Best AI Stocks to Buy in January 2026: SMCI, MRVL, MU

TL;DR

The three AI stocks highlighted for January 2026 are Super Micro Computer (SMCI), Marvel Technology (MRVL), and Micron (MU). SMCI trades near $30 with $13 billion in committed orders, MRVL trades near $82 with 73% of revenue coming from data centers, and Micron’s 2026 production line is sold out. Read on for the specific growth catalysts, valuations, and risks presented for each company.

Transcript

Folks, o, have I got a good one for you today. Today, we're going to be breaking down the top three stocks with explosive growth right now in 2026. One of the companies on this list is seeing so much demand that they just forecasted that their 2026 earnings growth is going to quadruple. That's some serious stuff right there, folks, and you got to b... Read More

Key Insights

• Micron's entire 2026 production line is already sold out, and the company forecasts full-year 2026 earnings growth of 284%, nearly quadrupling, while still trading at just 9 times forward earnings versus 26x for the average tech stock.
• Only three companies in the world can make HBM (high bandwidth memory) chips for AI: Micron, SK Hynix in Korea, and Samsung, giving Micron scarcity value as every Nvidia AI chip sits beside a Micron memory chip.
• Super Micro Computer builds the racks, servers, and liquid cooling systems that hold AI chips, described as building the car while Nvidia makes the engine, and is the number one company in liquid cooled AI servers.
• Super Micro made $22 billion in sales last year (up 47%), expects $36 billion this year (60%+ growth), holds $13 billion in committed orders, and trades at less than 1x annual sales despite losing over two-thirds of its value from highs.
• Marvel Technology functions as the nervous system of AI data centers, making the networking chips that let thousands of AI chips share information billions of times per second, with 73% of revenue now coming from data centers.
• Marvel acquired Celestial AI for $3.25 billion to gain photonics technology that moves data using light instead of electricity, expected to generate $500 million per year by 2028 and $1 billion per year by 2029.
• A massive memory shortage is driving prices up because HBM chips consume far more factory capacity than regular memory; prices jumped 20-25% last quarter and server memory could double in 2026.
• Super Micro's 2024 accounting scare, which saw its auditor quit and short sellers allege fraud, ended after a new auditor was hired, paperwork was filed, and an investigation found no fraud.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the three AI stocks highlighted for January 2026?

The three stocks are Super Micro Computer (SMCI), Marvel Technology (MRVL), and Micron (MU). The presentation ranks SMCI third, MRVL second, and Micron first, based on their AI infrastructure roles, growth figures, and stated catalysts.

Q: Why is Micron the top AI stock pick for 2026?

Micron’s entire 2026 production line is already sold out, while its full-year 2026 earnings growth is forecast at 284%. Its latest quarterly revenue reached $13.6 billion, up 56%, yet it trades at 9 times forward earnings.

Q: What does Super Micro Computer do for AI data centers?

Super Micro builds the computer systems, racks, servers, and cooling equipment that hold and connect AI chips. The presentation compares its role to building the car while Nvidia makes the engine and identifies Super Micro as the number one company in liquid-cooled AI servers.

Q: Why is Super Micro Computer stock described as cheap?

SMCI trades near $30 after losing more than two-thirds of its value from its highs, and it is valued at less than one times annual sales. The company made $22 billion in sales last year, expects $36 billion this year, and has $13 billion in committed orders.

Q: What caused Super Micro Computer’s decline?

The presentation gives two reasons: Super Micro sacrificed profit margins to secure customers, and it faced an accounting scare in 2024 after its auditor quit. It says the company subsequently hired a new auditor, filed its paperwork, and had an investigation find no fraud.

Q: What does Marvel Technology do in AI data centers?

Marvel makes networking chips that allow thousands of AI chips to exchange information billions of times per second. It also designs custom silicon for Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, and 73% of its revenue comes from data centers.

Q: Why does Marvel’s Celestial AI acquisition matter?

Marvel bought Celestial AI for $3.25 billion to obtain photonics technology that moves data with light instead of electricity. The acquisition is expected to generate $500 million annually by 2028 and $1 billion annually by 2029.

Q: Why are memory-chip prices rising in 2026?

The presentation attributes rising prices to a memory shortage because HBM chips consume much more factory capacity than regular memory. Memory prices rose 20% to 25% in the latest quarter, and server-memory prices could double in 2026.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Super Micro Computer (SMCI), trading near $30 after losing two-thirds of its value, builds the racks, servers, and liquid cooling systems for AI chips. It made $22 billion last year (up 47%), expects $36 billion this year, holds $13 billion in orders, and trades below 1x sales.

• Marvel Technology (MRVL), near $82 and down 35%, makes the networking chips that connect AI data centers and designs custom silicon for Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Its data center business grew 38%, it holds a $75 billion pipeline, and it bought Celestial AI for $3.25 billion.

• Micron (MU) makes the HBM memory chips every AI system needs, with its 2026 line fully sold out. Last quarter revenue hit $13.6 billion (up 56%), full-year 2026 earnings growth is forecast at 284%, and it trades at only 9 times forward earnings amid a memory shortage.