3 AI Stocks to Hold No Matter What Happens in the Economy

By Will Healy – Apr 12, 2026 at 1:25AM ESTKey PointsNvidia's artificial intelligence (AI) chip dominance has led to eye-popping growth.Amazon's leadership in e-commerce and cloud computing make it an essential stock in nearly all market conditions.An iPhone upgrade cycle has helped breathe new life into Apple.Amid the conflict in the Middle East, many investors are understandably confused about how to move forward. This is exacerbated by the current market environment. At 38, the Shiller P/E ratio is far above historical averages, and a massive decline could occur if market conditions deteriorate. Nonetheless, investors should remember that the overall market has recovered from every past downturn. Additionally, while longtime CEO Warren Buffett raised a record amount of cash before retiring from Berkshire Hathaway, he retained considerable stock holdings. That approach indicates that investors should stay the course even if they preserve optionality by holding considerable amounts of cash. Regardless of what happens in the near term, these three artificial intelligence (AI) stocks should hold investors in good stead as they navigate an uncertain environment. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Nvidia Nvidia (NVDA +2.59%) remains in a strong position to preserve capital as it maintains its dominance in the AI accelerator market. It has become an essential company in advancing AI, and rather than starving for business, it is instead struggling to keep up with the demand for its chips. Admittedly, if one focuses on the stock chart over the last five years, they might assume it is due for a sell-off. Fortunately, its business conditions and financials appear to indicate otherwise. ExpandNASDAQ: NVDANvidiaToday's Change(2.59%) $4.76Current Price$188.67Key Data PointsMarket Cap$4.6TDay's Range$184.32 - $190.0052wk Range$95.04 - $212.19Volume5.9MAvg Vol179MGross Margin71.07%Dividend Yield0.02% Despite a market cap of around $4.4 trillion, the company grew its revenue by 65% in fiscal 2026 (ended Jan. 25). Also, costs and expenses kept pace with revenue, and its $120 billion in net income also rose 65% yearly. Still, since its stock rose by 85% over the last year, its valuation did not increase that much, and its 37 P/E ratio is arguably cheap given its rate of profit growth. Also, amid its successes, it holds $63 billion in liquidity, giving it tremendous optionality should business conditions deteriorate. That positions Nvidia stock well to preserve one's capital long term, making it a smart holding for value investors. 2. Amazon Amazon (AMZN +2.05%) is also in a position of strength due to its two primary businesses: e-commerce and cloud computing. Since Amazon sells a wide variety of items, sales should remain steady even if an economic downturn prompts consumers to spend more carefully. Data source: Statista. Moreover, AWS remains the market leader in cloud computing. According to Grand View Research, the cloud industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16% through 2033, making it likely to continue growing even in a down economy. Thus, despite a staggering $200 billion investment in property and equipment this year, Amazon holds $127 billion in liquidity. That enables it to afford this spending and, likely, whatever it needs to navigate the current environment. ExpandNASDAQ: AMZNAmazonToday's Change(2.05%) $4.78Current Price$238.43Key Data PointsMarket Cap$2.6TDay's Range$235.20 - $240.4352wk Range$165.28 - $258.60Volume3MAvg Vol51MGross Margin50.29% Additionally, after increasing revenue by 12% in 2025, it reported almost $78 billion in net income for the year, a 31% rise over the same period. That indicates its massive investments may already be paying off for the tech giant. Finally, its P/E ratio of 31 takes its valuation near multi-year lows. That earnings multiple makes it all the more likely Amazon will protect (and likely grow) one's investments in these uncertain times. 3. Apple Apple (AAPL 0.01%) is a longtime favorite of Buffett, who made it Berkshire's largest holding. Even though he dramatically reduced this holding in recent quarters, he recently expressed some regret at selling. Apple's business likely remains the reason why. Its iPhone and iOS operating system are one of the leading smartphone ecosystems. Also, since it holds $132 billion in fair value liquidity, the company holds the resources necessary to maintain its place in the market without taking major risks. Furthermore, revenue growth has recovered amid an iPhone upgrade cycle. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended Dec. 27, 2025), revenue rose by 16%, and this included a 23% increase in iPhone sales. That compares to the 6% overall revenue growth and the 4% rise in iPhone sales in fiscal 2025. Also, with fiscal Q1 profits up 16% yearly to $42 billion, the revenue growth has translated into higher profits. ExpandNASDAQ: AAPLAppleToday's Change(-0.01%) $-0.02Current Price$260.47Key Data PointsMarket Cap$3.8TDay's Range$259.03 - $262.1752wk Range$189.81 - $288.62Volume1.2MAvg Vol47MGross Margin47.33%Dividend Yield0.40% At about 32 times earnings, Apple stock is not as cheap as it used to be. Still, with these reemerging tailwinds, Buffett is likely right to wish that his company still held more Apple shares.Read NextApr 11, 2026 •By Keithen DruryIs It Too Late to Buy Nvidia and Broadcom? Here's What History Tells UsApr 11, 2026 •By Keithen DruryAgentic AI Is the Next Big Thing in AI. Here Are the 5 Best Stocks to Capitalize on It.Apr 11, 2026 •By Keithen DruryIs Nvidia the Best Buy in the Entire Stock Market?Apr 11, 2026 •By Prosper Junior BakinyPrediction: Nvidia Stock Is a Buy Before May 20Apr 11, 2026 •By Geoffrey SeilerBull vs. Bear: Is Nvidia a Buy or Sell? Let's Look at the Bullish and Bearish Cases for the Stock.Apr 11, 2026 •By Sean WilliamsAI Stocks Just Did Something That's Been Witnessed Only 4 Times in 62 Years -- Is It Finally Time to Sound the Alarm?About the AuthorWill Healy is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology and consumer goods industries.

Before The Motley Fool, Will was a freelance writer covering stocks and personal finance for MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Nasdaq. Earlier in his career, he was an expert in geographic information systems, applying spatial and IT skills to perform RF and demographic analysis in the telecom industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M University and an MBA in finance and strategy from the University of Texas at Dallas.TMFWillHealyX@HealyWritingStocks MentionedNvidiaNASDAQ: NVDA$188.67(+2.59%)+$4.76AppleNASDAQ: AAPL$260.47(-0.01%)-$0.02AmazonNASDAQ: AMZN$238.43(+2.05%)+$4.78Berkshire HathawayNYSE: BRKA$720,002.89(-1.08%)-$7,877.70Berkshire HathawayNYSE: BRKB$479.90(-1.09%)-$5.30*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.