Top AI Stocks to Buy When the Market Dips in March 2026

For investors seeking long-term growth, the ongoing market weakness in March 2026 presents a prime opportunity to accumulate best AI stocks at attractive valuations. While geopolitical tensions in the Middle East created near-term volatility, market participants have historically moved past such disruptions to focus on fundamental drivers. The bulls defended the Nasdaq’s 200-day moving average mid-week, signaling underlying strength even amid headline risks.

The reality remains unchanged: buying quality technology and artificial intelligence stocks during downturns has proven to be a time-tested wealth-building strategy for patient investors. History shows Wall Street typically shrugs off regional conflicts after initial market jitters subside. With that backdrop in mind, now is the moment to evaluate which AI stocks merit accumulation during this pullback.

Why Earnings Growth and Fed Policy Remain the Market’s True North

To navigate the noise and identify the best AI stocks for your portfolio, investors must focus on two fundamental pillars: corporate earnings trajectories and interest rate expectations. Both factors continue to provide robust support for equity valuations.

On the earnings front, the picture is remarkably bullish. Nvidia’s fourth-quarter results and guidance reaffirmed what the market already sensed—the artificial intelligence spending wave is accelerating, not slowing. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) was among the first major chipmakers to raise its 2026 capital expenditure guidance in early January, projecting between $52 billion and $56 billion in spending, a substantial jump from 2025’s $40.9 billion allocation.

The scale of the AI infrastructure buildout is staggering. Global hyperscalers—the technology giants racing to dominate AI—are projected to deploy approximately $530 billion in capital expenditure during 2026, up meaningfully from roughly $400 billion in 2025. Analysts expect this spending trajectory to accelerate further given recent guidance upgrades from Nvidia, Meta, Google, Amazon, and other mega-cap technology leaders.

This spending surge is directly translating to earnings growth. The earnings forecast for the technology sector in Q1 2026 has jumped to 24% year-over-year growth, compared to just 18% in mid-January and a mere 12% back in October 2025. Beyond technology, nearly every corner of the market is participating—15 out of 16 Zacks equity sectors are projected to deliver earnings per share expansion in 2026, signaling broad-based economic resilience.

On the interest rate front, institutional investors remain confident that the Federal Reserve will implement additional rate cuts during the latter half of 2026. Lower rates reduce discount rates applied to future earnings, directly benefiting growth-oriented AI stocks that derive value from years of expansion ahead.

ServiceNow: A 50% Decline Unlocks Exceptional Upside Opportunity

ServiceNow Inc. (ticker: NOW) represents one of the most beaten-down quality franchises in the technology sector, trading down nearly 50% from its January 2025 highs. This pullback has created a compelling opportunity for long-term investors, as the stock could potentially double if it simply returns to its previous peaks.

On the surface, NOW appears vulnerable to AI disruption—software companies face the risk of being displaced by intelligent AI agents that automate traditionally manual processes. However, ServiceNow has spent years proactively positioning itself at the intersection of business operations and artificial intelligence, transforming its narrative from a software vendor into what executives call an “AI control tower for business reinvention.”

The company’s competitive moat has widened through strategic partnerships with AI leaders. In January 2026, ServiceNow deepened its multi-year collaboration with OpenAI, securing exclusive rights to integrate OpenAI’s latest models directly into NOW’s enterprise platform to “accelerate agentic AI outcomes.” Simultaneously, the company expanded its partnership with Anthropic, embedding Claude models deeper into ServiceNow’s AI Platform to drive customer innovation.

Rather than suffering from AI competition, NOW is actively harnessing leading AI technologies to enhance its software offerings for enterprise customers racing to modernize operations. The company designs software spanning IT management, customer service, human resources, and broader business operations—all now augmented by advanced AI capabilities.

The financial evidence supports this transformation narrative. ServiceNow delivered its fourth consecutive year of 21-24% annual revenue growth in 2025, reaching $13.28 billion in total revenue—more than double the $6.31 billion it generated in 2021. This growth followed an earlier period of 30%+ expansion, demonstrating sustained momentum in a competitive market.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, ServiceNow secured 244 customer transactions valued at over $1 million in net new annual contract value, up 40% year-over-year. The company ended the year with over 600 enterprise accounts generating more than $5 million in annual contract value each, representing 20% growth versus 2024. On the bottom line, ServiceNow expanded GAAP earnings per share by 22% to $1.67, compared to just $0.23 per share in 2021—a sevenfold increase. Adjusted EPS climbed 27% higher.

Looking ahead, management projects revenue growth of 20% in 2026 followed by 18% growth in 2027, driving adjusted earnings per share expansion of 18% and 20%, respectively. Notably, analyst estimates for NOW have improved following the company’s January earnings release, suggesting the market underestimated the company’s AI adaptation capabilities.

The board authorized an additional $5 billion in share repurchase capacity, signaling management confidence. CEO Bill McDermott recently invested $3 million of personal capital at current prices, commenting that current levels represented “no better entry point”—a powerful signal from a seasoned technology executive.

