In this article, we will explore the best pure-play robotics stocks to buy now.
“Who wouldn’t want their own personal C-3PO or R2D2?” Elon Musk’s reference to intelligent robots from Star Wars movies captures his often discussed, broader, futuristic view that robotics will unlock an unlimited economy—there will be more robots than people, and that kind of growth will “saturate all human needs”.
While that vision is still a bit far from becoming reality, recent developments suggest that investment in robotics infrastructure is accelerating beyond concept toward execution. Elon Musk recently took another step in that direction with the announcement of the massive “Terafab” chip manufacturing initiative. According to a Bloomberg report, Bernstein analysts estimated that the Terafab project would require $5 trillion to $13 trillion in capital spending to build hundreds of new factories. Besides next-generation compute, one of the primary beneficiaries of those chips will be the Optimus humanoid robots, where Musk seems to have tremendous growth plans.
Although this move is supportive for the robotics industry, Bernstein analysts view the Terafab targets as very ambitious and said that “A true Terafab feels like a stretch to us.” They based their view on the massive scale envisaged for the project, which is several multiples above the current installed capacity.
It’s true that a future with robots has many challenges yet to be addressed, but we recently saw a humanoid robot walking in the White House, which indicates that policy and technological developments are rapidly shaping the robotics landscape.
In that regard, on March 11, co-founder and CEO of Standard Bots, Evan Beard, participated in a roundtable discussion on robotics and industrial policy hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce. In an interview days after the discussion, he said that the administration is taking measures to support manufacturing and the cost-competitiveness of domestic robotics companies. He appeared quite upbeat about the next phase of growth in robotics as he further said:
“The piece that’s going to change everything in robotics and automation is training through demonstration. And the reason for that is because you can now just show the robot a task rather than having to procedurally write logic for like, do this and do that.”
In another significant event that underscores the importance of robotics, ABB Ltd. announced in the third quarter of 2025 that SoftBank Group would acquire its Robotics division for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion. Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., said:
“SoftBank’s next frontier is Physical AI. Together with ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse Artificial Super Intelligence and robotics —driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward.”
While all these developments support rapid growth in the coming years, industry forecasts still appear grounded in current applications rather than more transformative scenarios. A February 2026 report by VanEck (which manages the VanEck Robotics ETF (IBOT)) stated that the robotics market is becoming too large to ignore. They cited the World Robotics 2025 report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), which projects annual industrial robot installations to grow at a CAGR of nearly 7.0% between 2024 and 2028 to 708,000. VanEck concluded its report by stating, “Robotics is no longer emerging. It is embedded. Adoption is broadening.”
With that backdrop, let’s explore our selection of the best pure-play robotics stocks to buy now.
Our Methodology
To identify the best pure-play robotics stocks, we reviewed various ETFs and financial media to compile a list of U.S.-listed stocks that are either pure-play robotics stocks or have substantial exposure to the sector. These stocks have a market cap above $200 million and an upside potential of 5% or more. We limited our selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. We then used Q4 2025 data from Insider Monkey’s database to determine hedge fund ownership and ranked them in ascending order by the number of hedge funds holding positions.
Why are we interested in 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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
Note: All pricing data is as of market close on March 23, 2026.
10. Fanuc Corp. (OTC:FANUY)
Market Cap: $34.5 Billion
Potential Upside: 14.8%
Fanuc Corp. (OTC:FANUY) is among the best pure-play robotics stocks to buy now. The company consistently ranks among the world’s top manufacturers of industrial robots and boasts the largest range of robots and collaborative robots (cobots).
Recent developments suggest FANUC is positioning itself for the next phase of robotics innovation driven by artificial intelligence. According to an official release from March 16, 2026, the company announced that it is accelerating the deployment of “physical AI” in industrial robotics through a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA).
Under this collaboration, FANUC will empower its extensive robot portfolio and ROBOGUIDE simulation software with NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure technologies, including NVIDIA Jetson edge modules, cloud/edge AI infrastructure, NVIDIA Isaac Sim open robotic simulation framework, and NVIDIA Omniverse libraries. The initiative appears to aim to make robotic deployment faster and more intelligent. The company further highlighted:
“This approach empowers manufacturers to create photorealistic digital twins of their factories, train robots virtually, and deploy them with unprecedented speed and flexibility.”
