Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic promise—it is rapidly becoming the backbone of modern economies. From national security and data centers to digital advertising and consumer engagement, AI is reshaping how governments operate, how enterprises invest, and how people interact online. According to PwC, AI could add as much as $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030, making it the most consequential technological shift since the advent of the internet.
For investors, this transformation presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. While much attention has focused on mega-cap AI leaders, a broader ecosystem of companies is positioning itself to benefit from the accelerating adoption of AI across industries. Some are enablers of the infrastructure that powers AI, others are specialists solving mission-critical problems, and still others are platforms monetizing AI at unprecedented scale.
Among this diverse universe, three companies stand out for their strategic positioning, growth catalysts, and valuation appeal: BigBear.ai, Dell Technologies, and Meta Platforms. Each operates in a different segment of the AI value chain, yet all are aligned with powerful secular trends that could drive substantial shareholder returns over the coming years.
AI: The Economic Engine of the Next Decade
Before examining the individual companies, it is worth understanding why AI represents such a compelling investment theme. AI adoption is accelerating across virtually every sector:
- Governments are increasing spending on AI to enhance national security, border control, intelligence analysis, and public services.
- Enterprises are investing heavily in AI-driven data centers, cloud infrastructure, and automation to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
- Digital platforms are using AI to personalize content, optimize advertising, and increase user engagement at scale.
Unlike previous technology cycles that were confined to specific industries, AI is horizontal—it cuts across defense, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, logistics, and media. This breadth creates multiple avenues for growth and reduces reliance on any single market.
Against this backdrop, the following three stocks are particularly well positioned to benefit from the next phase of AI-driven expansion.
1. BigBear.ai: Betting on AI for National Security
BigBear.ai is not a household name, but within government and defense circles, it has carved out a distinctive niche. The company specializes in AI-powered decision intelligence, with a focus on national security, defense, and mission-critical government operations.
As geopolitical tensions rise and governments confront increasingly complex security challenges, demand for advanced AI tools is growing rapidly. Defense agencies are looking beyond traditional analytics toward generative AI, autonomous agents, and predictive systems capable of processing vast amounts of sensitive data in real time.
The AskSage Acquisition: A Strategic Inflection Point
BigBear.ai’s recent acquisition of AskSage could prove transformational. AskSage offers a platform that integrates AI models and AI agents designed to operate autonomously, with a particular emphasis on handling classified or sensitive data—an essential requirement for government clients.
This acquisition positions BigBear.ai as a more comprehensive, end-to-end AI provider, combining:
- Proprietary software
- Secure data handling
- AI-driven services tailored for defense and intelligence agencies
Management believes this integrated approach will strengthen its competitive position and improve its ability to win large, long-term government contracts.
Importantly, AskSage is growing rapidly. Its annual recurring revenue is expected to be six times higher this year than in 2024, providing a meaningful boost to BigBear.ai’s growth trajectory.
A Favorable Policy Environment
The macro environment is also supportive. Increased funding for defense and border security—highlighted by major allocations for customs and border protection and biometric identification solutions—creates a fertile landscape for companies like BigBear.ai. Governments are not just experimenting with AI; they are budgeting for it.
Risks and Rewards
That said, BigBear.ai is not without risk. The company’s revenue has declined over the past three years, and it must demonstrate consistent execution to justify investor optimism. Government contracts can be lumpy, and growth depends on winning competitive bids.
However, with a market capitalization of roughly $2.6–$2.7 billion, the stock offers substantial upside if the company successfully converts its strategic positioning into accelerating revenue growth. For investors willing to accept higher risk in exchange for higher potential reward, BigBear.ai represents a leveraged bet on AI’s expanding role in national security.
2. Dell Technologies: The Unsung Backbone of AI Infrastructure
While flashy AI software often captures headlines, none of it works without the underlying hardware. This is where Dell Technologies enters the picture.
Dell is a leader in the global server market, and as AI workloads explode, demand for high-performance data center infrastructure is surging. Training and running AI models requires immense computing power, advanced cooling systems, and sophisticated networking—all areas where Dell excels.
