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7 Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy

In this article, we will look at the 7 Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy.

​On July 1, Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities’ global head of tech research, appeared on a Bloomberg Television interview to discuss the tech trade, AI growth, and more. Ives has been opposing the general investor concern regarding the huge capital expenditure from the hyperscalers. Ives noted that hyperscalers are essentially funding the whole AI evolution, and if you throw memory and semiconductors out of the AI trade, there will be nothing left. He noted that this capital expenditure is just the first phase, as this is the buildout. Ives gave the example of AI buildout as the Vegas Strip back in 1955.

​He noted that after the buildout comes the monetization and gave examples of Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet, which have started to show signs of AI revenue streams. Ives addressed that bears of the AI trade argue that the AI capital expenditure is a spending into nowhere. He noted that the reality is the total opposite, as AI capital expenditure is essentially building a new economy for the US with new companies, software, agentic and physical AI.

​With that, let’s take a look at the 7 Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy

​Our Methodology

To curate the list of Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy, we surfed through various reputable financial media rankings and aggregated a list of Agentic AI stocks. Next, we checked the 6-month performance of each stock and selected only those that had gained more than 50% over the past 6 months, and ranked the stocks in ascending order of performance. We have also added the number of hedge fund holders sourced from Insider Monkey’s database.

For this list, agentic AI stocks include not only companies developing AI agents directly, but also companies providing the cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, AI compute, semiconductor testing, robotics, and autonomous-system software needed to deploy, secure, and scale agent-enabled workflows.

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. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points (see more details here).

7 Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy

​7. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)

6-Month Performance: 96.26%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 87

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) has gained more than 96% over the past 6 months and roughly 24% since the release of its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings on June 3. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is one of our 7 Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy. The company ranks among Agentic AI stocks as it builds security for agentic AI and also embeds agents to its platform, for instance, Prisma AIRS 3.0 is designed to secure Agentic AI lifecycles.

​During the quarter, the company posted $3 billion in revenue and topped the expectations of $2.94 billion. The EPS of $0.85 also topped the expectations of $0.80. Notably, the company’s next-generation security ARR grew 60% year-over-year to reach $8.1 billion. Moreover, the total platform customers grew to 2,280 compared to 1,250 a year ago. The company raised its fiscal year 2026 revenue guidance to between $11.415 billion and $11.425 billion, alongside an increased non-GAAP EPS outlook of $3.77 to $3.79.

​Recently, on July 1, Wells Fargo raised its price target on Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) to $420 from $325, keeping an Overweight rating. The firm noted adding the company to its Q3 tactical ideas list and cited a clear catalyst path ahead. The firm expects the long-running debate over organic versus inorganic growth to fade. It sees new reporting segmentation as a move made from strength, not necessity. Wells Fargo noted that with clearer segment disclosure, investors will be better able to align the narrative with the actual numbers.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is a leading cybersecurity company that provides a variety of products such as firewalls, malware protection, and cloud security.

6. Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FTNT)

6-Month Performance: 104.13%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 52

Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FTNT) has surged more than 104% over the past 6 months; much of the gains came after the company reported strong fiscal Q1 2026 earnings in May. The triple-digit gains over the past 6 months make Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FTNT) one of our Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy. Fortinet’s ranks among the Agentic AI stocks due to its FortiSOC + FortiAI-Assist, which is a unified cloud-delivered security operations center platform powered by agentic AI.

​During the fiscal Q1 2026, the company not only topped revenue estimates by 6.68%, but the EPS of $0.82 also exceeded the consensus of $0.62. Notably, during the quarter, the company grew its total billings by 31% year-over-year to $2.09 billion, with standout performance in the Operational Technology segment, which saw billings surge over 70%. Moreover, product revenue surged 41% year-over-year to $645 million, driven by robust demand for high-performance FortiGate appliances used in AI data center deployments.

​Despite the gains, recently, on June 30, HSBC downgraded the stock from Hold to Reduce and raised the price target from $98 to $102. The firm noted that the rating change is based on valuation concerns rather than fundamentals. Analyst Bersey noted Fortinet trades at a 2026 P/E of 46.1x, in line with cybersecurity peers, despite a much slower 11.6% EPS growth rate. He noted that the mismatch makes the risk-reward unattractive at current levels. The firm also flagged a large-scale device security event as a near-term risk, potentially slowing product and billings momentum as customers scramble to assess exposure. Moreover, HSBC raised its target multiple to 31x from 30x, reflecting AI-led re-rating across the sector, but kept it well below the peer median of 46x.

