Cooling inflation in major economies is shifting attention back to growth stories. That includes the companies building the chips, software and cloud tools behind ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence systems. As investors weigh how rate paths might affect long term themes, AI stocks from this screener offer focused exposure to that trend. This article walks through three screen picks to help you assess if they fit your portfolio.

The three stocks covered below are only a sample from this AI theme, and the full screen surfaced 673 more companies with equally compelling stories across chips, software, cloud and data infrastructure that are not covered in this article. To size up that wider opportunity set efficiently, head straight to the Artificial Intelligence/ AI Stocks screener to filter, analyze and identify the AI stocks that best match your own conviction.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW)

Overview: Palo Alto Networks is a Santa Clara based cybersecurity company that helps enterprises and governments secure their networks, cloud environments and AI systems using a broad suite of software, hardware firewalls and AI driven security operations tools.

Operations: Palo Alto Networks generates about US$10.6b in revenue entirely from security software and services, with roughly US$6.6b from the United States and the rest from customers across EMEA, APAC, Japan and other Americas markets.

Market Cap: US$313.8b

Investors looking at AI infrastructure may pay close attention to Palo Alto Networks because it sits at the intersection of AI adoption and rising cyber risk. Its AI driven products such as Cortex XSIAM and Prisma AIRS are aimed at securing entire AI ecosystems. The company benefits from large, recurring software contracts and a push by enterprises to consolidate security tools onto a single platform. However, recent margin compression and a rich valuation leave less room for disappointment. Earnings and revenue are forecast to grow faster than the broader US market, yet heavy R&D, regulatory scrutiny and insider selling mean expectations are high. The recent focus on AI security in major research reports and media coverage highlights how central PANW has become to this theme.

AI security spending could be consolidating around platforms like Palo Alto Networks; yet the real story sits in how expectations line up with its current pricing and risk profile in the DCF valuation analysis for Palo Alto Networks

Build your own AI security and infrastructure shortlist

Palo Alto Networks and the other two AI stocks in this article all came out of a single screen, but your best ideas are likely to come from filters that match your own style. Use our flexible Screener to mix valuation, growth, balance sheet and risk criteria, or jump straight into one of our curated Investing Ideas.

Atlassian (TEAM)

Overview: Atlassian is a Sydney based software company that builds tools like Jira, Confluence, Trello and Loom to help technical and non technical teams plan work, share knowledge and communicate, with Rovo AI layered across its cloud platform to power search, chat and automated agents.

Operations: Atlassian generates about US$6.6b in revenue entirely from software and programming products.

Market Cap: US$38.5b

Atlassian gives you exposure to AI enriched collaboration and cloud workflows that are already embedded across a wide customer base, including heavy use among Fortune 500 companies. Rovo AI, Jira enhancements and AI native development tools are tying together work, code and communication in a way that can support higher recurring revenue and potential margin improvement. The interest comes with real questions though. Cloud migration execution, how much AI usage actually turns into cash, insider selling and higher share price volatility all matter. If you want a closer look at how those trade offs stack up for Atlassian, the detailed analyst work tells a more complete story than the headlines here.

Atlassian’s AI push across Jira, Confluence and Loom could be masking a deeper shift in how its cloud business scales. The real twist sits in the detailed analyst forecasts for Atlassian that hints at what many investors may be missing

Rubrik (RBRK)

Overview: Rubrik is a Palo Alto based data security company that focuses on cyber resilience, using its Rubrik Security Cloud, AI tools like RUBY and SENTRYAI, and recovery services to protect and restore data across on premises, cloud and SaaS environments for customers in sectors such as finance, healthcare and public services.

Operations: Rubrik generates about US$1.4b in revenue from software and services, with most coming from the United States and the rest from EMEA, APAC and other Americas markets.

Market Cap: US$20.2b

Rubrik is attracting attention because it sits where AI, data security and recovery all meet, at a time when large enterprises are under pressure to secure agentic AI systems and critical records. Its focus on identity recovery, cyber resilience services and partnerships with groups like Microsoft, MEDITECH, Wipro and sector bodies such as the CSA and Coalition for Health AI give it a foothold in highly sensitive use cases. Yet the stock carries real tension. Revenue growth and a strong recurring software base are offset by ongoing losses, negative equity, reliance on higher risk borrowing and a P/S multiple that is well above many peers. The key issue is whether the AI resilience story and analyst expectations justify those risks.

Rubrik’s AI story sits at the crossroads of cyber resilience and premium pricing, yet many investors may be missing how those threads actually fit together in the analysis report for Rubrik

Seeking Fresh Alternatives Before Others Move

New themes are starting to break out while attention is still glued to the biggest AI stocks. Momentum can increase once the crowd catches on, so investors who wish to participate may want to review opportunities early.

• Look for income opportunities that many overlook by scanning the 8 dividend fortresses while yields remain attractive and share prices have not fully reflected changing conditions.
• Explore early growth stories in automation and smart hardware with the curated 39 robotics and automation stocks before wider attention potentially brings more focus to these stocks.
• Review potential demand shifts by checking the under the radar 9 top copper producer stocks while sentiment is still mixed and pricing trends may not be fully incorporated.

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.