Three Leading ETFs I'm Eager to Invest in Heavily in 2026, Even with Numerous Affordable Stocks on My Watchlist
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 11 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Investment Strategy for 2026: The author plans to allocate half of their retirement contributions to ETFs in 2026, focusing on the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF, Vanguard Real Estate ETF, and Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF as key investments.
Small Cap Stocks Outlook: Small cap stocks, particularly those in the Russell 2000 index, are currently undervalued compared to large caps, and lower interest rates in 2026 could help close this valuation gap.
Real Estate Investment Potential: The Vanguard Real Estate ETF is highlighted as a promising investment due to its exposure to REITs and a 4% dividend yield, especially as the real estate sector is expected to recover.
AI Investment via ETFs: The Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF is favored for its focus on smaller AI stocks, providing a way to invest in the AI revolution without extensive research on individual companies.
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Analyst Views on AMD
Wall Street analysts forecast AMD stock price to fall
33 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 488.450
Low
210.00
Averages
289.13
High
377.00
Current: 488.450
Low
210.00
Averages
289.13
High
377.00
About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. is a global semiconductor company. The Company is focused on high-performance computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Its segments include Data Center, Client and Gaming, and Embedded. Data Center segment includes AI accelerators, microprocessors (CPUs) for servers, graphics processing units (GPUs), accelerated processing units (APUs), data processing units (DPUs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and Adaptive system-on-Chip (SoC) products for data centers. Client and Gaming segment includes CPUs, APUs, chipsets for desktops and notebooks, discrete GPUs, and semi-custom SoC products and development services. Embedded segment includes embedded CPUs, APUs, FPGAs, system on modules (SOMs), and Adaptive SoC products. It markets and sells its products under the AMD trademark. Its products include AMD EPYC, AMD Ryzen, AMD Ryzen PRO, Virtex UltraScale+, among others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Three AI Stocks Continue to Outperform the Market
- TSMC Market Dominance: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, produces about 70% of processors and nearly 90% of advanced processors, with projections indicating a $1.5 trillion global chip market by 2030, driven by AI processor demand that boosted its sales by 32% to $121 billion in 2025, further solidifying its market position.
- Google AI Service Growth: Alphabet's Gemini AI model has doubled its user base to over 900 million in the past year, contributing to a 63% increase in Google Cloud sales to $20 billion in Q1, showcasing the extensive application of AI services and future revenue potential, with plans to gradually raise prices and introduce new features to enhance earnings.
- Nvidia's Market Share: Nvidia commands 86% of the AI data center revenue market, and despite rising competition, its latest quarter saw an 85% revenue increase to nearly $82 billion, with diluted earnings soaring 140% to $1.87 per share, reflecting its strong performance in the AI processor sector and relatively low price-to-earnings ratio.
- Future Demand Outlook: As the robotics and autonomy sectors expand, Nvidia anticipates a significant increase in demand for its high-end processors, with RBC analysts predicting the robotics industry could reach $9 trillion by 2050, further enhancing Nvidia's appeal as a long-term AI investment.
See More
TSMC's Sustained Advantage in the AI Market
- Market Leadership: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) is the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, producing about 70% of processors and nearly 90% of advanced processors, with projections indicating that the global chip market will reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, driven primarily by AI processor demand, which will further boost the company's sales.
- Alphabet's AI Progress: Alphabet's Gemini AI model has seen its user base double over the past year to over 900 million users, with Google Cloud sales attributed to AI services growing 63% to $20 billion in the first quarter, showcasing its strong growth potential in the AI sector.
- Nvidia's Market Share: Despite rising competition, Nvidia maintains an 86% share of the AI data center revenue market, with revenue increasing by 85% to nearly $82 billion in the most recent quarter, demonstrating its ongoing leadership and profitability in the AI processor space.
- Future Demand Outlook: As the robotics and autonomy sectors expand, Nvidia anticipates a significant increase in demand for high-end processors, with RBC analysts predicting the robotics industry could be worth $9 trillion by 2050, further solidifying Nvidia's long-term investment appeal.
See More
Surge in AI Infrastructure Spending
- Market Spending Surge: AI infrastructure spending is expected to exceed $700 billion in 2023, with Goldman Sachs projecting it could reach between $920 billion and $1.4 trillion next year, indicating robust market demand and investment potential.
- Nvidia's Market Leadership: Nvidia has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of AI infrastructure spending, with an 85% revenue growth last year and a forward P/E of 16 times, showcasing its sustained competitive advantage in AI model training.
- AMD's Growth Potential: Although trailing Nvidia in AI model training, AMD is better positioned for inference and agentic AI, with its market projected to reach $120 billion in the coming years, driving significant growth for the company.
