Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best
Analysts recommend these 10 best AI stocks to buy.
The rise of artificial intelligence has given way to a variety of different opportunities in the market.
Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best, automation and robotics are changing nearly every industry. In the past year, the world got a firsthand look at remarkable advances in AI technology from OpenAI, Microsoft and Google.
Whether it be machine learning, large language models, smart applications and appliances, digital assistants, synthetic media software, or autonomous vehicles, companies that aren’t investing in AI products and services risk becoming obsolete. Countless companies stand to benefit from AI, but a handful of stocks have AI and automation as a central part of their. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
STOCK | IMPLIED UPSIDE OVER FEB. 5 CLOSE |
Microsoft Corp. (ticker: MSFT) | 17.1% |
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) | 18.3% |
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) | 8.6% |
Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) | -13.5% |
Meta Platforms Inc. (META) | 19.7% |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM) | 9.4% |
Adobe Inc. (ADBE) | 7.1% |
ASML Holding NV (ASML) | 11.3% |
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) | 22.7% |
Arista Networks Inc. (ANET) | 0.7% |
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
After announcing a $1 billion investment in ChatGPT maker OpenAI in 2019, Microsoft increased its investment to $13 billion in January 2023 and integrated ChatGPT into its Bing search engine shortly thereafter. In September 2023, Microsoft announced it is integrating its AI products into a single AI experience called Microsoft Copilot. OpenAI has reportedly recently made impressive breakthroughs with its new AI model called Q* (pronounced “Q star”). Analyst Joseph Bonner says Microsoft’s dividend is safe and its ongoing investments in cloud services and AI position the company for long-term Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL)
Google and YouTube parent company Alphabet uses AI and automation in virtually every facet of its business, from ad pricing to content promotion to Gmail spam filters. Google launched its Bard AI chatbot in March 2023. In September, Google integrated Bard into its full suite of tools, including YouTube, Google Drive and Google Flights. In December, Google announced Gemini, its most capable AI model that incorporates different types of media. Bonner says Gemini is highly flexible, and Google believes it is the most powerful AI system in the world today. Argus has a “buy” rating and $170 price target for GOOGL stock, which closed at $143.68 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)
Amazon has integrated AI into every aspect of its business, including targeted advertisements, marketplace search and recommendation algorithms, and Amazon Web Services. The company offers a wide range of AI and machine learning services to its cloud customers, including advanced text analytics, automated code reviews and chatbots. In September, Amazon integrated generative AI capabilities into its Alexa personal assistant that allows it to express opinions. Analyst Jim Kelleher says the integration of AI technology may be a shot in the arm for Amazon’s slowing AWS growth. Argus has a “buy” rating and $185 price target for AMZN stock, which closed at $170.31 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Nvidia Corp. (NVDA)
High-end chipmaker Nvidia provides the massive processing power needed to run advanced AI applications. Nvidia was the best-performing stock in the entire S&P 500 in 2023, largely due to the company’s AI exposure. AI-related demand for Nvidia’s graphics processing units helped the company triple its year-over-year revenue in the most recent quarter despite new U.S. export restrictions on high-end chips. Kelleher says Nvidia’s red-hot stock has an unparalleled positioning in the AI and deep-learning technology markets. Argus has a “buy” rating and $600 price target for NVDA stock, which closed at $693.32 on Feb. 5. That price target was released after third-quarter earnings, and investors can expect updated research after Nvidia’s fourth-quarter report expected on Feb. 21. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Meta Platforms Inc. (META)
Meta Platforms is a market leader in social media and online advertising and is the owner of Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. Meta is reportedly developing a new AI system built to be as powerful as the most advanced OpenAI model. The company is also reportedly testing more than 20 generative AI features across its platforms, including updates to search, advertising and business messaging. Bonner says Meta will continue to integrate AI features on all platforms that will help the company improve efficiency and further monetize its users. Argus has a “buy” rating and $550 price target for META stock, which closed at $459.41 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM)
