Global growth expectations are soft, inflation pressures are sticky and energy and labor costs are keeping margins under strain. In this kind of backdrop, many investors are looking at automation and physical AI as potential tools for lifting productivity rather than relying only on hiring and cheap capital. The Robotics and Automation screener focuses on companies that are not just building robots, but are working to turn automation projects into commercial scale and are described as doing so without stretching their balance sheets. Ahead, you will see three stocks from this screener that fit this theme especially well.

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ACM Research (ACMR)

Overview: ACM Research develops and sells semiconductor manufacturing equipment, with a focus on wet cleaning, electrochemical plating, furnace and packaging tools that chipmakers use to build and prepare advanced wafers for AI, memory and logic chips.

Operations: The company currently generates about US$960.2 million in revenue entirely from Semiconductor Equipment and Services.

Market Cap: US$5.7b

ACM Research sits at the heart of next generation chip production, supplying specialized cleaning, plating and packaging tools to fabs that are investing heavily in AI and advanced memory capacity. Recent results highlighted strong demand for electrochemical plating and packaging equipment, alongside reaffirmed 2026 revenue guidance. At the same time, investors are dealing with several tension points, including heavy exposure to China, ongoing R&D spending, reliance on external borrowing and fresh equity issuance that can dilute shareholders. With analysts noting both robust growth expectations and mixed valuation signals, the situation may warrant a closer look at how its product pipeline, cash flows and China-centric footprint might fit into a long-term investment approach.

ACM Research sits at the crossroads of heavy China exposure, fresh equity issuance and big AI driven equipment demand. The real question is whether the upside justifies those trade offs. Before deciding where you stand on that balance, review the 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

Soitec (ENXTPA:SOI)

Overview: Soitec develops high performance semiconductor materials that sit at the base of chips used in smartphones, data centers, electric vehicles, industrial equipment and automation systems, using engineered silicon and compound substrates to improve speed, power efficiency and RF performance for its customers.

Market Cap: €5.5b

Soitec is worth a closer look if you want exposure to the pick and shovel layer of AI, 5G and electrification, but are comfortable with some bumps along the way. The company sells engineered wafers that are central to RF front ends, photonics, power electronics and automotive chips, and recent news highlights growing traction in AI related photonics and 5G filters through agreements with partners like Skyworks and NSIG. At the same time, excess customer inventories, weak smartphone, automotive and industrial demand, and rising competition in silicon carbide are weighing on profitability and keeping the share price volatile. Analysts are still modeling faster revenue growth than the French market. The tension between that growth story and the current valuation makes the next few years especially important to watch.

Soitec’s AI, 5G and EV wafer story looks like it could be building quietly while inventories and competition keep sentiment cautious. As a result, it may help to see the full analyst forecasts for Soitec investors are starting to notice but not fully pricing in yet

Xometry (XMTR)

Overview: Xometry runs an AI powered online marketplace that connects buyers needing custom manufactured parts with a global network of suppliers, using tools like instant quoting, lead time prediction and digital collaboration to simplify complex industrial sourcing. It complements this marketplace with Thomasnet’s supplier directory and marketing services, plus cloud software that helps manufacturers manage workflows, payments and projects.

Operations: Xometry generates about US$740.8 million in revenue from Internet Software & Services, with roughly US$618.2 million from the U.S. and US$122.6 million from international markets.

Market Cap: US$5.1b

Xometry gives you exposure to the shift toward digital procurement and AI assisted manufacturing, with recent quarters showing strong marketplace revenue, raised 2026 revenue guidance and improving adjusted EBITDA as tools like instant quoting and lead time prediction gain traction. Partnerships such as Siemens’ US$50 million equity stake and deeper AI integration signal industrial customers are committing more work to the platform. At the same time, a growing buyer and supplier base supports network effects in high value areas like data center infrastructure. On the other side of the ledger, Xometry is still reporting losses, has just completed a sizeable equity raise around US$225 million and faces intensifying competition, so the key question is whether future profitability and cash generation can justify today’s expectations.

Marketplace growth, Siemens on the register, and fresh capital are reshaping Xometry’s story, but the real twist may sit inside the analysis report for Xometry

The three stocks in this article are just a starting point, and the full Robotics and Automation Stocks screener surfaces 30 more companies with equally compelling robotics and physical AI narratives waiting to be analyzed. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, financial traits and storylines that matter to you so you can focus on the opportunities in this theme that best match your own conviction.

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If Soitec or any of these companies have caught your attention, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value and track any new developments as they happen. 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.

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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.