Artificial intelligence stocks have once again pulled ahead of the wider market in 2026. According to The Motley Fool, whose analysis was also carried by Yahoo Finance, AI names have "crushed the broader market" this year, and the firm argues the run may not be over.
Writing ahead of the summer earnings season, The Motley Fool spotlights two AI stocks it believes are worth buying. Notably, the firm says these two companies have actually struggled lately, but points to their "solid earnings growth potential" as a reason they could "step on the gas again." The specific companies are named in the full article rather than the headline.
The enthusiasm is not universal. In a Macroscope column, the South China Morning Post cautions that investors should not expect "the rising tide of AI to lift all boats." The message is a familiar one in market cycles: a hot theme can lift an index while leaving many individual companies behind, and being labeled an "AI stock" is no guarantee of gains.
Retail investors are clearly paying attention. A separate Motley Fool piece, also republished by Yahoo Finance, rounds up the five most popular AI stocks held by users of the trading app Robinhood — a sign of how deeply the theme has taken hold among everyday buyers.
Why it matters: AI has become one of the biggest drivers of the market's direction, so whether these gains broaden out or stay concentrated in a handful of winners will shape returns for ordinary investors and retirement savers alike.