What Is One of the Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy Now?

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • Marvell Technologies is a leading designer of specialized chips for hyperscalers.

  • The company reported strong year-over-year data center revenue growth last quarter.

  • Right now, shares are trading at a deep discount to their historical valuation.

  • 10 stocks we like better than Marvell Technology ›

Temperatures may be trending lower now with the dog days of summer behind us, but one thing that remains red hot is investors' enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. This has led to many AI stocks achieving lofty valuations; consequently, those looking for both AI exposure and value opportunities are struggling to identify opportunities.

But not all hope is lost. In fact, shares of AI specialist Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL) represent a great bargain opportunity right now.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

A smartphone user signs into an AI chat.

Image source: Getty Images.

Analysts' dour take doesn't mean the stock's a dud

There's no mystery as to why Marvell stock has plummeted recently. Many AI companies are posting huge growth in quarterly reports, driving investors to buy these stocks to in droves. Broadcom is one of the latest examples, with shares soaring on news of strong AI revenue growth.

Marvell, however, disappointed analysts when it reported second-quarter 2026 financial results. Although the company posted data center revenue of $1.49 billion, a 69% year-over-year increase, management projected Q3 2026 data center revenue will be flat on a quarter-over-quarter basis -- much to the chagrin of Wall Street.

Although it doesn't foresee sequential revenue growth, management is still optimistic, noting on the Q2 2026 conference call about "the custom business, with the fourth quarter substantially stronger than the third." Marvell's custom business relates to its specific designing of custom semiconductors for AI (and other) applications such as data centers. The company provides these custom chips to leading hyperscalers like Amazon's Amazon Web Services and Microsoft's Azure.

While there may be near-term stagnation with its data center business, the opportunity that lies before the company is robust. Marvell estimates its total addressable market at $94 billion. For context, the company reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $5.8 billion.

Marvell stocks may be a marvelous opportunity for AI investors

Trading at 23.4 times operating cash flow -- a discount to its five-year average cash flow multiple of 33.8 -- Marvell stock is a great opportunity right now for patient investors who can withstand some near-term volatility.

Should you invest $1,000 in Marvell Technology right now?

Before you buy stock in Marvell Technology, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Marvell Technology wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $671,288!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,031,659!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,056% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of September 8, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and Marvell Technology and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Forex Today: Risk flows dominate markets on US-Iran deal hopesHere is what you need to know on Monday, May 25:
Author  FXStreet
11 hours ago
Here is what you need to know on Monday, May 25:
placeholder
Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD holds gains near $78.50 on US-Iran deal optimismSilver price (XAG/USD) rises nearly 4% after registering losses in the previous day, trading around $78.50 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Monday.
Author  FXStreet
19 hours ago
Silver price (XAG/USD) rises nearly 4% after registering losses in the previous day, trading around $78.50 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Monday.
placeholder
Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD keeps looking for direction above $4,500Gold (XAU/USD) trades lower for the second consecutive day on Friday, but remains contained within previous ranges, with downside attempts limited above the $4,500 line for now.
Author  FXStreet
May 22, Fri
Gold (XAU/USD) trades lower for the second consecutive day on Friday, but remains contained within previous ranges, with downside attempts limited above the $4,500 line for now.
placeholder
US President Donald Trump will swear in Kevin Warsh on Friday to lead FedThe US President Donald Trump administration said that Trump will swear in Kevin Warsh as ‌the chair of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) on Friday at the White House, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Author  FXStreet
May 22, Fri
The US President Donald Trump administration said that Trump will swear in Kevin Warsh as ‌the chair of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) on Friday at the White House, Reuters reported on Thursday.
placeholder
Nvidia Q1 Revenue Surges 85%, Data Center Business Accounts for 90%, Blowout Results Fail to Stop Stock VolatilityAs the absolute leader in the global AI industry chain, NVIDIA ( NVDA) delivered a quarterly earnings report that surpassed Wall Street's general expectations as anticipated.After the mar
Author  TradingKey
May 21, Thu
As the absolute leader in the global AI industry chain, NVIDIA ( NVDA) delivered a quarterly earnings report that surpassed Wall Street's general expectations as anticipated.After the mar
goTop
quote