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is the world’s largest pure-play semiconductor foundry. Taiwan Semi manufactures all the advanced AI semiconductors for Nvidia and other AI chipmakers. Taiwan Semi recently said demand for high-end AI chips will help fuel 20% revenue growth for the company in 2024, despite weakness in smartphone and electric vehicle demand. Kelleher says Taiwan Semi is the leading merchant fabrication investment. Enterprise generative AI demand is surging and Kelleher says U.S. restrictions on technology sales to China will have only a minor impact on overall demand. Argus has a “buy” rating and $130 price target for TSM stock, which closed at $118.79 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Adobe Inc. (ADBE)
Adobe produces creative content software and other applications used for marketing and e-commerce. The company’s Firefly generative machine learning model is generating customer interest across Photoshop, Illustrator and other platforms. Adobe has also applied its Sensei AI and machine learning technology to its Adobe Analytics, Campaign and Target products. At the CES 2024 conference in January, Alexandru Costin, the company’s vice president of generative AI, told TechRadar that Adobe is transitioning from a software company to an AI company. Bonner says generative AI investments will help Adobe rapidly expand its total addressable market. Argus has a “buy” rating and $675 price target for ADBE stock, which closed at $630.50 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
ASML Holding NV (ASML)
ASML produces photolithography systems and other processing equipment used in semiconductor fabrication. ASML is the only major producer of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment necessary to produce advanced AI chips. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, ASML CEO Peter Wennink said AI technology development requires massive amounts of data storage and computing power. Without ASML’s technology, Wennink said “that’s not going to happen.” Kelleher says demand for premium tier edge devices and generative AI applications will accelerate ASML’s EUV equipment sales growth in 2024 and 2025. Argus has a “buy” rating and $1,000 price target for ASML stock, which closed at $898.54 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)
For years, IBM has been developing ways to adapt its AI supercomputer Watson to revolutionize health care, finance, law and academia. IBM’s portfolio of Watson AI solutions includes applications to improve customer service, automate workflow processes and predict outcomes. IBM’s Watson Studio even helps enterprise customers build proprietary AI applications. In December, IBM and Meta launched the AI Alliance, an international community of AI technology developers committed to open AI innovation. Kelleher says Watsonx.ai is an “enterprise-ready AI and data platform” that “stands in contrast to the closed systems offered by Alphabet and Microsoft.” Argus has a “buy” rating and $225 price target for IBM stock, which closed at $183.42 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Arista Networks Inc. (ANET)
Arista Networks supplies cloud networking solutions to internet companies, cloud service providers and enterprise data centers. Arista’s high-performance cloud networking solutions and high-throughput data center switches are necessary to provide the processing power required for intensive AI workloads. In November 2023, Arista CEO Jayshree Ullal set a new goal of reaching $750 million in annual AI networking revenue by 2025. Kelleher says Arista is uniquely positioned to benefit from accelerating growth of cloud-based data center networking in support of large language models and generative AI technology. Argus has a “buy” rating and $275 price target for ANET stock, which closed at $272.97 on Feb. 5. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
The best antivirus software in 2024 for PC
Protect your devices (and all your important data) with the best antivirus software solutions on the market.
The internet is teeming with threats to your digital security, and seeing as we spend a lot of our lives online, it’s important to make sure you’re well-prepared to deal with these dangers—and that’s where antivirus software enters the picture.
After all, it’s your best defense against cybercriminals, viruses, and malware. These threats aren’t new, but digital crooks are constantly finding new ways to leverage these tools, capture your personal information, and ultimately commit identity theft.
Antivirus software gives your devices an added layer of protection, and comes with some handy extra features that’ll safeguard against a wide variety of scams. This still applies to you if you’re a Mac user. More and more threats, like ransomware, are engineered to target Mac devices.
In this guide, I’ll cover the best antivirus options on the market. Each service includes outstanding security and privacy tools that’ll allow you to work, play, and enjoy your day-to-day browsing without worrying about being compromised by an opportunistic cybercriminal or interruptions from scams and popups. Here are my top three recommendations:
1. Bitdefender: today’s best antivirus software True to its name, Bitdefender puts a stop to both new and unknown malware, and acts so quickly that you won’t even realize you’re in danger. Bitdefender doesn’t take up a huge amount of resources and packs a lot of value into reasonably priced plans.
