Looking for Tech Stocks? These 3 Are Great Buys.
There's been a slight sell-off in the tech market, with the Nasdaq-100 Technology Sector index dipping almost 10% since the start of August. A looming recession has Wall Street concerned that companies may suffer slower-than-normal sales over the coming holiday season and into 2024.
However, recent headwinds are why it's crucial to keep a long-term perspective on tech stocks. The industry has much to offer patient investors as companies innovate and continue pushing the sector forward. As a result, the recent dip in the market could be the perfect time to invest and take advantage of cheaper prices.
In 2023, companies active in high-growth industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), and cloud computing are particularly attractive. These markets are expanding fast and could provide significant gains in the coming years.
So, here are three great tech stocks to buy right now.
1. Amazon
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) shares have tumbled 5% since Aug. 1, yet have soared 49% year to date. Investors have mostly remained optimistic about the company as its earnings steadily improved from last year. In 2022, macroeconomic headwinds curbed consumer spending and caused steep declines in Amazon's e-commerce business. However, in the second quarter of 2023, the company's North America segment hit more than $3 billion in operating income after recording a loss of $627 million in the year-ago period.
The improvement came after a string of restructuring moves that illustrated the strength of Amazon's management.
Alongside a correction in its retail business, the company has gone full force into AI this year. Its cloud platform, Amazon Web Services, has unveiled several new AI tools directed at a wide range of businesses, developers, and even healthcare providers. Meanwhile, Amazon has plans to diversify its position in the high-growth sector by venturing into chip development, which could see it go head-to-head with market leader Nvidia.
Amazon is on a promising growth path, and Wall Street seems to agree, as 49 out of 51 analysts hold a buy/strong buy rating for the company's stock. Additionally, the retail giant's average 12-month price target is $172, projecting stock growth of 37%. As Amazon expands in both e-commerce and AI, its stock is just too good to pass up.
2. Apple
Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock has fallen about 12% since reporting dismal earnings at the start of August. Poor economic conditions have caught up with the company, with repeated dips in product sales and three consecutive quarters of revenue declines. However, Apple remains the biggest name in consumer tech and is making moves to secure its long-term future.
Over the last five years, Apple's annual revenue climbed about 52%, with operating income up 87%. Its stock has soared up to 215% in that time, more than Microsoft, Alphabet, or Amazon. Apple's business has hit record heights over the years, achieving leading market shares in multiple product categories, including smartphones, tablets, headphones, and smartwatches.
Going forward, Apple is diversifying its business with expansion into digital services and AI. These markets could make the company less vulnerable to macro factors as it can lean less on product sales. Apple's services segment has already proved a particularly lucrative area for the company, with revenue rising 14% year over year in fiscal 2022 and 8% in Q3 2023. Meanwhile, the tech giant is investing heavily in AI and plans to debut its first VR/AR headset next year.
Apple is a behemoth in the tech world. It has faced challenges in 2023, but I wouldn't bet against its long-term potential. The recent dip makes its stock a screaming buy right now.
3. Advanced Micro Devices
The tech market is expanding quickly, with demand for chips rising in equal measure. As a result, it's not a bad idea to invest in a chipmaker like Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) while chip-dependent markets like AI, cloud computing, and VR/AR still have massive growth potential.
AMD won over stockholders this year, with its stock rising 57% since Jan. 1. Investors have rallied over the company's prospects in AI as it gradually made moves to challenge Nvidia's dominance next year. AMD will launch the next installment in its MI300 line of chips in 2024, a powerful graphics processing unit meant to compete directly with Nvidia's offerings.
Moreover, the tech giant has become the go-to for countless companies seeking high-powered chips to take their devices to the next level. AMD exclusively supplies chips to Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S game consoles while also lending its hardware to multiple handheld gaming devices, laptops, and PCs.
AMD's chips are powering the future, with its stock allowing investors to profit from the growth of multiple markets. The company's business is developing quickly, and it could be worth investing in its potential.
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Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Dani Cook has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