AI Data Centers: A Massive Growth Engine
When a new AI-focused data center is built, Dell is often involved from the ground up. The company designs, installs, and services servers tailored to customers’ specific AI workloads. This consultative approach is a key differentiator, allowing Dell to deliver optimized solutions rather than commoditized hardware.
AI servers are not simple machines. They integrate:
- High-performance chips
- Advanced interconnects
- Liquid or advanced air cooling
- Complex software configurations
Dell’s ability to deliver these systems quickly and at scale gives it a strong competitive edge.
Financial Momentum
The results speak for themselves. Dell’s revenue grew 11% year over year in the most recent quarter, driven primarily by AI server demand. The company has already shipped more than $15 billion worth of AI servers this year and ended the quarter with a record $18.4 billion backlog.
While Dell’s PC and peripherals business remains slower-growing, its infrastructure solutions segment is increasingly carrying the company. As AI servers command higher margins, this mix shift could drive sustained earnings growth.
Indeed, Dell’s adjusted earnings per share rose 17% year over year, yet the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of just 11 times 2026 estimates—a valuation that looks modest given its growth prospects.
A Balanced Risk Profile
Unlike smaller, more speculative AI plays, Dell offers a balance of growth and stability. It pays a dividend, generates strong cash flows, and benefits from long-term enterprise relationships. For investors seeking exposure to AI infrastructure without excessive volatility, Dell represents a compelling option.
3. Meta Platforms: Monetizing AI at Global Scale
If BigBear.ai represents AI in defense and Dell represents AI infrastructure, Meta Platforms embodies AI’s power at the consumer and advertising level.
Meta’s family of apps—including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—reaches 3.5 billion people worldwide. This massive user base provides an unparalleled dataset for training AI models and deploying them at scale.
AI as a Revenue Multiplier
Meta is using AI to make its platforms smarter and more engaging. Advanced recommendation algorithms deliver more relevant content to users, increasing time spent on apps. At the same time, AI-driven ad tools help advertisers achieve better returns on investment by targeting audiences more effectively.
The impact is clear: Meta’s revenue grew 26% year over year in its most recent quarter, a striking figure for a company of its size.
Massive Investment, Massive Advantage
Meta is not standing still. The company spent $52 billion on research and development over the past year and plans to invest at least $70 billion this year in AI infrastructure and technology. These investments support its ambitious vision of building increasingly powerful AI systems, including work under its “Superintelligence Labs.”
Crucially, Meta can fund these investments internally. It generated $107 billion in operating cash flow over the trailing 12 months, giving it a level of financial flexibility few companies can match.
Valuation Still Attractive
Despite its scale and growth, Meta’s stock trades at about 21 times next year’s consensus earnings estimate. For a company with dominant market positions, strong cash generation, and a clear AI-driven growth strategy, this valuation appears reasonable—if not compelling.
Meta’s ability to monetize AI across billions of users makes it one of the most powerful long-term plays in the AI ecosystem.
Three Different Paths to the Same Trend
What makes BigBear.ai, Dell Technologies, and Meta Platforms particularly interesting is that they represent three distinct layers of the AI economy:
- Application and services (BigBear.ai) – AI solving specific, high-value problems.
- Infrastructure (Dell Technologies) – The hardware backbone enabling AI at scale.
- Platforms and monetization (Meta Platforms) – AI driving engagement and revenue across massive user bases.
This diversity highlights the breadth of opportunity within AI and underscores why the sector is likely to remain a powerful growth engine for years to come.
Final Thoughts: Positioning for the AI Bull Run
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy, and its impact is still in the early stages. As adoption deepens, companies that enable, deploy, and monetize AI effectively stand to generate outsized returns.
- BigBear.ai offers high-risk, high-reward exposure to AI in defense and government, with significant upside if execution improves.
- Dell Technologies provides a steadier, undervalued play on AI infrastructure, benefiting from massive data center investment.
- Meta Platforms combines scale, data, and financial strength to monetize AI across billions of users, making it a cornerstone AI investment.
No investment is without risk, and investors should always consider their time horizon and risk tolerance. But taken together, these three stocks illustrate why AI is not just a trend—it is a structural shift that could define market winners for the next decade.
As the AI revolution accelerates, these companies appear well positioned to ride the wave—and potentially lead the next bull run.