Nvidia isn’t on Dan Ives’ top tech names list for 2026 but Palantir is

Wedbush Securities’ senior analyst, Dan Ives, has names top five tech stocks to own into 2026.

Notably, Nvidia – the chipmaker that has become synonymous with the artificial intelligence (AI) boom – did not find a spot on his list.

And yet, Palantir – an AI-enabled data analytics firm that’s currently infinitely more expensive to own than NVDA – somehow did.

Note that Nvidia shares are on track to finish 2025 with an exciting 100% gain versus its April low, while Palantir stock is currently up a whopping 180% versus its year-to-date low.

Why Nvidia stock isn’t in Ives’ top tech names list

Speaking with CNBC, Dan Ives argued that the next stage of the AI revolution will be defined less by the “godfather of AI” and more by firms building applications and platforms on top of them.

The Wedbush analyst confirmed that NVDA remains a “top pick”, but said the “derivatives – the second, third, fourth – are just starting, which is why we’re so bullish in tech.”

Simply put, while Nvidia remains central to AI infrastructure, Ives believes the bigger investment opportunities lie in hyperscalers, consumer-facing platforms, and enterprise software names that’ll leverage its tech.  

NVIDIA’s absence from the top five reflects a strategic pivot toward diversification across AI beneficiaries, rather than concentrating in one dominant player.

Why Palantir stock still made the cut

Palantir stock – often criticized for being egregiously overvalued – still made it to Ives’ list mostly because of the firm’s expanding commercial business and potential to scale revenues significantly.

“It’s the commercial business that I believe could ultimately be two, three billion,” Ives noted – projecting that PLTR’s revenues could double over the next three to four years.

At nearly 400x forward earnings, the Wedbush analyst conceded that Palantir is a “super expensive stock today”, but said its trajectory positions it for a trillion-dollar valuation as the AI revolution accelerates.

For Ives, Palantir represents a pure-play enterprise AI story, with its software increasingly adopted across industries. That growth potential makes it a “cornerstone” of his bullish thesis heading into 2026.

What else does he recommend owning?

Alongside Palantir, Ives highlighted Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, and CrowdStrike as key holdings for 2026.

Each represents a different angle of the AI revolution: Microsoft through hyperscaler cloud dominance, Apple via consumer hardware and ecosystem integration, Tesla through autonomous driving and energy innovation, and CrowdStrike in cybersecurity.

Yet, Ives admitted that these stocks aren’t cheap, echoing his earlier remark about Palantir.

His recommendations suggest a willingness to back richly valued companies on the belief that their growth trajectories justify the premiums.

In essence, Ives is advising investors to embrace overvalued tech stocks, betting on their leadership in AI and digital transformation to deliver outsized returns in 2026 despite stretched valuations.

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