We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Emerging Technology Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) stands against the other emerging technology stocks.

The technology sector is constantly evolving, with emerging technology companies leading the charge in groundbreaking innovations. From quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) to biotechnology and autonomous systems, these companies are reshaping industries and unlocking new economic opportunities. Emerging technology firms focus on disruptive advancements that have the potential to transform traditional markets. These businesses operate across various fields, including AI, quantum computing, genomics, space technology, and robotics.

AI remains the Driving Force Behind Emerging Technologies

Among the technologies, AI stands out as the most influential technology of today. Many other advancements, such as automation, autonomous driving, and DNA analysis, are now seen as derivatives of AI. The World Economic Forum’s January 2025 white paper highlights how emerging technologies could significantly impact productivity by 2030. The commercialization of disruptive innovations—particularly AI—has the potential to drive substantial economic growth. According to the World Bank, a technology shock could increase productivity by 1.5% in advanced and 4.5% in emerging economies over a decade. However, AI’s actual impact will depend on how effectively businesses integrate it into their operations.

The report also underscores the importance of overcoming key challenges such as access to capital, talent shortages, and digital infrastructure gaps to fully realize productivity gains. While frontier technologies hold immense promise, broader adoption of accessible innovations can drive widespread economic improvements. For instance, advancements in energy and irrigation technologies are projected to enhance agricultural productivity, with precision farming increasing crop yields by up to 15%. Addressing these challenges is critical to harnessing the full potential of technology-driven growth.

In September 2024, McKinsey released an analysis of 15 key technology trends, highlighting the growing interest, innovation, and investment in robotics. Their experts noted that robots are becoming more versatile, expanding beyond traditional roles. With the integration of generative AI, robotics is now enhancing analytical capabilities, particularly in areas like inventory management.

The McKinsey report also pointed to rising interest in electrification, renewable energy, and quantum computing. Advances in cloud computing and connectivity are accelerating the global spread of innovations, shortening the time from scientific discovery to large-scale implementation. While this rapid progress drives economic and societal benefits, it also presents challenges, as disruptive technologies may outpace society’s ability to adapt. The report emphasizes the need for thoughtful planning to manage the broader implications of large-scale technological adoption.

Despite these challenges, the future of emerging technology companies remains highly promising, with continued innovation and investment set to reshape industries and economies worldwide.

We explored some of the relevant emerging technologies and have curated a list of 10 best names. While we looked at companies with as low as $300 million in market capitalization, the majority of our shortlisted companies are above $1.0 billion in market cap. Let’s have a look at these 10 companies.

Our Methodology

To determine the 10 best emerging tech stocks to buy now, we conducted extensive research to identify U.S.-listed companies at the forefront of innovative, emerging, and disruptive technologies. Our selection criteria included a market capitalization of at least $300 million. Additionally, we focused on stocks with a minimum potential upside of 10%, highlighting those with strong growth prospects. From the companies that met these criteria, we narrowed down the top 10 and ranked them in ascending order based on hedge fund ownership, using data from Q4 2024. This approach ensures that the selected stocks not only exhibit high innovation potential but also attract hedge funds’ interest.

Note: All pricing data is as of market close on March 7.

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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG)

Focus Area: Hydrogen fuel cell technology

Potential Upside: 12%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) specializes in hydrogen fuel cell technology and green hydrogen solutions. The Company focuses on building an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, from production, storage, and delivery to energy generation to help customers meet business goals and decarbonize the economy, as well as provides material handling, e-mobility, power generation, and industrial applications.

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and heat without combustion. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and hydrogen fuel cells produce only water and heat as by-products, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. The company is the largest buyer of liquid hydrogen and has deployed more than 72,000 fuel cell systems for forklifts and more than 275 fuelling stations, as of December 2024.

In FY 2024, Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) reported revenue of $629 million and as per its November 2024 investor presentation, it aims to reach over $3.5 billion in revenue by 2030 and to improve its gross margin to around 30% from a gross loss currently. It sees a total addressable in excess of $1.0 trillion in Stationary Power & Data Centers and over $55 billion in material handling vehicles space.

Overall PLUG ranks 5th on our list of the best emerging technology stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of PLUG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PLUG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.