The Brilliant Margin™ | Commentary for Smart Investors

Move over dot-com boom. Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just the future — it’s the tidal wave already crashing into every sector of the economy. If you missed investing in the internet in the ’90s or cloud computing in the 2010s, here’s your second chance at riding the next mega-wave of innovation.

The AI revolution is real, it’s accelerating, and yes, it’s creating winners and losers faster than you can say “machine learning.”

So let’s get to it: here are seven publicly traded companies that aren’t just flirting with AI. They’re building, scaling, and profiting from it. And if you’re an investor with margin on your mind, these stocks are worth watching.

1. NVIDIA (NVDA): The Silicon Godfather of AI

You can’t talk about AI without NVIDIA. The company’s GPUs (graphics processing units) have become the gold standard for training large language models (LLMs) and powering everything from ChatGPT to Tesla’s Autopilot.

NVIDIA isn’t just a chipmaker; it’s the arms dealer in the AI gold rush. In Q1 2024, NVIDIA reported $26 billion in revenue, nearly tripling year over year, driven largely by demand for its AI-focused chips[^1].

““AI isn’t just changing technology; it’s fundamentally rewriting what technology means,” proclaimed NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang². And so far, the market agrees.

Why it matters: It’s rare to find a company at the center of a tech revolution and profitable. NVDA checks both boxes. NVIDIA’s position is nearly untouchable, making it the de facto pick-and-shovel play in AI.

2. Alphabet (GOOGL): The Quiet AI Titan

Sure, Microsoft gets the spotlight with its OpenAI partnership, but Alphabet has quietly been shaping AI for a decade. Google’s DeepMind team developed AlphaGo (the one that beat the world champ in Go), and their Gemini AI model is one of the top contenders against ChatGPT.

Alphabet is embedding AI into its entire ecosystem — from Search to Ads to YouTube recommendations. As ad tech becomes smarter, Alphabet’s margin engine keeps humming.

Why it matters: Don’t underestimate the long game. Alphabet owns the data, the infrastructure, and the talent. Alphabet’s extensive data reservoirs make it a sneaky yet formidable AI giant. Don’t sleep on Google.

3. Microsoft (MSFT): The Enterprise AI Empire

Microsoft didn’t just dip a toe into AI; it cannonballed in with a $13 billion stake in OpenAI. But that’s just the start. Azure (Microsoft’s cloud platform) now powers enterprise-scale AI for banks, hospitals, and governments.

Its productivity suite (think Word, Excel, Outlook) is being supercharged by Copilot AI, giving everyday users powerful tools they never asked for — but now can’t live without.

Why it matters: Microsoft is turning AI from a novelty into a necessity — and charging subscription fees for it. Brilliant. Microsoft is embedding AI into its cash-cow products. Translation: recurring revenue on steroids

“We are infusing AI into everything we do,” CEO Satya Nadella confidently announced in a recent earnings call³

4. Amazon (AMZN): AI at Scale

Amazon is often overlooked in AI conversations, but they’re one of the biggest players. AWS (Amazon Web Services) has quietly built a powerful suite of AI tools for developers and companies.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s retail and logistics systems are swimming in AI — from personalized recommendations to warehouse automation to Alexa.

Why it matters: Amazon is using AI to run one of the world’s most complex operations — and licensing the same tools to others: Amazon isn’t just selling AI tools—it’s living them. Their efficiency means wider margins.

5. Meta Platforms (META): AI Meets the Metaverse

Zuckerberg might still be chasing his Metaverse dream, but Meta has pivoted hard into AI — and it’s paying off. In 2024, Meta announced LLaMA 3, its latest open-source LLM, and invested in custom silicon chips to power it.

AI is now core to Meta’s advertising platform, content moderation, and yes, even their upcoming AR/VR products.

“AI will drive the next decade of digital experience,” Zuckerberg asserted recently, with characteristic bravado⁵. And he’s betting billions on it.

Why it matters: With 3 billion users and a new AI assistant baked into every app, Meta’s monetization machine is revving.

6. Palantir (PLTR): AI for Governments and Defense

If the above companies serve the masses, Palantir serves the military-industrial complex. The company builds AI-powered data platforms used by U.S. defense, intelligence, and large enterprises.

In 2023, Palantir launched its AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform), which CEO Alex Karp called “the missing operating system for enterprise AI. Our AI is a decision-making weapon”⁶.

Why it matters: Palantir operates in lucrative markets (defense, government contracts) that rarely shrink budgets. Palantir doesn’t just analyze data; it helps make decisions. In a world that needs fast, smart intel, that’s worth a premium.

7. Tesla (TSLA): AI on Wheels

Elon Musk might be busy tweeting, but Tesla quietly operates one of the world’s most sophisticated real-world AI systems—Autopilot. Tesla isn’t just an EV maker; it’s a data-collecting juggernaut, refining its AI models with every mile driven by millions of vehicles.

Why investors care: Tesla’s AI isn’t hypothetical—it’s already navigating highways worldwide, giving them a massive first-mover advantage.

Final Thought: AI is Here, and It Has Margins

AI isn’t a buzzword anymore. It’s revenue-generating. It’s margin-expanding. And it’s being quietly baked into everything from your grocery list to your cloud computing bill.

But here’s the real insight: The winners in AI aren’t always the loudest. They’re the ones who can scale it, integrate it, and monetize it.

“The best investment returns come from trends that are inevitable but still underappreciated.” — The Brilliant Margin™

Smart investors know the internet created billionaires. AI might do the same. But only for those paying attention now.

See You in the Margin!

Bibliography

1. PwC. (2023). “Sizing the prize: What’s the real value of AI for your business and how can you capitalize?” Retrieved from www.pwc.com ↩
2. NVIDIA Corporation. (2024). “Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript.” Retrieved from investor.nvidia.com ↩ ↩²
3. Microsoft Corporation. (2024). “Fiscal Year 2024 Q2 Earnings Conference Call.” Retrieved from www.microsoft.com/investor ↩
4. Amazon Web Services. (2024). “Machine Learning and AI Solutions.” Retrieved from aws.amazon.com ↩
5. Meta Platforms, Inc. (2024). “Meta AI and Future Digital Experiences.” Retrieved from about.meta.com ↩
6. Palantir Technologies. (2024). “Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP).” Retrieved from www.palantir.com/platforms/aip ↩
7. The Brilliant Margin™. (2025). “Investor Commentary: Riding the AI Wave.” Internal publication. ↩

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