Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy joined CNBC's 'Squawk Box' on November 26 where he emphasized the need for a new group he has created, the Alpha Institute, which aims to advocate for pro-technology proposals. He highlighted the importance of focusing on long-term technological advancements, particularly in AI and quantum technology, which he believes are critical for America's future competitiveness.
McCarthy noted that legislators often become bogged down in daily issues and fail to consider the long-term implications of their policies. He shared that three years ago, he initiated a course to educate members of Congress on AI and quantum technologies, recognizing their significance in various sectors such as energy and defense. He argued that without reforming processes like permitting and enhancing the energy grid, the US risks falling behind in the AI race.
Later on December 2, Jay Jacobs, head of US BlackRock Thematic and Active ETFs, joined ‘Halftime Report’ with CNBC’s Bob Pisani to discuss the key themes to watch in the ETF space heading into 2025. Jacobs emphasized that one major trend for 2025 will be the acceleration of AI infrastructure and its integration into consumer issues. He outlined 3 distinct stages of the AI theme: the build phase, where significant investments are made in infrastructure; the mass adoption phase across enterprises and individuals; and the transformation stage, which will see entirely new industries emerge from AI advancements.
Jacobs pointed out that during the build phase, ETFs focused on semiconductors, such as SOXX, and digital infrastructure like IDTT will benefit significantly. As companies adopt AI technologies, software names are expected to gain traction, leading to a transformation that could create new market opportunities over the next five to ten years.
Methodology
We sifted through media reports and ETFs to look for AI companies trading under $5 billion. That’s our definition of small-cap stocks. We then selected the 12 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q3 2024. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database which tracks the moves of over 900 elite money managers.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A computer engineer debugging a complex AI application on a powerful workstation.
C3.ai Inc. (NYSE:AI) is a leading provider of enterprise AI software that empowers businesses across various industries to harness the power of AI to drive innovation and solve complex challenges. Its platform enables organizations to develop, deploy, and manage AI applications, while its industry-specific solutions address critical business needs such as optimizing inventory, mitigating supply chain risks, and improving sustainability.
The company has further solidified its position as an industry leader by expanding its partnership with Capgemini recently, a global technology and consulting powerhouse. This strategic move empowers C3.ai Inc. (NYSE:AI) to accelerate the adoption of AI solutions across diverse industries, including life sciences, energy, utilities, government, banking, and manufacturing.
By combining C3.ai Inc.'s (NYSE:AI) cutting-edge AI applications with Capgemini's deep industry expertise and global implementation capabilities, the partnership aims to deliver transformative solutions that drive operational excellence, boost productivity, and reduce costs.
Bireme Capital stated the following regarding C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“Our final new short position is in a company called C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI). Originally named “C3 Energy,” C3.ai has changed its name multiple times based on whatever hot new trend they were supposedly capitalizing on. The “energy” theme was about smart grid and cap-and-trade. Then the firm changed its name to “C3 IoT” to attempt to capitalize on the Internet of Things buzz. After that trend fizzled out, the moniker was altered once more, with the company capturing the “AI” ticker in December 2020 – a savvy move if it wants to sell stock to credulous investors, but irrelevant to its business prospects. As Kerrisdale put it, the company is a “minor, cash burning consulting and services business masquerading as a software company.”
Overall AI ranks 8th on our list of the best small cap AI stocks to buy according to hedge funds. As we acknowledge the potential of AI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AI but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
