3 Must-Buy AI Stocks for 2026: Long-Term Winners in the Artificial Intelligence Boom

3 Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in 2026 and Hold for the Decade AheadEntering 2026, artificial intelligence remains the dominant force reshaping industries and driving stock market gains. Hyperscalers plan massive capex increases, with AI infrastructure spending projected to exceed $500 billion this year alone. For long-term investors, focusing on proven leaders with wide moats and diversified revenue streams is key.Here are three standout AI stocks to buy in 2026 and hold through the decade: Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN). These companies span the AI stack—from chips to cloud platforms—offering resilience and explosive upside potential.Nvidia: The Undisputed King of AI Chips Nvidia continues to dominate the AI accelerator market, powering training and inference for large language models. Its Blackwell and upcoming Rubin platforms are sold out well into 2026, with demand far outstripping supply.Key strengths:Near-monopoly in high-end GPUs (over 80% market share). CUDA software ecosystem locks in developers. Expanding into networking and full-stack solutions. Analysts forecast Nvidia's earnings growing at 48% annually through 2028, making its forward P/E of around 47 look reasonable given the growth trajectory. While competition from AMD and custom ASICs rises, Nvidia's total cost of ownership advantage keeps it ahead.With AI data center buildouts accelerating, Nvidia remains a core holding for any long-term AI portfolio. Sources like Morningstar rank it as the top AI stock heading into 2026.Microsoft: AI Monetization Leader Through Azure and Copilot Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI and integration of generative AI across its ecosystem position it as the enterprise AI frontrunner. Azure cloud growth reaccelerated in late 2025, driven by AI workloads, and Copilot tools now boast over 150 million monthly active users.Highlights:Exclusive access to cutting-edge models like GPT-5. AI copilots embedded in Office, Dynamics, and GitHub. Revenue sharing from OpenAI exceeding $1 billion annually. Wall Street sees Microsoft as undervalued relative to its AI potential, with Azure poised for 30%+ growth in 2026. Dan Ives of Wedbush calls it the "favorite large-cap tech stock" for the year, projecting significant upside from AI-driven shifts.As enterprises scale AI deployments, Microsoft's sticky software suite ensures recurring revenue and margin expansion—ideal for decade-long holding.Amazon: AWS Growth Engine Fueled by Massive AI Investments Amazon Web Services (AWS) regained momentum in 2025, with growth topping 20% as AI demand surged. Amazon plans over $125 billion in AI capex for 2026—the highest among hyperscalers—bolstering its cloud infrastructure.Why Amazon excels:AWS leads in market share and custom silicon (Trainium/Inferentia chips). E-commerce synergy for real-world AI applications. Diversified beyond cloud (retail, advertising, logistics). Trading at a forward P/E of around 33, Amazon offers compelling value compared to pure-play AI names. Analysts highlight its "explosive growth potential" from AI, with AWS acceleration signaling sustained momentum.Broader AI Market Outlook for 2026 and BeyondThe AI revolution shifts from hype to monetization in 2026. Infrastructure spending remains robust, but software and application layers gain traction. Risks include valuation bubbles and competition, but these three stocks boast wide moats and proven execution.Diversification across the stack—chips (Nvidia), cloud/software (Microsoft), and hyperscale services (Amazon)—provides balanced exposure. Analysts from Motley Fool, Wedbush, and Morningstar consistently rank them among top picks.This trio could deliver market-beating returns as AI transforms the global economy. For investors with a long horizon, buying in 2026 positions you for the next phase of growth.