Fortinet Inc. (NASDAQ:FTNT) provides cybersecurity and convergence of networking and security solutions worldwide.

While we acknowledge the potential of FTNT 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 FTNT and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

​5. Teradyne, Inc. (NASDAQ:TER)

6-Month Performance: 105.89%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80

Teradyne, Inc. (NASDAQ:TER) is one of our Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy. The stock has gained more than 105% over the past half year, driven by the company’s addition to the NASDAQ 100 and the surging demand for AI testing.

​The analyst sentiment suggests further upside of around 8% over the next 12-months. The Street is projecting robust year-over-year revenue growth of approximately 86% for the next quarter.

​Recently, on June 30, Susquehanna raised its price target for Teradyne, Inc. (NASDAQ:TER) from $415 to $550, and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. The firm noted that the increased price target comes after channel checks that point towards an upward revision in SCE backlog, which now extends beyond one year. The firm also sees wafer fab equipment spending climbing as high as $300 billion, well above prior expectations.

​Based on these positive industry checks, the firm noted raising its 2026 and 2027 estimates for the company. The firm also noted introducing 2028 projections for the first time, based on an assumed WFE level of $250 billion.

Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:TER) designs and manufactures automated test systems and robotics solutions for global semiconductor, industrial, and logistics markets. The company provides critical testing platforms for electronic devices alongside collaborative robotic arms and autonomous mobile robots. The company’s test systems are essential for validating AI chips that power agentic AI models.

​4. Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS)

6-Month Performance: 154.79%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60

Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) has gained more than 154% over the past 6-months. The growth has been driven by massive AI infrastructure deals and analysts’ positive projections for continued revenue expansion in the next quarter. Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) is also one of our Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy.

​Recently, the stock fell around 12.4% following a Bloomberg report on July 1, which suggests that Meta Platforms is developing a cloud business to sell excess AI computing capacity as tech giants look for returns on heavy AI spending. While the plan is still evolving and could change, the concern for Nebius is twofold. Firstly, Meta is a key customer for the company, and this move could mean Meta relies less on their services going forward. At the same time, Meta entering the cloud market directly adds a new competitor.

​Analyst Gil Luria of D.A. Davidson said the impact would likely hit neoclouds harder than major hyperscalers, since companies like Nebius depend heavily on Meta for growth that may no longer be guaranteed. The analyst compared the dynamic to SpaceX, which turned to renting out its own compute capacity after facing a similar shift.

​However, the Street remains bullish on Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) with analysts’ 12-month price target suggesting more than 22.9% over the next 12-months.

Nebius Group NV (NASDAQ:NBIS) is a technology company that provides infrastructure and services to AI builders worldwide. It offers Nebius AI, an AI-centric cloud platform that provides full-stack infrastructure, including large-scale GPU clusters, cloud services, and developer tools.

​3. DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DOCN)

6-Month Performance: 195.24%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DOCN) ranks 3rd on our list of Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy. The stock has gained more than 195% over the past 6-months. The strong momentum is driven by surging AI demand and strong Q1 earnings in May. Wall Street continues to expect more than 37% upside over the next 12 months.

​During fiscal Q1 2026, earnings posted on May 5, DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DOCN) posted $257.91 million in revenue, up compared to the expected $249.76 million. The EPS of

$0.44 also topped the expectations of $0.26. Notably, during the quarter, the company’s AI-specific ARR surged 221% year-over-year to reach $170 million. In addition, revenue from customers spending over $1 million grew by 179%.

​Based on the strong performance, management raised the full-year 2026 revenue outlook to $1.13 billion – $1.145 billion and provided a bold multi-year target forecasting revenue growth to exceed 50% in fiscal 2027.

​In a separate news, recently, on June 30, DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DOCN) was added to the Russell 1000 index as it moved up from the Russell 2000. The Russell 1000 Index represents approximately the 1,000 largest US companies by market capitalization.

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DOCN) is a cloud infrastructure provider focused on simplifying deployment for developers, startups, and businesses. The company said its platform combines GPU infrastructure and core cloud services to support AI and broader production workloads, and that it serves more than 640,000 customers. The company’s GPU infrastructure allows small and mid-sized companies to build and deploy AI agents without relying on hyperscale cloud platforms.

