AI (Artificial Intelligence) isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s becoming a part of our everyday lives, from the apps we use to how businesses operate. For investors, that means opportunity. As AI continues to grow, some companies are leading the charge and showing real potential for long-term gains. Whether you’re looking to diversify your portfolio or tap into the future of tech, this article will walk you through some of the best AI stocks worth watching right now. AI stocks saw incredible gains over the last couple of years, particularly in 2024, as AI applications burgeoned. The current weakness in AI stocks, caused by geopolitical tensions, may be a good opportunity to load up on AI stocks.
AI is Likely to Have a Myriad of Applications
In an interview with CNBC, the CEO and CIO of Ark Invest, Cathie Wood, underscored her bullishness on the AI sector despite the recent weakness in those stocks. According to Wood, AI has a massive runway. She compared the current AI position to the internet in the early to mid-90s. Wood is optimistic about robotaxis in the near term and the application of humanoid robots in the long term. However, the most under-appreciated application of AI, according to Wood, is healthcare, as AI will accelerate the curing of diseases. Within the medical application of AI, Cathie Wood is particularly bullish on sequencing technology, which is used to read DNA. AI is a great application in sequencing as it helps analyze, interpret, and act on that genetic data much quicker and more accurately than traditional methods.
A segment within AI that is hot right now is Generative AI. Generative AI creates customized answers for the user based on real underlying data. Gen AI has created a massive investment cycle of over $200 billion annually, led by the ‘magnificent 7’. The tech behemoths are competing intensely over leadership in Gen AI. Meanwhile, an upcoming AI theme centers on how large language models (LLMs). According to Morgan Stanley, leading companies behind the most advanced LLMs are prioritizing high-performance chips and top-tier software to deliver AI solutions that are becoming essential for both businesses and consumers. While initial LLM use cases primarily included content creation, summarization, and categorization, industry leaders believe that the greatest yet-to-be-realized opportunity lies in applying AI reasoning to enterprise data.
Source: unsplash
Our Methodology
To compile the list of AI stocks that will skyrocket, we reviewed AI ETFs to compile a preliminary list of stocks and then selected the ones with the highest upside potential based on Wall Street analysts’ average price targets. We have also mentioned the hedge fund sentiment around each stock, as of Q4 2024.
Note: All data was recorded on April 21, 2025.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
10 AI Stocks That Will Skyrocket
10. ServiceNow, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOW)
Upside Potential: 38.76%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 110
ServiceNow, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOW) is primarily an information technology service management (ITSM) company. However, it is increasingly becoming an AI company by embedding automation and AI into its core products and services. The company uses AI to optimize and automate workflows across IT, customer service, HR, and other business functions. The company’s Now Assist offers a suite of Gen AI tools, including text-to-code, AI chat assistants, and generative summaries. ServiceNow, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOW) is integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) directly into the platform and making them available through its Now Platform.
ServiceNow, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOW) is building AI-powered tools designed to streamline business operations and boost customer satisfaction. This effort targets a massive market opportunity estimated at $275 billion by 2026. At the same time, it’s Now Platform is incorporating AI features, helping drive wider usage and growth.
On April 14, Wells Fargo analyst Michael Turrin reduced his target price for the stock from $1,250 to $1,100 while maintaining an Overweight rating on the stock. Wells Fargo anticipates that upcoming events like the Analyst Day and significant headlines from the Fed and DOGE markets will serve as more impactful catalysts for the company’s narrative. Despite the lowered price target, the analyst remains optimistic about the company’s potential moving forward, emphasizing the positive outlook.
9. ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)
Upside Potential: 42.47%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86
ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) manufactures lithography machines, which are complex equipment used to manufacture microchips. The Dutch company leads the market in Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which enables the creation of the smallest, yet most powerful, chips. Generative AI needs a massive amount of computing power. This computing power comes mostly from NVIDIA’s chips. NVIDIA designs the GPUs manufactured by TSMC. ASML supplies TSMC with the tools to manufacture these chips at a nano scale. Hence, ASML plays a massive role in the computing power needed in Gen AI. As a result, with big tech likely to spend hundreds of billions of dollars for Gen AI going forward, ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML), is likely to reap huge benefits.
ASML reported solid Q1 2025 results with total net sales of €7.7 billion, matching guidance, up 45.2% year-over-year. However, this was boosted by a lower base effect. Gross margin came in at 54%, helped by better productivity and product mix. CEO Christophe Fouquet said ASML had a strong start to 2025, with solid Q1 results driven by continued AI demand in the chip industry. ASML expects Logic revenue to rise, Memory to stay strong, and Installed Base Management revenue to grow due to higher service needs and EUV use. The company has a near-monopoly in EUV, with companies like TSMC, Intel and Samsung depending on ASML for its EUV machines. Despite global uncertainty and ongoing tariff talks, ASML maintains its 2025 revenue outlook of €30–35 billion and sees more growth ahead in 2026.
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