5 Best Stocks to Buy for the AI Boom in the Second Half of 2026

4. Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 101

Stock Upside Potential: 48.13%

Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) is one of the best stocks to buy for the AI boom in the second half of 2026. Analysts project a 48% upside potential for Salesforce shares from the current price, and some 101 hedge funds have Salesforce stock in their portfolios.

The US Air Force has picked Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) to help modernize and streamline its logistics. On July 8, Salesforce announced that the Air Force will use its Missionforce national security platform to manage its global vehicle fleet.

The Missionforce platform includes AI capabilities. The Air Force will use this platform to manage its fleet of more than 84,000 vehicles across roughly 400 locations. By using Missionforce, the Air Force looks to reap benefits such as streamlined asset logistics, accelerated mission planning, and increased system reliability.

Salesforce has picked up several contracts with the Pentagon as it deepens its presence in the defense sector. In January, it signed a broad $5.6 billion, multiyear contract with the US Army to help accelerate the Pentagon’s digital transformation and mission readiness.

Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) provides AI-powered CRM solutions to businesses. Its flagship autonomous AI platform, Agentforce, can plan and execute tasks without human intervention. Salesforce’s AI exposure also extends to Anthropic, where it has a large investment stake.

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