- Micron's Profitability: As one of the top three DRAM manufacturers, Micron benefits from rising DRAM prices, expected to continue achieving record revenues and profits, with a forward P/E of 9 times, highlighting its importance in AI infrastructure.
See More
AI Infrastructure Spending Surges to $700 Billion
- Spending Growth Forecast: AI infrastructure spending is expected to exceed $700 billion in 2023, with Goldman Sachs projecting next year's spending to reach between $920 billion and $1.4 trillion, indicating strong market demand and investment confidence in AI technologies.
- Nvidia's Market Advantage: Nvidia, the biggest beneficiary of AI infrastructure spending, saw an 85% revenue growth last year, with a forward P/E of just 16 times, showcasing its strong competitive position in the GPU market and potential for future growth.
- AMD's Strategic Positioning: Although trailing Nvidia in AI model training, AMD's focus on inference and agentic AI presents significant market opportunities, with expectations to benefit from $100 billion in inference GPU commitments over the coming years.
- Micron's Memory Market Opportunities: As a leading DRAM manufacturer, Micron is capitalizing on rising DRAM prices, with expectations for record revenue and profits as data center spending continues to surge, and its forward P/E of 9 times indicates strong investment value.
See More
Oracle Faces Growth Challenges Amid AI Demand
- Market Share and Customer Dependency: Oracle's remaining performance obligations (RPO) reached $638 billion, a 363% year-over-year increase, with approximately $300 billion attributed to OpenAI, indicating strong demand in AI infrastructure but also exposing risks from over-reliance on a single customer.
- Financial Performance and Growth Outlook: In Q4 of fiscal 2026, Oracle generated total revenue of $19.2 billion, up 21% year-over-year, with cloud infrastructure contributing $5.8 billion and growing at 93%, yet only 12% of RPO is expected to convert to revenue in the next 12 months, highlighting growth uncertainties.
- Debt and Investment Risks: Oracle carries over $122 billion in long-term debt and plans to raise an additional $40 billion through debt and equity, which, while aimed at expanding AI data centers, poses short-term financial pressures that could affect investor confidence.
- Stock Valuation and Market Prospects: With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 31.6, slightly below the Nasdaq-100's 34.6, and forecasts of 45.7% earnings growth in fiscal 2028, investors may need to adopt a wait-and-see approach due to current market challenges.
See More
Oracle's Data Centers in High Demand Amid AI Boom
- Order Backlog Concerns: Oracle's order backlog stands at $638 billion, indicating strong market demand; however, investors are cautious about the fulfillment capabilities of some customers, particularly regarding OpenAI's substantial commitments that may not be met.
- Financial Performance Insight: In Q4 of fiscal 2026, Oracle generated $19.2 billion in total revenue, a 21% year-over-year increase, with its Cloud Infrastructure contributing $5.8 billion and growing at an impressive 93%, highlighting significant demand for data center capacity.
- Profitability and Risks: With a GAAP earnings per share of $5.83 and a P/E ratio of 31.6, slightly below the Nasdaq-100's 34.6, analysts forecast only 7.7% earnings growth for fiscal 2027, suggesting limited upside potential in the near term.
- Debt and Investment Pressure: Oracle carries over $122 billion in long-term debt and plans to raise an additional $40 billion through debt and equity, creating a risky scenario for investors as the company accelerates its investment in AI data centers amidst uncertain revenue conversion from its backlog.
See More
Three AI Stocks Continue to Outperform the Market
- TSMC Market Dominance: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, produces about 70% of processors and nearly 90% of advanced processors, with projections indicating a $1.5 trillion global chip market by 2030, driven by AI processor demand that boosted its sales by 32% to $121 billion in 2025, further solidifying its market position.
- Google AI Service Growth: Alphabet's Gemini AI model has doubled its user base to over 900 million in the past year, contributing to a 63% increase in Google Cloud sales to $20 billion in Q1, showcasing the extensive application of AI services and future revenue potential, with plans to gradually raise prices and introduce new features to enhance earnings.
- Nvidia's Market Share: Nvidia commands 86% of the AI data center revenue market, and despite rising competition, its latest quarter saw an 85% revenue increase to nearly $82 billion, with diluted earnings soaring 140% to $1.87 per share, reflecting its strong performance in the AI processor sector and relatively low price-to-earnings ratio.
- Future Demand Outlook: As the robotics and autonomy sectors expand, Nvidia anticipates a significant increase in demand for its high-end processors, with RBC analysts predicting the robotics industry could reach $9 trillion by 2050, further enhancing Nvidia's appeal as a long-term AI investment.
See More
TSMC's Sustained Advantage in the AI Market
- Market Leadership: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) is the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, producing about 70% of processors and nearly 90% of advanced processors, with projections indicating that the global chip market will reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, driven primarily by AI processor demand, which will further boost the company's sales.