​2. BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB)

6-Month Performance: 237.11%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19

BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB) is one of the Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy. The stock has gained more than 237% over the past 6 months. The most recent surge came after the company reported strong fiscal Q1 2027 earnings on June 25.

​During the quarter, BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB) posted $152.9 million in revenue and topped the expectations of $137.75 million. The EPS of $0.04 also topped the consensus of $0.03. Notably, the core segments hit the Rule of 40 during the quarter as QNX and Secure Communications grew 26% and 24%, respectively. Moreover, the company also achieved a critical financial milestone by generating $4.6 million in operating cash flow, marking its first cash-positive fiscal first quarter in nine years, excluding non-core patent sales.

​Following the release on June 26, RBC Capital raised its price target on the stock from $4.5 to $9, while maintaining a Sector Perform rating on the shares. The analyst Paul Treiber noted this was BlackBerry’s largest earnings beat in the past year. The firm sees the results as a turning point, noting that the company is moving into a period of headline growth after a stretch of transformation.

​BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB) is a Canadian provider of intelligent security software and services to both enterprises and government organizations. Incorporated in 1984, the company operates through three segments: Secure Communications, QNX, and Licensing. The company’s QNX division is a key enabler of agentic AI, it provides operating system foundation that enables using agentic software in autonomous vehicles and robotics.

​1. Rackspace Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RXT)

6-Month Performance: 569.07%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 8

Rackspace Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RXT) has gained more than 569% over the past 6 months, mainly driven by strong fiscal Q1 2026 earnings and the company’s partnership with AMD. Rackspace Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RXT) also ranks as one of the Best Performing Agentic AI Stocks to Buy Now.

​During the quarter, the company posted $678.1 million in revenue and surpassed the estimates of $660.83 million. Management attributed growth to the public cloud segment, which grew 7% year-over-year to $443.4 million and offset a 6% decline in the Private Cloud segment caused by onboarding delays in the healthcare sector.

​Recently, on June 17, RBC Capital raised its price target on the stock from $2.5 to $4, while maintaining a Sector Perform rating. The firm highlighted the company’s partnership with AMD as central to its strategy of becoming the governed enterprise AI operator for regulated industries. The firm noted that a 30 MW AMD compute deployment validates this approach.

​Moreover, RBC also highlighted a potential for margin expansion, driven by Rackspace’s use of existing infrastructure and power capacity, along with its shift from Bare Metal to Enterprise AI Cloud. The firm noted that deployment is expected to ramp from late 2026 through 2028. Management expressed confidence in financing availability, with initial capex of $50 million to $100 million supporting near-term execution.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Antonio, Rackspace Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RXT) is a global provider of multi-cloud, hybrid-cloud, and enterprise AI infrastructure solutions. The company specializes in IT consulting, cloud migration, cybersecurity, and managing enterprise workloads across major cloud and infrastructure platforms. Rackspace’s enterprise AI cloud is built to host and govern AI agents, particularly for regulated enterprises.

While we acknowledge the potential of RXT 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 RXT and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

The $250 Trillion AI Hype is Real. A few years from now, you’ll probably wish you’d bought this stock.

Dr. Inan Dogan

Dr. Ian Dogan

Co-Founder and Research Director at Insider Monkey

When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard.

Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences.

At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000.

Do the math. According to Musk, this technology could be worth $250 trillion by 2040.

Put another way, that’s roughly equal to:

  • 175 Teslas
  • 107 Amazons
  • 140 Metas
  • 84 Googles
  • 65 Microsofts
  • And 55 Nvidias

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  • Bill Gates sees artificial intelligence as the “biggest technological advance in my lifetime,” more transformative than the internet or personal computer, capable of improving healthcare, education, and addressing climate change.
  • Larry Ellison — through Oracle, is spending billions on Nvidia chips and partnering with Cohere to embed generative AI across Oracle’s cloud and apps.
  • Warren Buffett — not known for tech hype — says this breakthrough could have a ‘hugely beneficial social impact.

When billionaires from Silicon Valley to Wall Street line up behind the same idea — you know it’s worth paying attention to.

Even as we admire what Tesla, Nvidia, Alphabet, and Microsoft have built, we believe an even greater opportunity lies elsewhere…

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Dr. Inan Dogan

Dr. Ian Dogan

Co-Founder and Research Director at Insider Monkey

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