The Best Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now

By Harsh Chauhan – Mar 14, 2026 at 8:45AM ESTKey PointsOne of these companies is enabling fast data transmission in AI data centers with its optical components, leading to a remarkable earnings surge.The other company has stepped on the gas, driven primarily by booming demand for AI servers.Buying top companies that are capitalizing on fast-growing trends and holding them could create wealth for investors in the long run. That's why if you have $500 to spare right now -- after paying bills, saving for tough times, and clearing high-interest loans -- and are looking to put that money to work in the stock market, it would be a good idea to invest in shares of Ciena (CIEN +0.16%) and Dell Technologies (DELL +1.21%), either individually or combined. Let's see why these two fast-growing companies could be the best way to invest $500 in the stock market. Image source: Getty Images. Ciena's stunning earnings growth will be a tailwind for the stock Ciena stock has shot up a remarkable 435% in the past year. The company's phenomenal surge is driven by the robust demand for its optical networking components, which are used in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers to enable fast connectivity over long distances. As a result, Ciena is receiving more orders than it is fulfilling. ExpandNYSE: CIENCienaToday's Change(0.16%) $0.55Current Price$337.38Key Data PointsMarket Cap$48BDay's Range$334.50 - $353.2552wk Range$49.21 - $365.90Volume2.4MAvg Vol3.2MGross Margin39.48% The company reported a 33% year-over-year revenue increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (which ended on Jan. 31, 2026). Its adjusted earnings shot up by 111% to $1.35 per share, driven by a favorable product mix and cost-cutting efforts. The good news for investors is that Ciena is confident it can sustain its terrific growth in fiscal 2026. It has raised its full-year gross margin guidance by one percentage point. It now expects a stronger jump of 28% in revenue this year to $6.1 billion at the midpoint of its guidance range, up from the earlier expectation of $5.9 billion. Ciena could easily coast past its updated guidance, as its order backlog stood at $7 billion at the end of the previous quarter. The backlog increased by $2 billion in fiscal Q1. Ciena, therefore, has the potential to achieve the 132% increase in earnings that analysts are expecting from the company this year. Don't be surprised to see this strong growth leading to more upside in this tech stock, making it an ideal investment for growth-oriented investors. Dell Technologies is stepping on the gas AI has proven to be a strong catalyst for Dell Technologies, a company traditionally associated with computers, peripherals, and server systems. The booming demand for Dell's AI-optimized servers led to a 39% increase in the company's revenue in fiscal 2026's Q4 to a record $33.4 billion. That was well above Dell's 19% annual revenue growth, which set a record at $113.5 billion. ExpandNYSE: DELLDell TechnologiesToday's Change(1.21%) $1.81Current Price$151.72Key Data PointsMarket Cap$100BDay's Range$146.84 - $152.9552wk Range$66.25 - $168.08Volume257KAvg Vol7.7MGross Margin22.12%Dividend Yield1.39% The company received $46.1 billion in orders for its AI servers last year. It shipped $25.2 billion worth of AI servers in fiscal 2026, a number that it expects to double this year. Dell can easily hit the $50 billion in revenue it expects from AI products in fiscal 2027, given that it ended last year with a $43 billion order backlog. As a result, don't be surprised to see Dell exceed its fiscal 2027 revenue guidance of $140 billion and earnings growth expectation of 25%. Dell was the largest player in the AI server market in 2024, with a 20% share. Its AI revenue growth rate suggests it is easily outpacing the 34% annual growth that the overall AI server market is poised to clock through 2030. As this AI stock trades at an attractive 17 times earnings, buying it looks like a no-brainer given its immense growth potential.Read NextMar 11, 2026 •By Harsh ChauhanThe Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock That's Quietly Outperforming Nvidia in 2026Mar 5, 2026 •By Billy DubersteinWhy Ciena Sank TodayFeb 27, 2026 •By Harsh ChauhanThis AI Infrastructure Stock Grew 176% Last Year.

Is It Too Late to Buy in 2026?Feb 15, 2026 •By Jennifer Saibil3 Hyper-Growth Tech Stocks to Buy in 2026Jan 30, 2026 •By Harsh ChauhanThe Best AI Stock That Nobody's Talking About for 2026Jan 11, 2026 •By Eric VolkmanWhy Ciena Stock Rocked the Market in DecemberAbout the AuthorHarsh Chauhan is a contributing Motley Fool technology analyst covering semiconductors, consumer electronics, artificial intelligence, and software. Harsh previously worked as a journalist for CCN Markets covering crypto and macroeconomics, a contributor at Capital 10x covering metals, mining, and industrial stocks, and a research associate at Zacks Investment Research. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata, India.TMFTechJunk13X@techjunk13Stocks MentionedCienaNYSE: CIEN$337.66(+0.25%)+$0.83Dell TechnologiesNYSE: DELL$151.73(+1.21%)+$1.82*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.