- Alphabet's AI Progress: Alphabet's Gemini AI model has seen its user base double over the past year to over 900 million users, with Google Cloud sales attributed to AI services growing 63% to $20 billion in the first quarter, showcasing its strong growth potential in the AI sector.
- Nvidia's Market Share: Despite rising competition, Nvidia maintains an 86% share of the AI data center revenue market, with revenue increasing by 85% to nearly $82 billion in the most recent quarter, demonstrating its ongoing leadership and profitability in the AI processor space.
- Future Demand Outlook: As the robotics and autonomy sectors expand, Nvidia anticipates a significant increase in demand for high-end processors, with RBC analysts predicting the robotics industry could be worth $9 trillion by 2050, further solidifying Nvidia's long-term investment appeal.
See More
Surge in AI Infrastructure Spending
- Market Spending Surge: AI infrastructure spending is expected to exceed $700 billion in 2023, with Goldman Sachs projecting it could reach between $920 billion and $1.4 trillion next year, indicating robust market demand and investment potential.
- Nvidia's Market Leadership: Nvidia has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of AI infrastructure spending, with an 85% revenue growth last year and a forward P/E of 16 times, showcasing its sustained competitive advantage in AI model training.
- AMD's Growth Potential: Although trailing Nvidia in AI model training, AMD is better positioned for inference and agentic AI, with its market projected to reach $120 billion in the coming years, driving significant growth for the company.
- Micron's Profitability: As one of the top three DRAM manufacturers, Micron benefits from rising DRAM prices, expected to continue achieving record revenues and profits, with a forward P/E of 9 times, highlighting its importance in AI infrastructure.
See More
AI Infrastructure Spending Surges to $700 Billion
- Spending Growth Forecast: AI infrastructure spending is expected to exceed $700 billion in 2023, with Goldman Sachs projecting next year's spending to reach between $920 billion and $1.4 trillion, indicating strong market demand and investment confidence in AI technologies.
- Nvidia's Market Advantage: Nvidia, the biggest beneficiary of AI infrastructure spending, saw an 85% revenue growth last year, with a forward P/E of just 16 times, showcasing its strong competitive position in the GPU market and potential for future growth.
- AMD's Strategic Positioning: Although trailing Nvidia in AI model training, AMD's focus on inference and agentic AI presents significant market opportunities, with expectations to benefit from $100 billion in inference GPU commitments over the coming years.
- Micron's Memory Market Opportunities: As a leading DRAM manufacturer, Micron is capitalizing on rising DRAM prices, with expectations for record revenue and profits as data center spending continues to surge, and its forward P/E of 9 times indicates strong investment value.
See More
Oracle Faces Growth Challenges Amid AI Demand
- Market Share and Customer Dependency: Oracle's remaining performance obligations (RPO) reached $638 billion, a 363% year-over-year increase, with approximately $300 billion attributed to OpenAI, indicating strong demand in AI infrastructure but also exposing risks from over-reliance on a single customer.
- Financial Performance and Growth Outlook: In Q4 of fiscal 2026, Oracle generated total revenue of $19.2 billion, up 21% year-over-year, with cloud infrastructure contributing $5.8 billion and growing at 93%, yet only 12% of RPO is expected to convert to revenue in the next 12 months, highlighting growth uncertainties.
- Debt and Investment Risks: Oracle carries over $122 billion in long-term debt and plans to raise an additional $40 billion through debt and equity, which, while aimed at expanding AI data centers, poses short-term financial pressures that could affect investor confidence.
- Stock Valuation and Market Prospects: With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 31.6, slightly below the Nasdaq-100's 34.6, and forecasts of 45.7% earnings growth in fiscal 2028, investors may need to adopt a wait-and-see approach due to current market challenges.
See More
Oracle's Data Centers in High Demand Amid AI Boom
- Order Backlog Concerns: Oracle's order backlog stands at $638 billion, indicating strong market demand; however, investors are cautious about the fulfillment capabilities of some customers, particularly regarding OpenAI's substantial commitments that may not be met.
- Financial Performance Insight: In Q4 of fiscal 2026, Oracle generated $19.2 billion in total revenue, a 21% year-over-year increase, with its Cloud Infrastructure contributing $5.8 billion and growing at an impressive 93%, highlighting significant demand for data center capacity.
- Profitability and Risks: With a GAAP earnings per share of $5.83 and a P/E ratio of 31.6, slightly below the Nasdaq-100's 34.6, analysts forecast only 7.7% earnings growth for fiscal 2027, suggesting limited upside potential in the near term.
- Debt and Investment Pressure: Oracle carries over $122 billion in long-term debt and plans to raise an additional $40 billion through debt and equity, creating a risky scenario for investors as the company accelerates its investment in AI data centers amidst uncertain revenue conversion from its backlog.
See More
