Robotics and automation are moving from the lab floor into real factories, warehouses, and infrastructure projects just as tight labor markets, mixed inflation trends, and higher-for-longer global rates keep pressure on costs. With energy risks, shifting central bank policies, and uneven growth across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, many investors are looking for companies that can help lift productivity rather than simply ride the economic cycle. This Robotics and Automation Stocks screener focuses on companies aiming to turn the physical AI push into disciplined growth. Below are three stocks from that screener to watch closely.

ACM Research (ACMR)

Overview: ACM Research is a Fremont based semiconductor equipment maker that supplies wet cleaning, plating, furnace, PECVD, and advanced packaging tools used in front end chip production and wafer assembly, with a focus on complex wafers and advanced process nodes in China and internationally.

Operations: ACM Research generates about US$960.2m in revenue from semiconductor equipment and services.

Market Cap: US$6.6b

ACM Research provides exposure to the build out of advanced semiconductor manufacturing and the physical AI trend, as its cleaning and plating tools are used in 3D NAND, DRAM, and logic production. At the same time, earnings have been volatile, margins have slipped from 13.3% to 9.5%, and the stock trades on a high P/E with share price swings and reliance on higher risk external funding. Heavy dependence on China, ongoing export control uncertainty, and high R&D spend add further tension, which is why a closer look at ACM Research could be worthwhile for patient robotics and automation investors.

ACM Research sits where physical AI demand, high R&D spend, and export controls intersect. The real story is how those trade offs show up in the numbers. Get the full picture in the 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

ON Semiconductor (ON)

Overview: ON Semiconductor is a Scottsdale based chip company that supplies power management, intelligent sensing, and analog solutions used in electric vehicles, AI data centers, industrial automation, and robotics across its Power Solutions, Analog & Mixed-Signal, and Intelligent Sensing segments.

Operations: ON Semiconductor generates about US$2.9b from its Power Solutions Group, US$2.2b from its Analog & Mixed-Signal Group, and US$930.5m from its Intelligent Sensing Group, with sales spread across Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other markets.

Market Cap: US$49.3b

ON Semiconductor may interest investors looking at robotics and automation because it is involved in vehicle electrification and AI driven power infrastructure, with silicon carbide, GaNEXUS power devices, and image sensors all tied directly to EVs, factories, and data centers. However, the company also has a very high P/E and is facing one off losses, underused factories, and exposure to cyclical auto demand and China. With analyst targets sitting below the current share price and insiders selling, the key question is whether the EV and AI data center story will be strong enough to outweigh those pressures over time.

ON Semiconductor’s AI and EV story looks powerful, but the real tension is how that promise stacks up against a high P/E, factory underuse, and one off hits. Walk through the turning points in the analysis report for ON Semiconductor

Swarmer (SWMR)

Overview: Swarmer is an Austin based defense tech company that develops autonomous drone swarm software and AI systems, helping military and government operators coordinate large numbers of unmanned vehicles through its STYX command platform, MINAS collaboration engine, and TRIDENT embedded drone operating system.

Market Cap: US$461.5m

Swarmer stock sits at the intersection of AI, defense, and robotics, with software that has already supported over 100,000 missions and recent contracts such as U.S. defense work on SkyKnight drones and a large license deal with Meta Bureau pointing to early commercial traction. At the same time, the company is still tiny, with revenue around US$220k, widening losses, a short trading history, and a highly volatile share price, so investors are effectively paying up for potential in a fast moving sector. For anyone focused on robotics and automation, the key consideration is whether this mix of forecast growth, data partnerships, and defense relationships can justify the current valuation before competition and funding risks become more significant.

Swarmer’s AI defense story is accelerating, yet the stock is still priced on potential with tiny revenue and widening losses, so it pays to understand the tension in the 2 key rewards and 3 important warning signs (2 are major!)

The three robotics and automation stocks highlighted here are just a sample of what is possible, as the full Robotics and Automation Stocks screener surfaced 29 more companies with equally compelling narratives tied to the physical AI productivity shift. Use Simply Wall St to identify the exact catalysts you care about, analyze balance sheets and risks in context, and filter for the automation and AI narratives that best match your highest conviction ideas.

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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.