Nvidia vs. Palantir: Which Stock Is the Better Long-Term AI Buy?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating trillion-dollar opportunities, but not all AI stocks are built the same. In the race for long-term dominance, two names are consistently standing out. While Nvidia (NVDA) remains the undisputed powerhouse behind today’s AI infrastructure, Palantir (PLTR) is the emerging software force driving real-world AI adoption. Both are growing at extraordinary rates, both sit at the heart of massive technological transformations, and both claim moats that competitors struggle to match. The question now is, when looking a decade ahead, which could be the better long-term AI buy?

The Case for Nvidia

Valued at $4.4 trillion, Nvidia designs and builds the powerful chips, hardware systems, and software that run modern AI. Nvidia continues to deliver staggering results each quarter, cementing its position as the undisputed leader in AI infrastructure. NVDA stock has returned over 21,695% over the last decade and is up 32% year-to-date (YTD).

In its most recent third quarter of fiscal 2026, Nvidia reported $57 billion in revenue, up 62% year-over-year (YoY), with a record $10 billion sequential jump. Earnings surged 67%, and gross margins climbed to an exceptional 73.6%, indicating overwhelming demand and pricing power. Its Data Center segment, the engine of modern AI, generated $51 billion, up 66%. Cloud providers remained sold out of Nvidia…