Advertisement

5 Top-Ranked Tech Stocks to Gain From Advanced ML Capabilities

Machine learning (ML) requires no introduction in this data-driven automation era. ML, an inextricable application of artificial intelligence (AI) arena, enables systems to utilize existing data to predict outcomes and identify trends, and enhance business operations from experience.

ML domain is set to witness breakthrough developments in natural language processing or NLP, computer vision, conversational AI, to mention a few, through 2020.

Talking about recent NLP and conversational AI developments, researches are focusing on enhancing smartness of chat bots and social bots with varied responses and emotion recognition capabilities, by utilizing advanced ML-driven pre-trained language models.

In computer vision, Alphabet’s GOOGL Google Research team has unveiled a new approach to assess depth prediction. Facebook’s AI Research team has also come up with a solution for 3D object detection in point clouds.

Moreover, growing proliferation of cloud-based technologies is facilitating growth of Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) market. Major cloud players, including Amazon AMZN, Microsoft MSFT and Google offer MLaaS services to customers. Notably, MLaaS services including Amazon Personalize, Amazon Machine Learning, Azure Machine Learning and Google Cloud AI are witnessing traction.

These developments in ML are leading to robust achievements in futuristic technology, including the training of advanced driver assisted systems (ADAS) in self-driving vehicles, increased AR/VR utilization across enterprise, healthcare, and entertainment, edge computing, blockchain, and even advanced warfare devices.

Growth Projections for ML Instill Optimism

Per the data provided by Grand View Research, ML market is expected to hit $96.7 billion by 2025, witnessing a CAGR of 43.8% between 2019 and 2025. Moreover, according to a report from Mordor Intelligence, global MLaaS market is expected to see a CAGR of 43% between 2020 and 2025.

Companies including tech startups to diverse multinationals are leaving no stone unturned to advance ML and AI capabilities with an aim to gain a competitive edge in the broader AI market.

In fact, per IDC, spending on AI systems is expected to hit $97.9 billion by 2023 from $37.5 billion estimated in 2019, at a CAGR of 28.4% between 2018 and 2023.

The companies are leveraging ML to design robust applications, which are revolutionizing broader working trends of various domains, including supply-chain optimization, customer care services, logistics, transportation, healthcare, security, utility, defense, financial services and banking, robotics, and agriculture.

Here are a few top-ranked tech companies filtered by using the Zacks Stocks Screener, which are well poised to gain from ML-driven advancements or have been supporting the deployment of ML for their clients.

One Year Price Performance



Microsoft is well poised to gain from increasing penetration of ML expertise across its product portfolio, including Office 365, Dynamics 365, HoloLens and Azure. The company’s GitHub acquisition, which enriched the company’s ML capabilities, is a key catalyst in this regard.

Moreover, Microsoft, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), offers ML-based ML.NET open-source cross-platform, Azure Machine Learning service, AutoML tools, Cognitive API Services, Azure Machine Learning Studio, to name a few. With these solutions, the tech giant attempts to democratize the use of AI and ML.

Notably, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for fiscal 2020 has improved 5.2% to $5.64 over the past 30 days.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Applied Materials AMAT is applying ML in semiconductor fabs to enhance automated defect analysis.

The company, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has developed an automated defect classification technology that utilizes different imaging techniques to identify and eliminate defects in chip manufacturing.

Moreover, the company's commitment toward development of new AI and ML powered computing materials and designs, hold promise.

The consensus mark for its earnings for fiscal 2020 has improved 8.7% to $4.10 over the past 30 days.

SAP SE SAP is harnessing the power of ML to enhance enterprise applications. This, in turn, is enabling the company to bolster adoption of its solutions and provide clientele with data-driven business insights.

Moreover, with SAP Machine Learning and SAP Leonardo Machine Learning, this company, currently flaunting Zacks Rank #1, offers platforms that aid enterprises and users develop robust ML tools in the cloud.

Long-term earnings growth rate for SAP is currently pegged at 9.6%.

Lam Research LRCX is leveraging ML to facilitate auto-maintenance of etch process modules, which reduces downtime and improves productivity. Otherwise, etch process modules are required to be cleaned on a weekly or monthly basis to maintain steady performance.

The company, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is also benefiting from growing clout of its SABRE 3D electroplating system across packaging customers.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for fiscal 2020 has improved 10.6% to $16.82 over the past 30 days.

Tencent Holdings TCEHY is integrating ML and AI expertise including data protection and anti-fraud identity authentication capabilities, in streaming, security software, and other services. This is enabling the company, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, to expand clientele across finance, media, education and e-commerce verticals.

Additionally, the company’s open-sourced project on distributed ML platform, Angel, based on parameter server framework, holds promise.

Long-term earnings growth rate for Tencent is currently pegged at 21%.

Free: Zacks’ Single Best Stock Set to Double

Today you are invited to download our latest Special Report that reveals 5 stocks with the most potential to gain +100% or more in 2020. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

This pioneering tech ticker had soared to all-time highs and then subsided to a price that is irresistible. Now a pending acquisition could super-charge the company’s drive past competitors in the development of true Artificial Intelligence. The earlier you get in to this stock, the greater your potential gain.

See 5 Stocks Set to Double>>


Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
SAP SE (SAP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Tencent Holding Ltd. (TCEHY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research