Artificial intelligence has moved from buzzword to real-world spending priority, even as central banks weigh inflation, bond yields shift and purchasing manager indices send mixed signals across regions. The AI Stocks screener focuses on companies directly tied to this shift in areas such as chips, cloud, large language models and enterprise software. It helps you filter a crowded market for businesses most closely linked to the ChatGPT and AI build out. In this article you will see three stocks from the screener that illustrate different ways investors are gaining exposure to this theme.
Trend Micro (TSE:4704)
Overview: Trend Micro is a Japan based cybersecurity company that provides software and services to protect computers, networks, cloud workloads and digital identities, increasingly using AI to detect threats and manage cyber risk for enterprises and consumers worldwide.
Operations: Trend Micro generates revenue mainly from Japan at ¥87,873m, Asia Pacific at ¥77,088m, Europe at ¥65,128m and the Americas at ¥55,822m, with a segment adjustment of ¥3,574m.
Market Cap: ¥839.1b
Trend Micro gives you exposure to the growing need for AI driven cybersecurity, with its TrendAI platform now woven into offerings like Vision One, managed XDR and AI governance tools built alongside partners such as Anthropic and OpenAI. Analysts expect moderate earnings growth and a high future ROE, and the stock currently trades at a discount to one DCF based fair value estimate, although its P/E still sits above software peers. Investors need to weigh this against softer perpetual license renewals, pressure in the overseas consumer segment and governance concerns such as low board independence. The key consideration is whether Trend Micro’s push into AI security and recurring enterprise contracts can outweigh these structural risks over time.
Trend Micro’s push into AI security could be a bigger earnings swing factor than its current P/E suggests, especially if recurring contracts ramp. Get the fuller story in the 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign
WingArc1st (TSE:4432)
Overview: WingArc1st is a Japan based software company that helps businesses design and output forms, manage documents, and turn operational data into dashboards and analysis through products like SVF, Dr.Sum and MotionBoard.
Operations: WingArc1st generates all of its ¥31,437.2m revenue from the Data Empowerment Business in Japan.
Market Cap: ¥106.7b
WingArc1st provides exposure to the practical side of AI and data, where companies are working to clean up documents, digitize forms and extract insights rather than focusing only on large language models. The stock appears undervalued relative to one internal fair value estimate, with a P/E below that reference point, while recent margins are around 21% and earnings growth has been solid over several years. Management has also approved a share buyback of up to ¥3,000m through 2027, which can signal confidence in the balance sheet and capital allocation. On the other hand, there is funding risk because all liabilities come from external borrowing. Investors may wish to weigh that trade off after reviewing the full picture on growth, valuation and balance sheet strength.
WingArc1st’s combination of a lower P/E, solid margins and an approved ¥3,000m buyback suggests the market may be missing something. See how those pieces fit together in the analysis report for WingArc1st
Appier Group (TSE:4180)
Overview: Appier Group is an AI native SaaS company that helps businesses run digital marketing, personalize customer experiences and connect scattered data by using machine learning across ad, personalization and data cloud products. Its tools serve sectors such as e commerce, retail, finance, gaming and autos, where brands want to turn user behavior into higher conversion and more relevant engagement.
Operations: Appier Group generates all of its ¥46,487m revenue from the AI SaaS Business. This comes mainly from Northeast Asia at ¥31,579m, followed by the US and EMEA and Others at ¥9,095m, the Greater China Region at ¥4,586m and Southeast Asia at ¥1,227m.
Market Cap: ¥98.7b
Appier Group stands out in AI because it already sells AI driven products at scale. Analysts expect earnings to grow strongly, with forecasts above the broader Japanese market, even though the stock trades on a rich P/E and has recently weaker profit margins at 5.6%. Guidance for Q2 2026 points to rising sales and operating income as its Agentic AI solutions help margins. However, the company has underperformed the domestic software sector and carries higher funding risk because all liabilities come from external borrowing. The key consideration is whether high quality earnings, improving profitability over the past five years and robust growth projections can justify a share price that currently sits above one estimate of its future cash flow value.
Appier Group’s rich P/E, improving profitability and Agentic AI pitch suggest that growth expectations and reality may be starting to decouple. See how that trade off compares in the analyst forecasts for Appier Group
The three stocks here are only a starting point, since the full Artificial Intelligence/ AI Stocks screener surfaces 62 more companies that sit directly in the path of the ChatGPT and AI build out with equally compelling stories. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, business models and AI narratives that matter to you, so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas in this space.
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Seeking Alternatives Before The Crowd?
Fresh themes can gain momentum quickly, and some of the more attractive entries may appear while they are still under the radar. Before the next breakout moves beyond your comfort zone, consider reviewing potential ideas in advance.
- Identify cash rich companies before wider attention focuses on balance sheet strength by scanning the curated list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (39 results) while that factor remains a key consideration.
- Explore potential income opportunities from established payers by reviewing the hand picked 46 dividend fortresses before yields change and more investors pursue similar ideas.
- Monitor possible sector rotation by checking the focused 64 high quality undiscovered gems while these quieter stories are still priced for research and curiosity rather than broad conviction.
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.
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