Anticipated earnings from key AI hardware stocks such as Applied Materials and Cisco keep shining a spotlight on how much capital is flowing into chips, cloud capacity and large language models. This focus on AI related capex creates urgency for investors who do not want to sit on the sidelines. This article highlights 3 stocks from an AI screener that directly tap into this ChatGPT and AI build out.

The three stocks in this article are just a starting sample, and the full screen surfaced 669 more companies with equally compelling AI narratives that are not covered here. To identify and analyze the opportunities that best fit your own view on the ChatGPT and AI build out, head straight into the Artificial Intelligence/ AI Stocks screener.

Appian (APPN)

Appian is a US software company that helps large organisations design and automate complex workflows using its Appian Platform, which brings together low code tools, data fabric and AI to streamline critical business processes. It sells mainly through cloud subscriptions bundled with support and professional services across sectors such as financial services, government, insurance and healthcare. The company is valued at about US$2.2b.

Investors looking at AI infrastructure beyond chips may find Appian interesting because it aims to be the orchestration layer that lets enterprises roll out reliable AI powered automation at scale. Recent results showed strong cloud subscription demand tied to AI offerings, tighter losses and raised 2026 guidance, even as the company still reports a net loss and carries balance sheet risk from liabilities that exceed assets. Competition from low cost AI and low code tools is real. However, Appian's positioning in high value, mission critical use cases and its collaboration with Deloitte on AI policing solutions suggest upside that is not fully captured by current expectations.

Appian's push to be the AI automation layer for mission critical workflows is getting attention, but its balance sheet and losses still raise questions. Get the full story in the Appian financial health report

Build your own AI automation shortlist

Appian and the two other AI focused stocks in this article all surfaced from a single Simply Wall St screen, but the real edge comes from tailoring the filters to what matters most to you. Put our flexible Screener to work with your preferred mix of valuation, growth, balance sheet and risk criteria, or jump straight into our curated Investing Ideas for ready made starting points.

Datadog (DDOG)

Datadog runs a broad observability and security platform that helps companies track the health, performance and security of their cloud applications in real time, from infrastructure and logs through to AI and large language model monitoring. The company is sizeable in the AI ecosystem with a market value of about US$82.3b.

Datadog sits at the heart of the AI build out because its tools give enterprises visibility into complex cloud and AI workloads, and recent results show that AI related demand is already feeding through to revenue and earnings. At the same time, the stock has been hit after its largest AI customer renewed but cut usage. This brings concentration risk and serves as a reminder that high expectations and a premium valuation leave little room for disappointment. For investors, that combination of strong positioning, improving profitability, and fresh questions around customer dependence and pricing power makes Datadog a company worth a closer look.

Datadog's accelerating AI workload exposure and recent customer reset leave a lot hidden beneath the headline story. See how usage trends, margins and concentration risk really fit together in the analysis report for Datadog

Dynatrace (DT)

Dynatrace runs an AI powered observability platform that helps large organisations monitor and secure their digital infrastructure, applications and user experience in one place, and it generates essentially all of its roughly US$2.1b in revenue from internet software and services. The company sells globally across sectors such as banking, government and retail, and has a market value of about US$14.1b.

Investors who want exposure to AI infrastructure beyond chips may find Dynatrace interesting because its platform sits inside critical cloud and AI workloads, and recent results showed strong ARR momentum, larger deals and raised guidance alongside active share buybacks. At the same time, earnings and margins have come under pressure, the stock trades on a high P/E and funding relies entirely on higher risk sources. The outlook therefore depends on continued AI adoption, margin recovery and disciplined capital allocation. The combination of deep enterprise integration, recurring revenue and a long record in observability makes Dynatrace a company where the real story only becomes clear once you look beyond the headline growth forecasts and analyst price targets.

Dynatrace sits at the crossroads of AI observability, recurring revenue and a high P/E that still relies on higher risk funding. Get the full context in the analysis report for Dynatrace

Seeking Fresh Alternatives Before They Fly

Fresh stock ideas do not stay under the radar for long. Once momentum builds, entry points can vanish before the crowd catches up. Scan these screens now and act early.

• Spot companies aiming for resilient cash flows and sturdy balance sheets with a curated list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (49 results) that helps you avoid fragile stories before conditions turn.
• Ride potential breakout income opportunities by combing through 8 dividend fortresses that focus on companies targeting higher yields while prices have not fully caught that story yet.
• Get ahead of long term infrastructure shifts by reviewing 36 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks packed with businesses positioned around grid upgrades while they are still under the radar for now.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.