You Can't Buy Anthropic Stock, but These 4 AI Stocks Are Available
1h ago|4 min readStandard
Fazen Markets Editorial Desk
Collective editorial team · methodology
artificial-intelligencestock-market
Fazen Markets Editorial Desk
Collective editorial team · methodology
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Investors seeking direct exposure to the artificial intelligence boom cannot yet purchase shares of privately-held Anthropic. As of June 21, 2026, the AI startup remains a private company, compelling public market participants to consider alternative equities. Four publicly traded stocks—Nvidia, Microsoft, Palantir, and Super Micro Computer—provide concentrated access to the generative AI infrastructure and software ecosystem. These companies have delivered significant returns, with year-over-year share price appreciation ranging from 40% to over 200%.
Anthropic’s decision to remain private follows a pattern seen with other foundational AI model developers, including OpenAI. Major technology firms have secured strategic stakes in these private entities, locking out retail and many institutional investors from direct ownership. The current macroeconomic environment, characterized by sustained enterprise investment in digital transformation, has accelerated AI adoption. Corporations are allocating capital to AI-driven efficiency gains and competitive advantages, fueling revenue growth for the underlying hardware and software providers.
This trend mirrors the early cloud computing boom of the 2010s, where investors gained exposure through infrastructure plays like Amazon and Salesforce rather than the proprietary cloud technologies themselves. The catalyst for the current surge in AI-centric equities is the widespread deployment of large language models into production environments. This shift from research and development to commercial application began in earnest in late 2023 and has created a multi-year investment cycle.
Public market valuations reflect the immense investor appetite for AI. Nvidia, the dominant supplier of AI accelerator chips, has seen its market capitalization surpass $3.2 trillion. Its data center revenue for the last reported quarter was $22.6 billion, a 427% increase from the prior year. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI and integrator of AI into its Azure cloud and software suites, reported that AI services contributed to a 31% year-over-year increase in Azure revenue.
| Company | Ticker | 1-Year Return | Primary AI Segment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nvidia | NVDA | +210% | Hardware (GPUs) |
| Super Micro Computer | SMCI | +180% | Hardware (Servers) |
| Palantir Technologies | PLTR | +85% | Software (AIP) |
| Microsoft | MSFT | +40% | Cloud & Software |
Palantir’s commercial revenue grew 40% year-over-year, driven by its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). Super Micro Computer, which builds AI-optimized server solutions, reported quarterly revenue of $3.85 billion, a 200% increase. These figures starkly contrast with the S&P 500’s 12-month return of approximately 18%, highlighting the outsized performance of pure-play AI equities.
The concentration of gains in a handful of names presents both opportunity and risk. The primary beneficiaries are semiconductor manufacturers and specialized hardware providers, with Nvidia and its suppliers experiencing unprecedented demand. Second-order effects are now visible in the utilities and energy sectors, as data center power consumption for AI workloads strains electrical grids. Companies like NextEra Energy have seen increased investor interest due to their role in powering this expansion.
A significant risk is valuation froth, as current prices embed expectations for years of uninterrupted hyper-growth. Any slowdown in enterprise AI spending or a failure of AI projects to deliver measurable return on investment could trigger a sharp correction. Institutional positioning is heavily net long, with hedge funds and asset managers increasing their exposure to the AI theme throughout 2025. Flow data indicates continued buying pressure on any minor pullbacks, suggesting strong conviction in the long-term narrative.
The trajectory of these AI stocks will be determined by upcoming earnings reports and product cycles. Key catalysts include Nvidia’s next-generation Blackwell architecture shipments in Q3 2026 and Microsoft’s Build developer conference, where new AI product integrations are typically announced. Palantir’s AIP customer count and contract sizes will be closely scrutinized in its next quarterly report.
Technical levels to monitor include the $120 support zone for Nvidia, which has held as a key benchmark during recent consolidations. For the broader AI sector, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ) is trading near all-time highs; a sustained break below its 50-day moving average could signal a broader sector rotation. The market’s reaction to these events will indicate whether the AI trade has further room to run or is due for a consolidation phase.
The "best" stock depends on an investor's risk tolerance and focus. Nvidia offers pure-play exposure to the essential hardware underpinning AI but carries high volatility. Microsoft provides a more diversified approach, blending AI growth with stable cash flows from its enterprise software and cloud divisions. Long-term investors might favor Microsoft for its lower relative risk, while those seeking aggressive growth may prioritize Nvidia or Palantir.
AI investing is a more specialized subset of cloud computing. While cloud providers like Amazon Web Services offer broad infrastructure, AI stocks often focus on specific layers of the stack: semiconductors (Nvidia), specialized servers (SMCI), or analytical software (Palantir). The AI market is in a earlier, more explosive growth phase compared to the mature cloud market, leading to higher potential returns and greater volatility.
Yes, several ETFs provide diversified exposure to the AI theme. The iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF (IRBO) and the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ) hold baskets of companies involved in AI development and utilization. These funds mitigate single-stock risk but may underperform the top individual AI equities due to their broader, more diluted holdings.
Public markets offer strong alternatives for AI exposure while Anthropic remains privately held.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. CFD trading carries high risk of capital loss.
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