Meta, ServiceNow and these 7 other tech stocks could lead the next leg of the AI trade

Deutsche Bank analysts have outlined their preferred technology stocks for the remainder of the year, a list that includes Meta and ServiceNow among nine names the firm sees as potential leaders in the next phase of the AI trade. The picks suggest analysts are looking beyond the first wave of AI beneficiaries—typically chipmakers and hardware suppliers—toward companies applying AI within software, platforms and digital services.

The distinction matters for how the trade is framed. Early AI enthusiasm concentrated heavily on semiconductor and infrastructure names, but attention has gradually shifted toward businesses that can monetize AI through existing products, subscription models or advertising. A broker's selection of large-cap platform and enterprise-software companies implies a view that AI-driven revenue may broaden across the sector rather than remain confined to a narrow group.

For investors, the takeaway is less about the specific names than about the theme: analyst research of this kind can influence where institutional money flows and how sector leadership rotates. What to watch next is whether these companies' earnings reports show measurable AI contributions, and whether the broader market follows the rotation the list implies.