Examined historically, NOW shares have advanced roughly 2,300% since the company’s 2012 initial public offering, massively outpacing the broader technology sector. The recent 50% decline represents a significant selloff even against that explosive backdrop. The stock recently found technical support at pre-breakout levels and its 200-day moving average after reaching its most oversold RSI reading in over a decade. Thursday’s bounce pushed it just beneath its 50-day moving average, potentially signaling capitulation.

The average Zacks price target implies approximately 70% upside from current levels, with investors potentially capturing nearly 100% total returns if NOW returns to January highs—an outcome that seems increasingly probable given the company’s strengthening earnings runway and AI integration strategy.

Celestica: The Hidden Infrastructure Play Leading the AI Buildout

Celestica Inc. (ticker: CLS) operates largely behind the scenes of the artificial intelligence revolution, yet plays an indispensable role in enabling the entire ecosystem. The company designs and manufactures cutting-edge electronic hardware that powers AI data centers, including specialized servers, networking switches, and other critical infrastructure components.

CLS’s business trajectory has been transformed by the AI boom. After struggling through much of the 2010s following its late-1990s IPO, the company has emerged as a preferred manufacturing partner for artificial intelligence hyperscalers and other technology giants racing to build out cloud infrastructure. The company also benefits from secular growth in aerospace, defense, telecommunications, healthcare technology, and supply chain solutions—diversified revenue streams beyond AI infrastructure alone.

The numbers tell a compelling story. Celestica expanded revenue by 29% in 2025 to reach $12.39 billion, extending a multi-year sprint of AI-driven growth. Over the five-year span from 2021 through 2025, the company more than doubled total revenues, demonstrating consistent execution against a powerful secular tailwind. Even more impressive, adjusted earnings per share grew 56% last year, while GAAP EPS surged over 90%—substantially exceeding revenue growth and reflecting operating leverage in the manufacturing business model.

Management issued bullish guidance for 2026 in late January, noting that “demand for AI-related data center technologies continues to strengthen considerably.” The company explicitly forecasts that this demand trajectory will extend into 2027 and beyond, providing visibility into multi-year growth. CEO Rob Mionis stated during prepared remarks that CLS is expanding capital investments to $1 billion in 2026 to satisfy accelerating customer demand—investments the company expects to fully fund through organic operating cash flow, underscoring strong underlying business health.

The 2026-2027 outlook is striking. Analysts project Celestica will expand revenue by 37% in 2026 and 39% in 2027, reaching $23.66 billion by 2027—nearly doubling 2025 revenues. Adjusted earnings per share is forecast to expand 46% and 43% in those respective years. These growth rates are extraordinary for a manufacturing-heavy business, reflecting both industry tailwinds and CLS’s market position.

The Zacks rating system upgraded CLS to a Rank #2 (Buy) designation following the January earnings release, benefiting from analyst estimate revisions. Of the 18 brokerage recommendations tracked by Zacks, 15 carry “Strong Buy” ratings, indicating overwhelming Wall Street confidence in the growth thesis.

Historically, Celestica has delivered phenomenal returns. Over the past five years, shares have surged approximately 3,000%, demolishing the broader Zacks Technology sector’s 100% return. This includes a 220% advance over the trailing twelve months. The recent 25% pullback from November highs, therefore, offers a compelling re-entry point for investors who missed the earlier rally.

Currently trading at 30.0X forward twelve-month earnings, Celestica is valued 50% below its recent highs—a striking discount for a company posting 46%+ earnings growth projections. The stock recently found buyers near its pre-October breakout highs and at its 200-day moving average, suggesting institutional accumulation at these levels. The average Zacks price target implies 34% additional upside from current prices.

For traders seeking rapid gains or long-term investors building positions, Celestica represents a “pick-and-shovel” artificial intelligence play offering substantial upside at a discount valuation. The combination of robust growth guidance, strong technical support, and an emerging rerating narrative suggests the current pullback represents a wealth-creating entry point.

Positioning for Long-Term AI Stock Success

The backdrop for best AI stocks remains compelling. Earnings growth is accelerating broadly across the market, capital expenditure cycles are ramping into hyperdrive, and Federal Reserve policy is becoming more accommodative. While near-term geopolitical headlines create noise and volatility, investors who maintain conviction in this fundamental thesis and deploy capital during weakness have historically been rewarded.

ServiceNow and Celestica represent two distinct ways to participate in the artificial intelligence transformation—one through software-as-a-service platforms adapting to AI capabilities, the other through the manufacturing infrastructure enabling the AI buildout. Both companies project exceptional earnings growth, both have seen their stocks corrected meaningfully, and both offer compelling risk-reward propositions for patient capital.

Now is the time to act on deep convictions and accumulate best AI stocks at discounted prices. The fundamentals support higher valuations ahead.