In this article, we will be taking a look at the 7 Most Promising Robotics Stocks According to Wall Street Analysts.
The global robotics industry has officially entered its “breakthrough era.” According to ABI research, as of late 2025, the global market valuation has climbed to $50 billion, a staggering 11% increase from 2024.
In the United States, the robotics industry is increasingly driven by nearshoring initiatives and supply chain resilience as manufacturers accelerate their automation efforts. The U.S. industrial robot market is projected to reach approximately $3.7–$3.8 billion in 2025, with annual installations remaining in the low-to-mid 30,000 unit range. While China continues to dominate global robot deployment, the U.S. has become a key center for advanced robotics and physical AI development. In 2025, strong investor interest was reflected in major funding rounds for Apptronik and Figure AI, underscoring growing confidence in embodied intelligence systems.
Looking toward 2026, the industry is bracing for the “humanoid pilot” phase. Major retailers and automotive giants, including BMW and Amazon, have already begun integrating bipedal robots into their logistical workflows. Unlike previous years’ prototypes, the 2026 generation of robots will feature neuromorphic chips, processors that mimic the human brain’s structure to drastically reduce energy consumption while performing complex tasks, such as “lights-out” warehouse picking.
Experts from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) anticipate that by 2028, the global installation of industrial robots will surpass 700,000 units annually. The U.S. and global robotics industry is increasingly embracing the Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, which lets companies subscribe to robotic solutions rather than make large upfront purchases. This approach is projected to drive significant market growth through 2030, lowering barriers to automation for small and medium enterprises.
As we move into 2026, the conversation will shift toward how quickly U.S. companies and infrastructure adapt to integrating robots and AI into hybrid workplaces, blending human labor with automated systems.
With that said, let’s now look at the most promising robotic stocks.
Our Methodology
For our methodology, we began by filtering for stocks that are either pure-play robotics companies or companies that have exposure to robotics, with an upside potential greater than 10% and a year-to-date return of at least 10% as of December 26. From this filtered set, we selected seven stocks with the highest upside potential. These stocks were then ranked in ascending order based on their upside potential.
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).
Here is our list of the 7 most promising robotics stocks according to Wall Street analysts.
7. Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR)
Price Target Upside: 13.48%
Year-to-Date Return: 11.07%
Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) stands seventh on our list among the most promising stocks.
TheFly reported on December 15 that Evercore ISI initiated coverage on EMR with an Outperform rating and a $170 price target. Analyst Alexander Virgo cited the company’s higher-quality portfolio following its recent strategic transformation.
Evercore noted that EMR’s increasing exposure to automation and software solutions positions the company for stronger growth cycles and supports above-average free cash flow generation over time. The firm also highlighted Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR)’s significant 600–700 basis point expansion in gross and EBITA margins, attributing the improvement to enhanced pricing power, productivity gains, and a richer software mix. According to Evercore ISI, these factors should help provide greater earnings resilience across economic cycles.
In contrast, on December 10, 2025, Jefferies downgraded EMR from Buy to Hold and maintained its $145 price target. Analyst Saree Boroditsky cited a more balanced risk-reward profile following the company’s multi-year portfolio transformation, including the completion of the AspenTech acquisition and the recent introduction of longer-term financial targets.
Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) is a global industrial technology and software company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with a long history of providing automation, control systems, and smart devices to a wide range of industries. While EMR does not manufacture industrial robots directly, it plays a critical enabling role in robotics and advanced automation.
6. QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM)
Price Target Upside: 14.41%
Year-to-Date Return: 13.78%
QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) is one of the most promising stocks.
TheFly reported on December 18 that QCOM announced the completion of its $2.4 billion acquisition of Alphawave Semi, a global leader in high-speed wired connectivity. The deal closed approximately one quarter ahead of schedule, marking a significant milestone in Qualcomm’s infrastructure strategy. As part of the merger, Tony Pialis, the co-founder and former CEO of Alphawave Semi, has been appointed to lead Qualcomm’s newly expanded data center business.
On December 16, 2025, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst C.J. Muse maintained a Neutral rating on QCOM but significantly raised the price target by $35, moving it from $170 to $185. This adjustment reflects the firm’s increasing confidence in the company’s ability to capitalize on AI-driven demand across compute, networking, and memory segments.
The Alphawave acquisition is expected to integrate seamlessly with QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM)’s proprietary Oryon CPU and Hexagon NPU architectures. By securing Alphawave’s high-speed SerDes (Serializer-Deserializer) and chiplet technology, QCOM is positioning itself to provide the core infrastructure for next-generation AI data centers.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) is a global semiconductor and technology leader headquartered in San Diego, California. The company designs high-performance chips, AI processors, and connectivity solutions for mobile, automotive, IoT, and industrial applications. While not a traditional robotics manufacturer, QCOM plays a key role in robotics through its Robotics RB platforms, which enable autonomous robots, drones, and smart machines with edge AI, sensor fusion, and real-time 5G connectivity.
5. Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT)
Price Target Upside: 15.00%
Year-to-Date Return: 20.32%
Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) stands fifth among the most promising stocks.
TheFly reported on December 18 that Truist Securities maintained its Hold recommendation on MDT but lowered its price objective to $107.00 from $110.00. This revision followed an update to the firm’s valuation models for the medical device sector. Analyst Richard Newitter noted that while MDT’s long-term growth prospects remain intact, the near-term valuation is balanced against macro headwinds.
