The US government’s decision to lift export controls on Anthropic’s leading AI models, including the public re release of Fable 5 and wider access to Mythos models, has reset expectations around how policy risk can affect AI related stocks. With new security safeguards in place and Anthropic cleared to resume broader commercial activity, regulatory pressure on the sector looks more predictable, at least for now. For investors weighing exposure to AI, this news may shift how risk and opportunity are viewed. Below, three stocks from our Artificial Intelligence Sector screener that are directly exposed to this development are revealed.

AvePoint (AVPT)

Overview: AvePoint is a cloud-native data management company that helps enterprises govern, protect, and modernize their data across platforms like Microsoft, Salesforce, Google, AWS, Box, and Dropbox, with a growing focus on AI ready workflows. Its Confidence Platform covers governance, backup, recovery, compliance, and modernization so organizations can use collaboration and AI tools with tighter control over access, risk, and entitlements.

Operations: AvePoint generates about US$443.7m in revenue entirely from Software & Programming, with its largest markets being the United States at US$169.3m, EMEA excluding Germany at US$83.1m, Germany at US$60.2m, and Singapore at US$55.6m.

Market Cap: US$2.35b

AvePoint sits at the center of two powerful forces: enterprises rushing to roll out AI agents like Copilot and Anthropic’s models, and regulators demanding tighter data controls. Its real time context around sensitive data, reinforced by products like the Confidence Platform and Risk Posture tools, positions the company as a key partner for organizations that want AI scale without losing governance. Profitability, double digit revenue guidance, and active buybacks show management is willing to invest in growth while supporting shareholders, although heavy reliance on Microsoft, higher P/E levels, and service mix pressure on margins remain important watchpoints. For investors, the bigger question is how much of this AI governance and cost control story is already reflected in AvePoint’s valuation and forecasts.

AvePoint’s AI governance story and buybacks could be masking what really matters for long term returns, and the full picture only shows up once you see the DCF valuation analysis for AvePoint

Grid Dynamics Holdings (GDYN)

Overview: Grid Dynamics Holdings is an IT services company that helps large enterprises build and run AI driven applications, modernize their software, and move workloads to the cloud. It designs and implements use cases such as customer facing AI, operations automation, and knowledge management, working across industries including retail, finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology.

Operations: Grid Dynamics generates about US$415.5m in revenue from Computer Services, with most of this coming from the United States at US$287.4m, followed by Other regions at US$64.9m and the United Kingdom at US$47.2m.

Market Cap: US$455.0m

Grid Dynamics Holdings stands out as enterprises ramp up spending on Anthropic style AI projects and cloud modernization, and the company is already seeing AI and data work account for a growing share of its business. Analysts expect strong earnings growth and improving returns. Yet the stock has been dropped from several indices and carries a very high P/E alongside thin current margins and recent losses, which may put off some investors. At the same time, management is buying back shares and winning complex AI deployments, while concentration in certain sectors, reliance on external borrowing, and relatively short executive tenure keep risk firmly on the table. The real question is whether the current price fully reflects this mix of AI upside and business execution risk.

Grid Dynamics Holdings appears to be an AI services story whose share price has not fully caught up to the mix of complex deployments, index exclusions, and thin margins. Get the fuller risk reward picture in the 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs

Hackett Group (HCKT)

Overview: Hackett Group is a Miami based consulting and software company that helps large enterprises redesign finance, HR, supply chain, IT and procurement using its own generative AI platforms, such as Hackett AI XPLR, XT, AIXelerator and ZBrain, alongside implementation services for systems like Oracle, SAP, OneStream and eProcurement tools.

Operations: Hackett Group generates about US$161.0m from Global S&BT, US$66.3m from Oracle Solutions and US$65.2m from SAP Solutions, with US$237.9m of revenue from the United States and a smaller contribution from other countries including Australia, Canada, India and Uruguay.

Market Cap: US$276.8m

Hackett Group gives you direct exposure to how enterprises are actually putting Anthropic style AI to work, using in house platforms like AI XPLR, ZBrain and Applied Intelligence to turn benchmarking and workflows into software and recurring revenue. Recent partnerships with ServiceNow and the integration of Spend Matters data show how the company is trying to move up the value chain, even as legacy Oracle and OneStream work faces pressure and revenue growth is described as almost flat. A mid range P/E, 4.46% yield and active buybacks are notable features, but high debt, thinner margins and the risk that Gen AI monetization arrives slower than hoped highlight the balance between its IP, funding structure and earnings quality.

Hackett Group’s AI platforms, yield and buybacks suggest a story investors may be underrating, but the real tension sits in how its IP, debt load and earnings quality fit together in the full narrative for Hackett Group

The three AI focused stocks in this article are only a starting point, with the full Artificial Intelligence Sector screen uncovering 44 more companies that carry equally compelling narratives in the Artificial Intelligence Sector screener. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, risk profiles, and business narratives that matter most to you so you can focus on the opportunities in the sector that best match your own conviction.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If AvePoint or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

Seeking Fresh Alternatives Before They Fly

Markets move fast and the cleanest breakout stories rarely stay under the radar for long. Scan fresh ideas before the momentum is fully caught and consider acting while opportunities are still emerging.

• Target steady cash flows by focusing on companies screened for strong balance sheets with a curated list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (48 results).
• Spot potential income anchors early by tracking companies highlighted as 10 dividend fortresses before yields are affected by later demand.
• Follow structural themes with a focused set of 35 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks positioned around long term infrastructure spending while that story is still relatively underfollowed.

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.