Notably, at the end of January, Fanuc Corp. (OTC:FANUY) had reported a strong customer response to its collaboration with NVIDIA on an open platform across its robotics range.
On the street, sentiment also appears constructive. On March 9, it was reported that Macquarie raised its price target for FANUC to JPY 7,500, implying over 22% upside, although we couldn’t source sufficient information to determine the factors behind the increase.
The company’s financial mix also highlights the importance of robotics to the broader story. For the first nine months of FY 2026 (FY ends in March), the Robotics division generated around JPY269 billion in sales, which accounted for 43% of the company’s total sales. That contribution is up from around 41% in the comparable nine-month period and in full-year 2025.
Baird Chautauqua International and Global Growth Funds’ Q4 2025 investor letter noted FANUC as the top contributor to its performance in the quarter. The fund stated:
“Fanuc reported September quarter results that beat consensus estimates, raising full-year operating profit guidance by 10% on demand recovery and improved utilization rates. Robot orders were particularly strong, up 38% y/y, driven by reshoring-related automation demand in North America, European automation investments, and new energy vehicle spending in China. Furthermore, at an international robot show in December, Fanuc showcased significant advancements in AI-enabled robotics, with commercialization that may arrive in the coming years.”
Fanuc Corp. (OTC:FANUY) is a Japanese group of companies that provides automation products and services, including robotics and computer numerical control (CNC) systems. Founded in 1958, FANUC is an acronym for Fuji Automatic Numerical Control.
9. Serve Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:SERV)
Market Cap: $707.3 Million
Potential Upside: 91.5%
Serve Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:SERV) is among the best pure-play robotics stocks to buy now. While Serve is a relatively small company with a market cap of nearly $710 million, it is a pure-play in robotics, with a core business in autonomous delivery robots. With over 2,000 Serve robots deployed across 20 U.S. cities, the company boasts the largest autonomous fleet in the U.S. and thus rightly calls itself an industry leader in Physical AI.
In a March 17 report, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Andres Sheppard reiterated his confidence in Serve Robotics with an Overweight rating, while lowering his price target to $16 from $17. The analyst was impressed with the solid quarter-over-quarter increase in daily active robots and operating hours in Q4. This was supported by the company’s deployment of over 1,000 robots in Q4, bringing the FY 2025 total to 2,000.
Among other positive factors, Sheppard also cited the acquisition of Diligent Robotics, whose Moxi robots are expected to generate $7 million in revenue in 2026. These robots expanded Serve’s exposure to hospital automation, and the analyst expects this mix to increase cross-training. Moxi currently has around 100 units deployed across over 25 hospitals. Sheppard also estimates an expansion in scale and total addressable market (TAM) through the company’s partnerships with Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Nvidia.
Serve Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:SERV) has a strong runway ahead as the company envisages a $450 billion robotic & drone delivery opportunity by 2030. It is also targeting to bring delivery costs below $1 through its services, down from $8-$10 per delivery for human couriers.
Serve Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:SERV) is a leading autonomous robotics company that develops and operates an advanced, AI-powered, low-emissions sidewalk delivery robot fleet across 20 U.S. cities. The company was spun off from Uber in 2021 as an independent company.
8. PROCEPT BioRobotics Corp. (NASDAQ:PRCT)
Market Cap: $1.4 Billion
Potential Upside: 17.3%
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corp. (NASDAQ:PRCT) is among the best pure-play robotics stocks to buy now. The company is considered a pure-play robotics company because its business is centered entirely on robotic-assisted surgical systems. It develops the AQUABEAM and HYDROS platforms, which are robotic systems used for minimally invasive urologic procedures.
On March 12, the company announced the international launch of its HYDROS robotic system, with the UK serving as the first market outside the U.S. HYDROS is the company’s next-generation, AI-enabled platform for Aquablation therapy to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The platform uses AI-powered real-time ultrasound imaging and image-guided planning to support anatomy-specific treatment with robotic precision.
Larry Wood, President & CEO, PROCEPT BioRobotics, believes the launch expands the company’s international footprint. He further stated:
“The HYDROS Robotic System expands international access to a clinically validated, next-generation AI-enabled robotic solution that delivers durable symptom relief while preserving quality of life. We are proud to bring this innovation to physicians and patients across the UK and to continue expanding our international footprint.”