The solution also comes with a VPN, safe banking tools, and a firewall. You can try Bitdefender Total Security free for 30 days before committing to a subscription.
2. Norton: malware and identity protection
Access to LifeLock identity protection services makes a Norton subscription worth every penny—but you’ll also get other impressive benefits. These include strong protection against malware, browser security and parental controls, and even a password manager.
Norton has a 60-day money-back guarantee and a Virus Protection Promise if you sign up for its auto-renewal program.
3. Avast One: the gamer’s ally
Boot up a game and Avast will automatically put itself in gamer mode. This will keep you protected and ensure that you’re not interrupted by popups, reminders, or other frustrating distractions.
Other perks include VPN access and a handy system scanner. Plus, a stripped-down free version is available to try, so you can get a feel for the Avast toolkit. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
The best antivirus services in 2024
Whether you’re looking for the total antivirus package or hunting for specific features, like banking protection, my guide has you covered. Keep reading to check out my top 10 favorite antivirus solutions (and a few honorable mentions). Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Bitdefender consistently impresses with its ability to identify threats and stop them in their tracks. Malware files are pinpointed even before they begin downloading, web trackers are likewise rooted out and blocked, and if you try to access a site with known threats you’ll receive a warning that’s hard to miss (or ignore.)
AV-Comparatives, a third-party test lab, reported positive results when it put Bitdefender to the test. The solution blocked 99.4% of threats (coming in second only to the likes of Norton and McAfee) and didn’t have a huge impact on the speed of computer processes. When I put Bitdefender under the microscope myself, I saw it block real-world ransomware before it could wreak havoc. However, I did notice that the Ransomware Remediation feature isn’t enabled by default—so you’ll need to dive into the settings to ensure that your files remain secure.
Try Bitdefender Total Security free for 30 days
Earlier this year, Bitdefender released a decryptor for the MortalKombat ransomware—free of charge, providing the company’s commitment to countering cyberattacks. Victims across the US were targeted at random by ransomware, which spread through bogus emails containing a .ZIP attachment and a BAT loader script. To tackle this threat, the decryptor backs up affected files before attempting decryption, just in case, and can be executed via the command line. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best
There are three Bitdefender plans on offer, and they all come with useful security tools. If you really want to get your money’s worth, however, you’ll want to opt for the Total Security package, which includes safe banking tools, a (admittedly limited) VPN, social media protection, file shredder, parental controls, and much more. There’s even a handy vulnerability scanner that’ll find weak spots in your network and offer suggestions on how to resolve them. You’ll be able to use Bitdefender on any device, too, thanks to user-friendly apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and take advantage of multiple licenses (up to 10) to protect the entire family. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Bitdefender gets straight to work with a full scan when you start using it, and combs through your system in its entirety to look for threats and intruders. This is par for the course, although Bitdefender took almost a full hour to complete a scan of 50 Gb executable files. It’s possible to configure scans, customize them, and set them to run on a schedule or on-demand, and Quick Scans can even be run once a day, or weekly, and dig into individual files. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
I found Bitdefender incredibly easy to use—so even if you’re new to the world of antivirus, you’ll have no trouble navigating sleek and well-designed apps. You can even customize the dashboard by adding or removing default features. So, if you don’t make use of the VPN, you can substitute it in a few clicks for the password manager or scan manager. Most of the features you’ll need are already enabled by default, too, which means you won’t have to spend ages configuring each and every setting. However, if you do need help with particular tools, you can count on Bitdefender’s in-program tutorials to help you make the most of these privacy-enhancing functionalities. Artificial Intelligence Stocks The 10 Best.
Bitdefender’s Total Security plan is available from $39.99 for a single year—although the price does jump to $95 after this introductory period. However, you can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee to put the solution through its paces, run your own tests, and see whether its suite of tools is worth the investment.