Dan Ives’ 2026 AI Picks Name Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Palantir and CrowdStrike — Not Nvidia

Overview

• Microsoft is the top pick with Azure expected to hit a 2026 AI inflection and a $625 price target, as Ives estimates $25–30 billion in new AI-driven monetization.
• Apple makes the list despite skepticism over its AI roadmap, with a $350 target and an expectation that Tim Cook remains through 2027 to drive monetization across its installed base.
• Tesla ranks third on autonomous driving and robotics with a $600 target, with Cybercab production slated to begin in April 2026 and a potential $2 trillion valuation cited by Ives.
• Palantir and CrowdStrike complete the five as data and cybersecurity plays, after 2025 gains of roughly 144% and 36% and targets set at $230 and $600, respectively.
• Nvidia is excluded as Ives stresses application-layer exposure; all five names are held in the Dan Ives Wedbush AI Revolution ETF, which regulations prevent him from personally owning.