Under-the-Radar AI Stocks Target Nasdaq Outperformance in 2026

The latest development shifts focus from established Nasdaq names to three lesser-known AI-linked stocks positioned to beat the US Tech 100 in 2026. Following the prior day's emphasis on Palantir, Microsoft, and AppLovin as rebound candidates still 25-35% below highs, Motley Fool analysts now highlight Iren, MaxLinear, and Innodata. These firms are benefiting from surging AI infrastructure demand, with Iren securing multibillion-dollar deals from Microsoft and Nvidia, MaxLinear posting 43% YoY revenue growth, and Innodata raising its 2026 growth forecast to 40%. The narrative frames these under-the-radar plays as potential drivers of further tech-index gains.