When it comes to investment, higher risks often call for more thorough research. Most people aren’t too bothered about losing $50, but losing $50,000? That’s a different level of concern.
So, where can investors put down that kind of money without constant worry? Below are my recommendations for top stocks to consider investing $50,000 in right now.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:Google) has made significant strides in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena. Once thought to be lagging behind, particularly regarding OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Alphabet now claims the top two spots, boasting its models like Google Gemini 3.0 Pro and Google Gemini 3.0 Flash.
This success isn’t just about bragging rights. I think it could translate into considerable profits for Alphabet. The features offered through Gemini may attract more customers to Google Cloud, which is already the fastest-growing among the major cloud platforms.
Alphabet is working to integrate the latest version of Gemini throughout its product ecosystem, which I believe will only bolster Google Search’s stronghold in the market.
And let’s not forget about the potential Alphabet holds with Waymo. The self-driving vehicle technology stands to gain a significant advantage in the robotaxi sector. I suspect that Waymo’s true value isn’t fully captured in Alphabet’s current stock price.
What’s the biggest steal in AI at the moment? Many might argue it’s Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU).
Micron’s high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is essential for AI chip development. Just to support this, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang mentioned that Micron’s expertise in high-performance memory will be crucial for next-gen AI advancements. AMD’s CEO, Lisa Su, also praised the partnership with Micron.
Isn’t memory just a commodity, though? Certainly. But it’s, kind of, a hot commodity. Micron’s CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, shared recently that the company has fully allocated its HBM supply through the end of 2026. He predicts a 40% growth rate in HBM sales, estimating they will reach $100 billion by 2028, up from $35 billion last year.
Returning to Micron, the stock currently trades at a forward price/earnings ratio of 10.7x and a PEG of 0.59x. Personally, I believe the downside risk for Micron is quite limited at this valuation, while the potential for upside seems solid.
Not all appealing stocks right now are strictly AI-focused. I’ve been a fan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) for a long time, and I anticipate this will continue. Vertex has seen fast sales growth for two new drugs, Alyftrek and Journavx, this year.
Alyftrek stands out as Vertex’s most effective treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF). Sure, it might impact the sales of older CF therapies, but that’s acceptable since profits will still rise, thanks to Alyftrek’s lower royalty costs. I also view the non-opioid painkiller Journavx as particularly promising.
Vertex’s pipeline is looking promising too. A significant pharmaceutical firm is in the process of submitting a biologics license application for pobetacicept, aimed at treating IgA nephropathy, a chronic kidney disease impacting roughly 300,000 individuals in the U.S. and Europe. To put that in context, CF, which Vertex is best known for, affects about 109,000 people globally.
You might wonder if these prospects are already factored into Vertex’s stock price, which has a forward earnings multiple of 25.4x. But I don’t think so. The biotech’s PEG ratio, based on five-year growth predictions, is 0.58. There appears to be room for growth not just for Vertex, but also for Alphabet and Micron.
Before jumping into Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock, keep these considerations in mind:
Our analysts at Motley Fool Stock Advisor have pinpointed what they believe are the Best 10 stocks to buy right now. However, Vertex Pharmaceuticals didn’t make the cut this time. These ten stocks are predicted to deliver strong returns in the coming years.
Looking back, think about Netflix. There was a time, December 17, 2004, when $1,000 invested then would now be worth $482,326! Or consider Nvidia, from April 15, 2005. A similar investment would be sitting at $1,133,015!
It’s worth noting that the Stock Advisor has achieved an average return of 968%, whereas the S&P 500 stands at 197%. That’s just an impressive outperformance. If you’re curious about the latest Top 10 list, Stock Advisor is an investor community designed for retail investors.
*Stock Advisor will return on January 11, 2026.
Keith Spates holds positions in both Alphabet and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Nvidia, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. For further information, you can check out our disclosure policy.
Best stocks to invest $50,000 in right now Originally published by The Motley Fool
