The AI Buildout Is Entering Its Next Phase According To Market Research

Economic uncertainty continues to hover over the markets, yet it has done little to slow the intense enthusiasm for artificial intelligence in 2025. What started as a frenzy concentrated in the largest technology names is now showing signs of broadening. For wealth advisors and RIAs guiding clients through a market increasingly shaped by AI, understanding where the momentum is shifting—and which companies may benefit most—is critical.

Over the past six months, the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF has soared 40%, compared with a 20% gain for the S&P 500 during the same period. That performance underscores just how much investor excitement remains concentrated in a narrow set of mega-cap tech stocks. But according to Futurum Group, a market research and intelligence firm, the AI buildout is entering its next phase. In this chapter, leadership may extend beyond the most obvious beneficiaries, opening up opportunities in names with differentiated roles in the ecosystem.

Futurum analysts have identified a group of companies they believe could outperform the familiar leaders of the AI trade. Their analysis highlights businesses that are not just riding the AI wave but building essential infrastructure, platforms, and capabilities that make AI adoption possible at scale. Below are five companies Futurum ranks as the top beneficiaries of this ongoing rally, and why advisors may want to keep them on their radar.

Broadcom (Ticker: AVGO)

Year-to-date gain: 43%

Futurum describes Broadcom as the “Uncle Sam of AI,” highlighting its unique ability to capture value across multiple layers of the technology stack. The company’s dominance in semiconductors and networking solutions positions it as a toll collector for AI workloads.

“In a world where every AI token costs someone money,” Futurum noted, “Broadcom isn’t just supplying parts—it is taking a cut from every layer of silicon, networking, and software.”

For advisors, Broadcom’s appeal lies in its diversification across hardware and infrastructure. Rather than betting on a single application or end-market, the company monetizes the foundational technologies that power AI inference. Its scale, vertical integration, and ability to deliver mission-critical solutions create resilience and recurring demand. Broadcom represents a way to capture AI exposure through a company that already acts as a backbone of the digital economy.

Palantir Technologies (Ticker: PLTR)

Year-to-date gain: 137%

Palantir has been one of the more volatile AI names, with shares experiencing sharp swings in recent months. That volatility has drawn in skeptics, but Futurum remains constructive on the company’s long-term position in the AI landscape.

Palantir is not simply selling models or dashboards. Instead, it has established itself as the execution layer of AI—developing decision engines that integrate data, policy, and action for clients across government, defense, and enterprise.

The firm’s strength lies in its ability to operationalize AI in highly complex environments. Advisors evaluating Palantir should consider its role as an enabler of real-world deployment, not just experimentation. Its sticky relationships with government agencies and growing presence in commercial markets suggest durable demand, even if the stock’s short-term path is choppy. For investors seeking differentiated AI exposure, Palantir offers a narrative beyond infrastructure and into applied intelligence at scale.

Oracle (Ticker: ORCL)

Year-to-date gain: 70%

Oracle has emerged as one of 2025’s breakout AI winners. A bullish revenue forecast sent shares surging earlier this year, but Futurum’s analysis suggests the story extends well beyond a single earnings cycle.

As enterprises move from pilot projects to production deployments, Oracle provides the structural edge: a deep integration of compute and data capabilities. While hyperscalers dominate cloud infrastructure, Oracle distinguishes itself by tying compute directly to enterprise data.

“Where others rent compute,” Futurum explained, “Oracle ties it to data by being that structural edge as AI moves from prototype to production.”

For advisors, Oracle represents an opportunity to access the enterprise AI buildout through a company with a long track record in mission-critical databases and software. Its scale, customer base, and integration capabilities position it as a durable core player. The fact that its performance metrics are starting to rival hyperscalers highlights its competitive strength in this transition phase.

Nebius (Ticker: NBIS)

Year-to-date gain: 295%

Perhaps the most surprising name on Futurum’s list is Nebius, a Netherlands-based AI utility company that until recently was virtually unknown. That changed on September 9, when news broke of its $17 billion deal with Microsoft. Shares of Nebius soared, and analysts see the company as playing a pivotal role in the AI economy.

Unlike hyperscalers, Nebius does not compete on breadth of services. Instead, it focuses on the physical and economic constraints that define AI compute—power, cooling, and integration. By solving these bottlenecks, Nebius addresses the critical infrastructure challenges that determine whether AI can scale effectively.

“Nebius isn’t competing with hyperscalers on breadth,” Futurum emphasized. “It’s competing on the physical and economic constraints that define AI compute.”

For advisors, Nebius introduces a compelling narrative: a utility-like play on AI infrastructure. Its partnership with Microsoft validates its model, and its specialized focus positions it as a potentially indispensable piece of the global AI buildout. While risks are higher with a less-established player, the upside from capturing a critical niche in AI compute is considerable.

MongoDB (Ticker: MBD)

Year-to-date gain: 31%

MongoDB has quietly become a significant beneficiary of AI adoption. The company’s Atlas platform has driven robust revenue growth, helping enterprises manage and simplify AI applications. By positioning itself as the “memory layer of AI,” MongoDB provides an essential bridge between messy enterprise data and the structured retrieval needed for agentic AI systems.

“Mongo is winning critical workloads,” Futurum explained, “because it enables companies to manage the complexity of data in ways that are both scalable and efficient.”

For advisors, MongoDB represents exposure to a company embedded in the fabric of enterprise AI adoption. Its platform is not just a database—it is becoming a core enabler of AI workloads that rely on structured data. As enterprises look for ways to integrate AI into existing systems, MongoDB’s solutions may become even more indispensable.

Implications for Advisors

The AI rally has been dominated by a handful of mega-cap names, but Futurum’s analysis suggests the opportunity set is widening. For RIAs and wealth managers, this expansion creates both opportunities and challenges.

On one hand, diversification within AI can reduce concentration risk and open access to companies with differentiated roles—whether as infrastructure providers, decision engines, or data management platforms. On the other, volatility remains high, and client enthusiasm may need to be tempered by careful risk management.

Broadcom offers a toll-collector model across the AI stack. Palantir represents the applied intelligence layer, bringing AI to decision-making in complex environments. Oracle delivers enterprise-scale integration between compute and data. Nebius provides a utility-like approach to the constraints of AI compute. MongoDB bridges the gap between raw enterprise data and structured AI workloads.

For advisors, understanding these distinctions is essential. Each company presents a unique entry point into the AI theme, and portfolio positioning should align with client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

The broader takeaway is clear: AI is no longer confined to a small cluster of mega-cap stocks. As adoption deepens, the ecosystem is expanding, and new winners are emerging. For wealth managers, that means rethinking AI exposure not just as a trade but as a structural shift reshaping the investment landscape.

In a market still clouded by uncertainty, AI remains one of the most powerful secular growth drivers. Identifying the companies enabling and scaling this transformation will be key for advisors looking to deliver long-term value to clients.

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