Over 30 years ago, the advent and proliferation of the internet vaulted the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite to new heights. After a multidecade wait, the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is having the same effect on equity markets.
The most influential businesses on Wall Street that have embraced AI, such as Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG), social media maven Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), and iPhone maker Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), have been handsomely rewarded. Unfortunately, AI is reshaping a trillion-dollar catalyst for Wall Street, which comes with potentially terrifying implications for the second-priciest stock market in history.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a “Double Down” signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same “Total Conviction” signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The stock market’s most influential companies want their piece of a $15.7 trillion pie
Empowering software and systems with the tools to make autonomous, split-second decisions is, arguably, the largest long-term addressable opportunity we’ve ever witnessed. According to PwC analysts, AI can create up to $15.7 trillion in global economic value by 2030.
There are several ways to approach this technology from an investment standpoint. While hardware providers have shone brightly, thanks in part to graphics processing unit and memory/storage supply shortages, it’s AI application companies that are now garnering attention.
Since Alphabet began incorporating generative AI and large language model capabilities into its cloud infrastructure service platform, Google Cloud, sales have accelerated. In the March-ended quarter, this high-margin platform delivered 63% year-over-year sales growth.
It’s been a similar encouraging story for Meta Platforms, which has integrated generative AI into its global advertising platforms. Enabling businesses to tailor static and video messages to users can improve click-through rates and bolster Meta’s unrivaled social media ad pricing power.
Apple is also benefiting from its rollout of Apple Intelligence, the company’s personal AI system built into its physical devices (e.g., iPhone, iPad, and Mac). Apple’s sales growth has reignited since the introduction of Apple Intelligence.
Aggressive investments in AI come at a steep cost to Wall Street
However, aggressive investments in AI infrastructure have completely reshaped what’s been a core catalyst for the stock market since the start of 2018: stock buybacks.
