In this article, we will look at the 8 Best Lidar Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is emerging as one of the most intriguing developments of the 21st century, even as focus remains on artificial intelligence. The technology’s edge stems from its ability to detect nearby objects and processes. Consequently, it has found great use in autonomous driving, enhanced driver assistance systems, and 3D data for urban planning applications.
While the market for LiDAR technology was valued at $3.11 billion in 2025, it is projected to reach $44.51 billion by 2035, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 30.7%. The robust growth comes amid enhanced automated processing capabilities enabled by LiDAR scanners and systems. The increasing need for 3D imagery for topographical surveys, military and defense applications, civil engineering, and corridor mapping is also accelerating growth.
Amid underlying growth, stocks of companies with exposure to LiDAR technology are also attracting strong market interest. The heightened volatility stems from the technology’s massive growth potential.
Nevertheless, there is also a significant gap between established market leaders in LiDAR technology and struggling early-stage firms. Nonetheless, with the broader market showing growing demand for the technology in Industrial AI and automotive, there is still room for growth. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the Best LiDAR stocks to buy according to analysts.
Our Methodology
To select our 8 best lidar stocks to buy according to analysts, we sifted through industry publications and scanned financial media reports to identify companies with significant exposure to the lidar market. We looked for companies that manufacture lidar products or components, integrate lidar tech into other products, or offer lidar-related solutions. We ended up with dozens of stocks in our initial list and applied additional filters to pick out the best. We looked for stocks with at least 10% upside potential (as of April 28) and that are favored by hedge funds. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database as of Q4 2025. Finally, we ranked the stocks based on their price upside potential.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research shows 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).
Best Lidar Stocks to Buy According to Analysts
8. Teledyne Technologies Inc (NYSE:TDY)
Stock Upside Potential: 11.75%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Teledyne Technologies Inc (NYSE:TDY) is among the best lidar stocks to buy according to analysts. Teledyne Technologies Inc (NYSE:TDY) continues to strengthen its product portfolio with additional capabilities. On April 28, Teledyne’s Teledyne FLIR OEM unit announced the launch of counter-drone software, expanding its drone threat detection and response solutions.
This software blends thermal infrared image processing and AI-powered perception to detect small drones quickly and more accurately. The company said this capability helps maximize time to respond with counter-drone measures. Teledyne notes that unauthorized drone activity is increasingly becoming a security issue, citing drone incursions near US airports and drone flights near the US-Mexico border.
Separately, on April 28, Teledyne FLIR Defense announced strengthening its unmanned aerial system with lidar mapping capabilities. It explained that this capability addition addresses connectivity gaps in situations where GPS signals may be unavailable.
On April 23, BNP Paribas Exane raised its price target on Teledyne Technologies to $750 from $705 while reiterating an Outperform rating. For this action, the firm pointed to Teledyne’s strong Q1 results and raised guidance.
Teledyne released its Q1 results on April 22, posting EPS of $5.80, above the expected $5.47. Revenue of $1.56 billion increased 7.6% YoY and exceeded the anticipated $1.52 billion. The solid Q1 results led the company to boost its full-year 2026 outlook. It now anticipates GAAP EPS between $20.08 and $20.44. The prior guidance called for EPS in the band of $19.76 to $20.22.
Teledyne Technologies Inc (NYSE:TDY), founded in 1960 and based in California, is an industrial conglomerate specializing in digital imaging, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Through its Teledyne Optech subsidiary, the company offers lidar solutions for surveying, inspection, and mapping applications.
7. Hesai Group (NASDAQ:HSAI)
Stock Upside Potential: 32.30%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Hesai Group (NASDAQ:HSAI) is among the best lidar stocks to buy according to analysts. The stock has gained more than 30% over the past month and more than 50% over the past 12 months.
At its 2026 Technology Open Day on April 20, Hesai Group – ADR (NASDAQ:HSAI) unveiled its latest generation of lidar technologies. The list included a lidar chip capable of detecting color, representing a breakthrough in the company’s lidar development.
The new ETX lidar series is built on the company’s Picasso chip platform. Hesai said its ETX series lidar offers ultra-long-range detection along with high-resolution perception. As a result, it allows vehicles fitted with it to see farther and capture more detail.
The company said its color-capable lidar delivers industry-leading range and small-object detection capabilities. This lidar chip is built for L3 and above autonomous driving, the company added.
Mass production of the ETX lidar is expected to begin in the second half of 2026. Hesai said its color-capable lidar chip will be adopted in multiple flagship vehicle models. At present, Hesai has secured production design deals with 40 automotive brands covering more than 160 models.
Hesai is China’s top lidar maker. It controlled 40% of the Chinese market share at the end of 2025. It continued to capture more market share in the months that followed, reaching 51% in February 2026. Beyond the automotive segment, Hesai is pursuing growth in other markets like robotics.
On March 24, Hesai announced that it was raising its 2026 lidar shipments to between 3 million and 3.5 million units. The company guided its Q1 2026 revenue in the band of $93 million to $100 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 24% – 33%.
Hesai Group (NASDAQ:HSAI) develops and manufactures 3D lidar sensors for a variety of applications. The company is known for its high-performance and cost-effective sensors. Hesai Group’s lidar products and sensors are used in autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and industrial robotics.
6. Trimble Inc (NASDAQ:TRMB)
Stock Upside Potential: 35.96%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
Trimble Inc (NASDAQ:TRMB) is among the best lidar stocks to buy according to analysts. On April 9, KeyBanc reiterated its Overweight rating on Trimble Inc (NASDAQ:TRMB) stock with a price target of $94. The firm renewed its bullish stance on Trimble stock after meeting the company’s management for discussions that touched on Trimble’s AI positioning and other topics.
The meeting took place at Trimble’s headquarters in Westminster, Colorado. The KeyBanc team, led by analyst Jason Celino, met Trimble’s chief executive, chief financial officer, segment heads, and agentic AI platform director.
The meeting gave KeyBanc greater clarity on how the company is positioned against AI disruption risk. The firm’s takeaway was that Trimble is exceeding expectations in its AI development. In this light, KeyBanc feels more confident about Trimble’s growth and cross-selling opportunities in its FS and AECO segments.
Prior to KeyBanc’s meeting with the Trimble management, the company had announced an acquisition aimed at bolstering its AI-focused business. On April 2, Trimble said that it would acquire Document Crunch in a transaction expected to close in Q2 2026. Crunch uses AI to analyze construction documents to identify risks. Once the acquisition is closed, Crunch will be part of Trimble’s AECO segment. Mark Schwartz, the head of the AECO segment, commented that Crunch would bolster Trimble’s Construction One Suite.
Trimble Inc (NASDAQ:TRMB), based in Colorado, is a software, hardware, and services company. It provides software solutions that make lidar data usable for professionals in industries like surveying, mapping, and construction. The company was founded in 1978.
While we acknowledge the potential of TRMB 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 TRMB and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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