In this article, we will take a look at the 12 Best Big Data Stocks to Invest In.
Back in 2024, the rise of generative AI took the spotlight in the market, with the discussion shifting to agents in 2025. As we move forward with 2026, AI has once again caught the attention of Wall Street, driving investors to invest in stocks related to the industry. As companies embrace AI and automation, investors appear to be leaning toward big data companies that offer AI-powered analytics tools. Notably, companies that insist on real-time data processing and analytics are also raking in attention, owing to the increased demand for businesses to make speedy decisions based on real-time data.
Additionally, discussions around data centers have grown more common as the AI revolution, especially in the context of big data, gains momentum. Global data-center dealmaking reached a new high through late 2025, fueled by a growing demand for data analytics and computing hardware to satisfy the growth in artificial intelligence usage. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, there were over 100 data center transactions during the period, with a total value coming in just under $61 billion. As demand transitions toward AI inference, enterprise cloud workloads, and next-generation computation, analysts like Vikram Malhotra of Mizuho argue that 2026 may represent an evolutionary phase rather than a decline, despite worries about a possible AI bubble weighing on the market.
Equity investors have also been getting increasingly positive about the AI cycle’s long-term durability. Barbara Duran, CEO of BD8 Capital Partners, came on CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell Overtime’ on December 29 and pointed out that comparisons to the dot-com bubble are somewhat exaggerated, noting that corporate AI adoption is actually in its infancy, with many companies still shifting from trial runs to full-scale deployment. She noted rising AI chip demand, higher platform usage, and record data-center growth as signs of legitimate, rather than hypothetical development.
Nonetheless, Jeffrey Buchbinder, chief equities strategist at LPL Financial, warns investors not to shy away from diversifying investments, stating that, if it comes to pass, AI disappointment could represent the most significant risk market in 2026, and that an AI-related drop might shake markets. Despite this danger, he and others believe that increased AI adoption, and the potential productivity it might brings, could propel the economy and stock market higher in the coming year. He added:
“Several powerful cycles should help push stocks higher in 2026, most notably the AI investment cycle that has powered technology stocks in 2025. A maturing advance during a Fed rate-cutting cycle with stocks near all-time highs also bodes well for a rewarding 2026.”
Our Methodology
To compile the list of best data stocks to buy, we reviewed Big Data ETFs to compile a preliminary list of stocks that are either pure-play big data/analytics stocks, or are heavily involved in the sector. We then ranked the stocks in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders sourced from Insider Monkey’s Q3 2025 database.
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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
12. NICE Ltd. (NASDAQ:NICE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
NICE Ltd. (NASDAQ:NICE) ranks among the best big data stocks to invest in. On December 23, Piper Sandler reiterated its Neutral rating and $122 price target for NICE Ltd. (NASDAQ:NICE), voicing concern about NICE’s capability to meet its Cloud targets for 2028 without significant M&A operations.
Piper Sandler praised NICE’s recent acquisition of Cognigy as an important move toward the conversational AI sector, though it pointed out that private competitors like Sierra.AI seem to have more traction across this area.
Additionally, Piper Sandler said that NICE had a number of ways to generate value for shareholders, such as possibly selling off its FCC division, though it projected that the stock will “remain pressured” owing to market pessimism regarding the company’s mid-term goals.
On the other hand, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives downgraded NICE Ltd. (NASDAQ:NICE) to Neutral from Outperform on December 8 as the company faces a rapidly challenging CX AI landscape while providing ambitious long-term goals announced at its Capital Markets Day at the cost of near-term margins, which the firm considers a risky compromise.
NICE Ltd. (NASDAQ:NICE) offers AI-powered cloud platforms for digital business solutions across the world. Its services include CXone for customer experience, the Enlighten AI engine, and smart self-service solutions. The company employs artificial intelligence and analytics to avoid fraud and ensure AML compliance.
