Artificial Intelligence (AI) stocks were battered over the summer. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF, which is chock-full of semiconductor stocks that are tied to the AI sector, fell as much as 25% from the all-time high it set in July.

Nevertheless, I remain bullish on AI. Investors have only seen the beginning stages of how this technology will reshape the world, and additional innovations will take years and even decades to emerge.

That is a strong case for owning AI stocks long term -- here are two I find particularly compelling.

The cutting-edge leader in data analytics

Topping my list is Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR).

The company, which provides AI-powered big data solutions, is riding high. Earlier this month, it was announced that Palantir would join the S&P 500 index. That news spurred a rally in the stock, which has already climbed by 113% year to date.

Behind that excellent performance is the company's sterling fundamentals. Still a young company, Palantir is primarily focused on growing its customer base and revenue. As of the second quarter, its quarterly revenue increased to $678 million, up 27% from a year earlier.

Similarly, Palantir's U.S. customer count is growing very rapidly. The company reported 295 American commercial customers last quarter, up 83% year over year. Moreover, Palantir is attracting larger customers as it closed 27 deals worth more than $10 million each during the period.

Needless to say, Palantir is riding the wave of AI momentum. As CEO Alex Karp noted in his most recent shareholder letter, "Our growth across the commercial and government markets has been driven by an unrelenting wave of demand from customers for artificial intelligence systems that go beyond the merely performative and academic."

In short, the company has caught the wave and is riding it well. Investors looking for an AI stock to buy and hold for the long term should strongly consider Palantir.

The foundation of AI innovation

Next on my list of AI stocks is Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA).

That said, Nvidia is a stock I want to buy and hold for the next decade or longer. That's important because I've made no secret of my opinion that the stock has become very expensive.

However, I still view it as a strong buy because AI is a long-term trend that will play out over many years. In the same way the internet continues to evolve, AI has a long road ahead of it.

That's great news for Nvidia, in particular, because its product is the go-to solution when it comes to building the "brains" of various AI models. It makes the graphic processing units (GPUs) most favored by AI developers

The red-hot demand for AI-capable GPUs means Nvidia can charge top dollar for its products, including the H100 and its soon-to-debut Blackwell chip.

It's important to remember why Nvidia's stock has surged more than 600% over the last two years: The company's revenue and profits are exploding.

In its most recent quarter (ended July 28), revenue was $30.0 billion, up 122% from a year earlier. Over the last 12 months, the company has generated $96.3 billion in sales, up from $25.7 billion less than two years ago. Profits have similarly surged.

The company's dominant position in AI has driven its share price to new heights, but even following its incredible two years of gains, Nvidia remains an AI stock I want to own for the next decade and beyond.

Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now?

Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Palantir Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $710,860!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of September 16, 2024

Jake Lerch has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks You Can Buy and Hold for the Next Decade was originally published by The Motley Fool