We recently compiled a list of the 8 Best Augmented Reality Stocks Under $5 to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) stands against other best augmented reality stocks.

As per Ericsson, smartphones are central to the AR experience in the US and this technology’s role continues to evolve. Once simple gateways to AR, smartphones are now sophisticated platforms bridging the physical and the digital worlds and empowering AR content creation and consumption. The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), mainly Generative AI (GenAI), and AR is expected to become the catalyst for bringing XR into mainstream life.

Future Trends in AR

As per Appinventiv, autonomous vehicles continue to become more and more popular in the world. The integration of AR into these vehicles continues to help the broader AR industry. The use of AR technology in autonomous vehicles hints at substantial improvement in the realms of transportation safety and efficiency, as per AZoRobotics. Through overlaying digital data in the real world, AR technology helps boost comprehension of the environment for the driver and the autonomous system. As a result, the combination of AR and AV technologies helps in creating a safer, more efficient, and intuitive driving experience.

As per Grand View Research, global augmented reality in automotive market size was pegged at USD 10.41 billion in 2023. This should grow at a CAGR of 41.2% from 2024 to 2030. With the help of AR technology in showrooms, consumers can interact with virtual 3D models of vehicles. This will enable them to visualize several customizations.

The integration of 5G into AR/VR landscapes is expected to revolutionize industries. As per Idea Usher, one business application is the investment in cloud-based AR/VR solutions, leveraging 5G’s low latency and high bandwidth. This should enable seamless remote collaboration and data streaming.

Next, the advent of WebAR has been gaining significant traction. Web-based Augmented Reality is a relatively new technology and, in this, the mobile application is not required to function. Market experts believe that WebAR should help in enhancing accessibility and user engagement. This is done by combining digital content with physical environments. Future trends among these consist of IoT devices, hardware improvements, and 5G connectivity.

Market Drivers of Augmented Reality

The AR market has seen significant growth due to the dramatic increase in investments. Leading technology giants continue to pump billions of dollars into the AR sector. As per SkyQuest, the largest investment is going into training and industrial maintenance, with the figure sitting at US$4.1 billion in the field of AR. Apart from this, private firms, VCs, and some governments are financing the research institutes. The company believes that industries including consumer, aerospace and defense, healthcare, and retail form the user base of AR.

Additionally, the hospitals and other medical care setups continue to see the use of immersive modalities to help healthcare professionals. As per SkyQuest, the AR in the healthcare industry is expected to hold a market size of US$1.2 billion by 2024. The surgeons are dependent on AR to tackle the risks involved. This results in fewer errors and accordingly unsafe surgeries.

Our Methodology

To list the 8 Best Augmented Reality Stocks Under $5 to Buy, we used the Finviz screener and sifted through several online rankings. After getting the list of 25-30 stocks, we extracted the ones trading at lower than $5 and narrowed our list to the following 8 stocks. Finally, we arranged the stocks in the ascending order of their hedge fund sentiments, as of Q2 2024.

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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS)

Stock Price as of 18 October: $1.12

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 7

MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) develops and sells lidar sensors and software that is used in automotive safety and autonomous driving applications.

MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) continues to focus on the US and EU markets, where American lidar companies are favored. The company appears to be well-positioned to capture demand in the lidar market, given its product portfolio and focus on high-volume passenger car projects. It has sufficient liquidity and engineering resources to cater to capital needs for the upcoming 12 – 18 months.  MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) focuses on capturing market share in the industrial space by offering high-resolution lidar and advanced software solutions.

The company sees 905-nanometer lidar technology as stable and cost-effective for long-term automotive production. MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) targets deeper collaboration with automotive OEMs and customized software solutions.

Wall Street analysts believe that the company’s strategic initiatives and financial management demonstrate a positive outlook amidst the evolving lidar market. Given the targeted efforts in the automotive and industrial segments, together with a focus on American lidar technology, MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) appears to be well-placed to navigate the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities ahead.

With a potential ramp in revenues from multiple heavy equipment customers starting in 2025, MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) appears to be on a sustainable path for multiple years ahead as it secures higher volume automotive opportunities. With the lower cash burn in Q3 2024, the company has been realizing the benefits of improved productivity to extend its financial runway and execute near-term revenue opportunities. In Q3 2024, the cash used in operations came in at ~$14 million as compared to cash used in operations of $20 million.

Analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “Neutral” rating, giving a $3.00 price objective on 22^nd July.

Overall MVIS ranks 5th on our list of best augmented reality stocks under $5. While we acknowledge the potential of MVIS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than MVIS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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