Top AI stock to buy as the 2025 boom accelerates

Date:


These companies have high-temperature second-quarter earnings results that stock prices could give momentum later this year.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to promote high technology inventory. This is a trend that has not diminished much since early 2023.

But this is not the case for hype with little substance. Top AI stocks are walking around the streets, bringing impressive business results that show that the AI boom is not just real, but still getting stronger.

These Fool.com contributors are fascinated by the meta platform (NASDAQ: Meta)ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) and alphabet (NASDAQ: Google) (NASDAQ: GOOG)three winners who may continue to outperform for at least the remainder of 2025.

This is what you need to know about each strain right now.

Meta Platform is an obvious purchase after outstanding Q2 performance

Justin Pope (Metaplatform): When the metaplatform thinks it’s steam shortage, the company releases its second quarter revenue report, which investors should feel on the whim.

For investors, it is becoming increasingly clear how strong the core business is on the meta platform. The company’s apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, continue to add users. Meta’s daily active users rose 6% year-on-year to 3.48 billion in Q2 2025.

At the same time, advertising prices increased by 9% from the previous year. As a result, Metaplatform enjoyed a 22% revenue growth year-over-year, with the company’s net profit rising 36% against the quarter a year ago.

This strength continues to show how important artificial intelligence is to metaplatforms. On the one hand, AI can be used to automate aspects of the core advertising business, increasing efficiency and profitability. Meta’s operating margin has boosted by 5% points over a year ago. Meanwhile, AI represents a new frontier beyond smartphones where Meta’s investment in smart glasses has been marked.

Meta recently traded at 27x revenue estimates for 2025, with analysts expecting an average annual growth of over 16% over the next three to five years. However, Wall Street may need to quickly adjust estimates to explain the momentum of Meta buildings.

As the meta platform continues to raise the bar, stocks will be buying table pounds as investors try to figure out what the ceiling is in this emerging golden age of AI.

Temporary headwinds could be an opportunity to purchase this chip maker

It’ll be Healy (ASML): One AI stock that could end strong in 2025 is ASML. It’s not a common name, but it plays an important role in AI.

ASML leads the industry in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV), the technology needed to create the world’s most advanced chips. However, despite the growing demand for AI-driven technology, there are several important headwinds.

In recent months, companies like Intel have delayed or cancelled foundry construction projects. ASML’s market niche is a small number of customers remaining, so delays and losses of customers can have a major financial impact.

Additionally, China-based Huawei has improved its EUV technology. It presents the potentially competitive threat for an industry dominated by ASML.

However, Grand View Research expects the global AI market to reach the size of $1.8 trillion by 2030, equivalent to a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36% at the time. This almost certainly increases the demand for AI chips. This means that the market needs more EUV machines from ASML.

ASML’s recent financial performance reflects its CAGR. Net sales of 15.4 billion euros ($17.8 billion) were reported in the first half of 2025, with an annual increase of 34%. The company also continued to keep costs down. Net income rose 66%, exceeding 4.6 billion euros ($5.4 billion).

Still, analysts hope that the slowdown will soon affect ASML’s finances. The third quarter revenue forecast demands net sales of 7.4 billion to 7.9 billion euros, an increase of just 2% at the midpoint. Analysts’ forecasts confirm that revenues for 2025 are slowing down, which is expected to fall to 14% in 2025. That slowdown has been heavier in the results, with inventory dropping by nearly 20% from last year.

Nevertheless, investors may have overlooked the unusually low level of 26 revenues in ASML, with an average P/E ratio of 42 over the five years. Many investors will notice discount ratings and take into account long-term growth outlook, attracting bargain hunters and revive inventory.

Alphabet’s cloud services business is on fire

Jake Crich (alphabet): My choice is alphabet.

When Alphabet reported its second quarter revenue results a few weeks ago (for the three months ended June 30th, 2025), two items stood out to me.

The theory is that Google’s search usage decreases as more people respond to ChatGpt and other AI-powered chatbots. Second, Google’s ad fees will fall, causing Alphabet’s revenue growth to be compromised.

that I did it It happens – but it hasn’t happened yet. In fact, AD revenues increased by around 10%. In other words, Google searches are doing well.

Second, Alphabet reported that its cloud services business is red hot. Google Cloud, the third largest cloud service provider after Amazon and Microsoft, reported a revenue growth rate of 32%. Importantly, Alphabet’s management has choked up the outstanding performance of the AI boom. Ironically, one of the customers who recently signed up to use Google Cloud is nothing but Openai, the company behind ChatGpt.

So, everything is going well in the alphabet, as the advertising business performs properly and the cloud business is working well. And there are other irons in the company. WAYMO’s subsidiary is one of the first companies to open self-driving cars to the public, and its quantum AI lab continues to strive to revolutionize the nature of computing.

The short-term and long-term outlook for the alphabet continues to look bright. Investors looking for AI stocks that could work well after 2025 should consider that now.

Jake Lerch has positions for Alphabet and Amazon. Justin Pope is not in a position with any of the stocks mentioned. Wilfey has an Intel position. Motley Fool has positions for ASML, Alphabet, Amazon, Intel, Meta Platforms and Microsoft, and is recommended. Motley Fool recommends the following options: A $395 call with long Microsoft in January 2026, a $24 call with short-term Intel in August 2025, a $405 call with short-term Microsoft in January 2026. Motley Fools have a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a partner at USA Today, providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people control their financial lives. The content is produced independently of USA Today.

Should I invest $1,000 in the meta platform now?

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