2 AI Stocks to Buy Before They Surge 218% or More, According to Wall Street

Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating several multi-trillion-dollar opportunities. Some experts, for example, believe robotaxis will one day be a $10 trillion market. That has been made possible by rapid advancements in AI, which in turn are rapidly improving self-driving capabilities. There's also the ongoing data center build-out, which some experts believe is a $7 trillion opportunity over the next few years alone. The list goes on and on. Put simply, AI is a transformational technology. Wall Street doesn't want investors to miss their opportunity. Below are two stocks that certain analysts are highly bullish on. Image source: Getty Images. 1.

Rigetti Computing Rigetti Computing (RGTI -3.64%) is technically a quantum computing stock, but the future of quantum computing is heavily intertwined with advancements in AI. Quantum hardware shares many components with AI, and both technologies will likely be used in tandem for future applications. Nine analysts actively cover Rigetti stock. Six have a "buy" rating on shares, while the other three have a "hold" rating. The average price target is $30.71, suggesting around 90% upside potential from the current price over the next 12 to 18 months. The most bullish analyst covering Rigetti stock is John McPeake from Rosenblatt Securities, a boutique investment bank. His price target of $40 suggests roughly 150% in potential upside. McPeake reiterated his prediction on July 29. ExpandNASDAQ: RGTIRigetti ComputingToday's Change(-3.64%) $-0.64Current Price$16.82Key Data PointsMarket Cap$5.8BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.Day's Range$16.75 - $17.4652wk Range$12.53 - $58.15Volume13MAvg Vol38.5MGross Margin-5945.49% In June, David Rivas, the Chief Technology Officer of Rigetti, sold 499,328 shares for $12.7 million. Rigetti also still hasn't fully resolved concerns regarding its technology development and product release delays. Technical and commercial scaling challenges remain a major drag on the company's stock price, which has fallen roughly 30% year to date. Still, McPeake is bullish on Rigetti's ability to overcome these challenges. Given quantum computing's unparalleled ability to process complex data and assist with the development and execution of AI models, Rigetti looks like an intriguing stock exposed to both quantum and AI tailwinds, trading at a discount to both previous trading levels and Wall Street expectations. 2. SoundHound AI SoundHound AI (SOUN -1.08%) is more directly exposed to AI than Rigetti Computing, as it derives most of its revenue from AI products and services. Year to date, shares are down 42% in value. But all four Wall Street analysts who cover the stock have a "buy" rating, with an average price target of $12.75, suggesting around 110% upside. Scott Buck of H.C. Wainwright, a New York investment bank, is the most bullish analyst. His price target of $20 implies around 228% in potential upside. ExpandNASDAQ: SOUNSoundHound AIToday's Change(-1.08%) $-0.07Current Price$6.44Key Data PointsMarket Cap$2.8BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.Day's Range$6.41 - $6.5952wk Range$5.65 - $22.17Volume13.1MAvg Vol29.7MGross Margin31.27% Earlier this year, Buck pointed out SoundHound AI's strong sales growth. Both new customers and customer renewals helped SoundHound AI achieve 100% sales growth in 2025. Strong sales growth, Buck believes, will help the company reach positive adjusted EBITDA margins by late 2026. SoundHound AI reports earnings on Aug. 5. Earlier this week, I commented on the upcoming report, saying: Wall Street remains bullish on SoundHound AI largely because analysts believe the company can accelerate the cross-selling of products to existing customers. This would not only accelerate sales growth beyond simply acquiring new customers but also boost margins, as selling to existing customers usually doesn't involve the high costs of acquiring new customers. That lines up cleanly with Buck's investment thesis. Progress on cross-selling products and margin expansion will strongly influence SoundHound AI's stock once earnings are announced.Read NextAug 2, 2026 •By Sara AppinoIonQ vs. Rigetti: Which Quantum Computing Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?Jul 27, 2026 •By Rich SmithWhy Rigetti Computing Stock Just PoppedJul 27, 2026 •By Anthony Di PizioPrediction: This Quantum Computing Stock Is Going to Plummet After Aug. 6Jul 27, 2026 •By Alex CarchidiWhat's Next For Rigetti Computing Stock?Jul 26, 2026 •By Alex CarchidiThinking About Buying Rigetti Computing Stock? Here's What You Need to KnowJul 24, 2026 •By Dave KovaleskiRigetti Computing Is Trading Under $15: Is Now the Time to Buy?About the AuthorRyan Vanzo is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst, covering a range of stocks and market sectors. Ryan previously worked for multiple mutual funds conducting fundamental research. He holds a degree in finance and accounting from Bentley University and has had a strong interest in financial markets since childhood.TMFRyanVanzoStocks MentionedRigetti ComputingNASDAQ: RGTI$16.83(-3.58%)-$0.63Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest PickGet Access---% Avg ReturnSoundHound AINASDAQ: SOUN$6.44(-1.15%)-$0.08*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.