9.6 billion euros (11 billion dollars) – a 27% jump. They’re forecasting revenue between 34 and 39 billion euros for 2026, which, if achieved, would represent a continuation of that impressive growth trajectory.

The stock price has reflected this success, nearly doubling over the past year. Investors are clearly recognizing the importance of EUV in the age of AI. The price-to-earnings ratio of 52 is a bit high, admittedly, above the five-year average of 42. But when you consider the critical role ASML plays in the future of technology, it seems a perfectly reasonable price to pay. It’s not a company that’s going to disappear overnight, that’s for sure.

Innodata

Now, let’s move on to something a little different. Innodata (INOD +1.76%) has been around since 1988, but for most of its history, it was a rather unassuming data engineering company, specializing in information-related services. Not exactly a name that rolls off the tongue, is it? But things have changed. AI has given them a new lease on life.

Innodata has partnered with companies to offer data curation and model evaluation services, helping them develop generative AI models. They’re essentially cleaning up the mess that AI sometimes creates – addressing deficiencies in models, ensuring accuracy, and generally making sure things run smoothly. Both AI labs and the hyperscalers among the “Magnificent Seven” companies now work with them. It’s a bit like having a team of meticulous librarians organizing a chaotic digital archive.

The results have been impressive. Revenue increased by 48% in 2025, reaching around 252 million dollars. They also reported a profit of 32 million dollars. They received a significant income tax benefit in 2024, which boosted net income. Despite that one-time benefit, profits grew 12% year over year during that time.

The immediate future isn’t entirely clear. Analysts predict revenue growth of 26% in 2026, which is a slowdown from the previous year. But the 23% revenue increase in Q4 suggests that the slowdown may already be factored in.

The stock price has pulled back over the last year, but even at around 45 dollars per share, it’s significantly higher than it was in 2024, when it was flirting with penny stock status. The relatively low profit levels also led to a 48 P/E ratio. Nonetheless, the improved profitability gives Innodata a forward P/E ratio of 36, just above the S&P 500 average of 30.

Considering its impressive growth and falling valuation, Innodata is a company worth familiarizing yourself with. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best investments are found not in the spotlight, but in the quiet corners of the market. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, you’ll stumble upon the next hidden gem.

2026-03-05 00:12

ASML

Innodata

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