The post A strategic lens for 2026 appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Key points AI leadership is broadening beyond mega-cap tech into semiconductors, industrial automation and power infrastructure – the real “picks and shovels” of the AI buildout. A disciplined screen focusing on profitability, cash flow and sensible valuations narrows the global universe to just 15 companies that appear to combine AI exposure with financial resilience. 2026 may reward “AI with receipts” – companies delivering earnings, not just narratives, making balance-sheet strength and execution key differentiators as the cycle matures. As we step into 2026, the conversation around AI is shifting. The question is no longer whether AI investment will continue—global capex plans, data-centre buildouts and electrification needs suggest it will—but how to participate without getting caught in the frothier corners of the market. This is where fundamentals matter again. After a cycle dominated by narratives, 2026 is shaping up to reward balance-sheet strength, cash-flow visibility and the companies building the infrastructure that AI actually relies on, rather than those simply riding sentiment. To explore this theme, we have built a simple Bloomberg framework that screens for AI-adjacent businesses with real earnings, real cash flow and reasonable valuations. This isn’t a stock list or a set of recommendations. It’s a framework to help investors recognise the financial signals, such as earnings quality, free cash flow and valuation discipline, that often differentiate real AI execution from noise. The logic behind the screen: AI is a capital cycle, not just a story cycle AI is no longer a single-sector story. The buildout now spans chips and hardware, industrial automation, software, and even utilities powering data centres. To reflect this broader ecosystem, the screen focuses on four BICS segments that sit at the core of the AI economy: Technology Hardware & Semiconductors. Software. Industrial Automation. Utilities. These sectors represent the practical backbone of AI –…

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Filed under: News - @ December 9, 2025 7:24 am