Separately, on December 22, market sentiment took a turn as TipRanks and other financial outlets reported that Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT)’s put volume was unusually heavy and directionally bearish. This surge in bearish options activity coincided with the company’s recent operational updates, suggesting that traders were hedging against potential downside despite positive regulatory news.
Recently, on December 19, 2025, the business filed a Form S‑1 registration statement to spin off its Diabetes business as MiniMed, expected to trade on Nasdaq under MMED. The separation allows MDT to focus on higher-growth segments, while MiniMed can pursue its own innovation strategy in diabetes care.
Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) is a global medical technology company headquartered in Galway, Ireland, offering innovative medical devices and therapies across cardiac, diabetes, surgical, and neurological care. From a robotics perspective, MDT is a leader in surgical robotics and AI-enabled platforms, including the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system and advanced navigation ecosystems that enhance precision in minimally invasive procedures.
4. Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:PEGA)
Price Target Upside: 20.13%
Year-to-Date Return: 34.29%
Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:PEGA) is placed fourth on our list among the most promising robotic stocks.
On December 15 PEGA announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share for the first quarter of 2026. The dividend is scheduled to be paid on January 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2026. This announcement reaffirms the company’s commitment to its current dividend program and follows a year of significant capital return, including the repurchase of 8.7 million shares for approximately $393 million.
Separately, on December 5, 2025, JPMorgan raised its price target for Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:PEGA) to $74.00 from $65.00. Analyst Alexei Gogolev maintained an Overweight rating, stating that the company’s pivot to a subscription-first model is delivering better-than-expected margin expansion. JPMorgan highlighted that the acceleration in cloud migration and a stabilizing macroeconomic environment for enterprise software spending are key catalysts for the upward revision.
Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:PEGA) is a U.S.-based enterprise software company headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, specializing in business process automation and low-code software solutions. Its flagship Pega Platform integrates workflow management, AI decisioning, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks across enterprise systems.
3. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Price Target Upside: 31.21%
Year-to-Date Return: 37.76%
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the most promising stocks.
TheFly reported on December 26 that NVDA announced a non-exclusive licensing agreement with AI chip startup Groq. The deal includes bringing Groq’s founder and CEO, Jonathan Ross, President Sunny Madra, and other key engineers to NVDA to integrate Groq’s low-latency inference technology into NVDA’s “AI factory” architecture.
Analysts, including Bernstein’s Stacy Rasgon, described the move as a “tech and talent grab” rather than a traditional acquisition. By structuring the transaction as a license instead of a full buyout, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) may reduce antitrust scrutiny. While media reports suggest a transaction value of around $20 billion, neither NVDA nor Groq has confirmed the exact financial terms. The deal strengthens the business’s position in AI inference technology amid increasing competition from startups and rivals like AMD.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is a global leader in accelerated computing and AI technologies, headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Best known for its high‑performance GPUs and AI platforms, NVDA’s technology underpins a wide range of applications from data centers and gaming to autonomous machines and robotics.
2. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)
Price Target Upside: 52.75%
Year-to-Date Return: 62.99%
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) is placed second among the most promising robotic stocks.
On December 19, 2025, KeyBanc initiated coverage of AVAV with an Overweight rating and a $285 price target, highlighting the company’s strong exposure to defense technology and the growing space economy. Analyst Michael Leshock emphasized the business’s differentiated product portfolio, including drones and counter‑UAS systems, as well as the strategic BlueHalo acquisition, which expands the company’s capabilities in space-based platforms and directed energy systems.
KeyBanc’s bullish stance on AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) is supported by recent operational wins, including the delivery of JLTV-mounted LOCUST Laser Weapon Systems to the U.S. Army, a $4.8 million Coast Guard ROV contract, and demonstrations of integrated Electronic Warfare capabilities at the Navy’s “Silent Swarm 25” exercise. These contracts validate AVAV’s defense tech growth thesis, demonstrating both cross-platform utility and potential long-term revenue expansion.
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) is a U.S.-based defense technology company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that designs, manufactures, and supports autonomous robotic systems and related technologies. Founded in 1971, AVAV is a global leader in intelligent multi‑domain robotic systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), loitering munitions, and autonomous mission systems used by the U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments, and commercial customers.
1. Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:RR)
Price Target Upside: 78.57%
Year-to-Date Return: 39.42%
Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:RR) tops our list for being one of the most promising stocks.
According to TheFly reports, on December 24, RR announced plans to showcase its mobile humanoid robot, Dex, at CES 2026, scheduled January 6–9, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Dex, powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor and trained with NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim and Isaac Lab frameworks, is designed for dynamic environments, real‑time reasoning, and extended operational tasks. At the CES booth, Dex will be demonstrated alongside other robotic solutions such as ADAM (barista duties), Matradee Plus (food delivery), Titan (logistics), and Scorpion (visual monitoring).
Separately, Street analysts have a consensus Hold rating for Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:RR), derived from a mix of ratings over the last quarter. However, the average price objective stands at $4.50, representing a forecasted upside of approximately 22.45% from the current trading price of $3.68.
Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:RR) is a U.S.‑based provider of AI‑driven robotic solutions focused on real‑world automation across service, hospitality, healthcare, retail, and industrial environments. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company designs, engineers, and deploys autonomous robots such as ADAM, Scorpion, and Titan, which are powered by advanced AI, machine vision, and sensor fusion to perform tasks like customer service, delivery, and operational support.
While we acknowledge the potential of RR 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 RR and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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