Prediction: The Nasdaq's AI Stocks Will Outperform the S&P 500 Over the Next 12 Months. Here's What to Buy.

4 weeks ago 14

Harsh Chauhan, The Motley Fool

Wed, April 22, 2026 astatine 9:20 AM CDT 5 min read

Technology stocks are rebounding aft a mediocre commencement to the year. The tech-laden Nasdaq-100 index, which pulled backmost by astir 6% successful the archetypal 4th of 2026, has erased its losses and rallied by 11% truthful acold successful April.

This awesome turnaround tin beryllium attributed successful portion to the caller developments successful the Middle East, arsenic a ceasefire betwixt the warring parties determination has boosted capitalist assurance connected Wall Street again. Artificial quality (AI) stocks, successful particular, are benefiting from the affirmative geopolitical news. The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF has soared by 14% this month.

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This exchange-traded money (ETF) invests successful companies progressive successful the improvement of AI hardware and software, truthful its rally suggests that AI stocks person regained their mojo. In fact, it won't beryllium astonishing to spot AI stocks outperforming the S&P 500 scale successful the coming year.

CoreWeave institution  sanction  and logo connected  a bluish  background.

Image source: The Motley Fool

The monolithic investments successful AI infrastructure and the increasing adoption of AI bundle solutions, driven by the productivity gains the exertion promises, are poised to thrust stronger net maturation for tech companies. A February study from the Nasdaq Index probe squad noted that the mean nett income maturation of Nasdaq-100 companies successful 2025 was good supra that of S&P 500 companies.

The study further suggests that this inclination is poised to proceed successful 2026. Analysts expect to perceive that the nett income of Nasdaq-100 companies accrued by 19% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth successful the archetypal quarter, good supra the 11% mean net maturation that the S&P 500 companies are estimated to person achieved. Strong AI spending could guarantee stronger net maturation for Nasdaq stocks done the remainder of the year.

The 5 biggest hyperscalers successful the U.S. are expected to walk $720 cardinal connected superior expenditures successful 2026. In addition, neocloud companies specified arsenic CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) volition adhd to the monolithic spending connected information centers. Moreover, chipmakers and foundries are besides expanding their superior outlays arsenic they strive to summation their accumulation capableness truthful that they tin conscionable the monolithic request for information halfway hardware, including graphics processing units, customized AI processors, representation chips, server racks, and different components.

At the aforesaid time, request for AI bundle is expected to emergence arsenic much enterprises and users proceed to follow the exertion successful the hopes of unlocking productivity gains.

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