Earlier, on February 25, Procept BioRobotics reported fourth-quarter revenue of $76.4 million and full-year revenue of $308.1 million, reflecting 37% growth. The company ended 2025 with an installed base of 718 systems in the U.S. and over 900 systems globally. For FY 2026, management expects revenue to grow by 27% to 33% to $390 million to $410 million.
7. Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ:PDYN)
Market Cap: $302.2 Million
Potential Upside: 66.7%
Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ:PDYN) is among the best pure-play robotics stocks to buy now. Since late 2023, the company has pivoted to developing AI software for use in robotic systems, after its earlier history as a robotics hardware manufacturer. It is now a developer of AI software (termed as “Embodied AI” by the company) for robotic platforms in the industrial and defense sectors, with over 30 years of experience in robotics and robotics software & engineering.
While the company is early in building up its order book, Alliance Global analyst Brian Kinstlinger appeared quite upbeat about its outlook as he raised his price target to $14 from $11 and maintained a Buy rating in a report on March 5, the day the company reported its Q4 2025 and FY 2025 results. The analyst noted the company’s signing of its first commercial IQ customer contract and the momentum in bookings as important developments in the Q4 results. For context, Palladyne IQ is the company’s autonomy software for industrial robots and collaborative robots (cobots).
As the company reported progress in integrating its SwarmOS defense platform with Red Cat’s drones, Kinstlinger believes a government contract win could be a game-changer for Palladyne AI.
Later, in a March 10 report, Jefferies analyst Greg Konrad raised his price target to $8 from $7 but maintained a Hold rating on Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ:PDYN). While the analyst appreciated progress in the company’s AI offerings, the stock still appears to be a ‘show-me’ story for him.
Meanwhile, the company has guided for 2026 revenue of $24 million to $27 million, up substantially from $5.2 million in 2025, indicating its strong operational momentum. It also reported a 12 to 18-month backlog of nearly $18.0 million. On its 2026 outlook, Benjamin Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We moved from being primarily a development-stage AI company to a vertically integrated embodied AI-centric industrial and defense platform company generating meaningful revenues. In short, we exited 2025 fundamentally different. 2026 will be the first full year of operations as a vertically integrated embodied AI-centric industrial and defense company.”
Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ:PDYN) develops patented, embodied-AI, collaborative-autonomy solutions, advanced avionics, autonomous systems, aerospace engineering services, and precision-manufactured components for defense and industrial markets.
6. Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS)
Market Cap: $4.9 Billion
Potential Upside: 65.1%
Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) is among the best pure-play robotics stocks to buy now. On March 10, Needham analyst Austin Bohlig reaffirmed his Buy rating on the stock with a $17.0 price target. The analyst’s bullish stance was supported by its $175 million deal to acquire U.S. defense prime contractor Mistral Inc. on March 9.
Bohlig believes that this acquisition will substantially expand Ondas Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ONDS) position in providing mission-critical systems to defense and law enforcement customers. Moreover, in the current defense spending upcycle, domestically manufactured, NDAA-compliant solutions seem to be in a favourable position, and Mistral should therefore support the company’s market share gains by bringing prime contractor access to U.S. defense programs and manufacturing infrastructure. The analyst expects Mistral to contribute around $100 million to Ondas’ 2026 revenue and also improve profitability.
Around the same time, Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) announced several other developments that supported its growth outlook. On March 10, one of its subsidiaries won a demining program order worth $15.8 million, which involves clearing legacy minefields and unexploded ordnance. Two days later, a partnership with Palantir was announced to develop AI-enabled intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities across various platforms.
Ondas’s robotics exposure comes from its Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS) segment, which includes a range of autonomous platforms such as aerial drones, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), quadruped robots, and other mission-focused systems. Within this segment, Roboteam unit develops tactical ground robots used in defense operations, while Apeiro Motion and 4M Defense units add capabilities in mobility and demining.
Amid a strong demand for its products, Ondas shares have risen massively in recent periods, with over 1,250% return in the past one year. It is up around 12% year-to-date.
Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) operates two main businesses. Ondas Networks provides private wireless data solutions, while Ondas Autonomous Systems includes American Robotics and Airobotics, which focus on commercial and industrial drone operations.
While we acknowledge the potential of ONDS to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ONDS and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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