Not automatically. Broadcom and Applied Digital give investors exposure to different parts of AI infrastructure, while Palantir is not a like-for-like comparison: the three stocks represent different business models and risks. Broadcom may suit someone seeking exposure to custom chips, networking and software; Applied Digital is a more concentrated bet on building and leasing data-center capacity. Whether either is preferable to Palantir depends on valuation, financial resilience, execution and your tolerance for risk—not just the AI label.
The Motley Fool article by Rick Orford published October 3, 2026, names Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) and Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) as alternatives to Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR). Its descriptions of Broadcom as the steadier choice and Applied Digital as the higher-risk, potentially higher-reward choice are the author’s judgments, not universal conclusions or individualized investment advice.
Why these stocks are not direct substitutes for Palantir
The comparison spans different places in the AI economy. The Motley Fool article describes Broadcom as a supplier of custom semiconductors and networking equipment, with an established software business. It describes Applied Digital as a developer and operator of data-center capacity for AI workloads. Those are infrastructure exposures; the article does not present either company as a like-for-like software alternative to Palantir.
That distinction matters because each business depends on different sources of demand and different execution milestones. A comparison based only on the phrase “AI stock” can obscure what an investor is actually buying.
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| Company | AI exposure described in the article | What the investment case depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcom | Custom chips, networking equipment and software | Demand for custom silicon and networking, alongside performance in its broader business |
| Applied Digital | AI data-center campuses and operating capacity | Financing, construction, leasing and delivery of campus capacity |
| Palantir | Not detailed as an infrastructure business in the article’s comparison | The cited article does not supply a like-for-like comparison of its business model or valuation |
What is the case for Broadcom?
Exposure across chips, networking and software
The article’s Broadcom thesis is that the company is positioned to benefit from custom AI chips and networking gear used to connect processors into large computing clusters, rather than competing directly with Nvidia in general-purpose GPUs. It also points to Broadcom’s established software business and VMware AI Factory as parts of a broader business mix. This is the basis for the author’s view that Broadcom offers more diversified exposure than a company centered on AI data-center expansion.
What the reported growth does—and does not—show
The article reports that Broadcom’s AI semiconductor revenue more than tripled year over year in its “last quarter” and that management raised its longer-term AI revenue outlook. The summary available for that article does not identify the quarter, the revenue amount or the revised outlook, so those claims alone do not let a reader assess the scale, duration or profitability of the growth. Check Broadcom’s relevant earnings materials and filings for the period and definitions before relying on the figures.
Rank #2
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What is the case for Applied Digital?
A bet on campuses and contracted capacity
The article describes Applied Digital as building and operating data centers for AI workloads, including AI campuses, long-term lease agreements and construction activity. It reports that three deals with an investment-grade hyperscaler across different campuses bring the company’s contracted capacity to $36 billion. That figure is the article’s report; the available summary does not state the contracts’ duration, contingencies, accounting definition or revenue-recognition schedule. Contracted capacity should not be treated as booked revenue or guaranteed cash flow.
The article also reports that Polaris Forge 1 began operations. The available summary does not provide operating details or independently confirm the status, so investors evaluating the milestone should look for company disclosures on capacity, utilization and financial contribution.
Rank #3
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Focus after the reported ChronoScale move
The article reports a move to hive off Applied Digital’s cloud services business into ChronoScale (CHRN), with Applied Digital concentrating on AI campuses. Treat that as a reported corporate development, not independently verified here. The separation’s completed status, terms and effect on the remaining business are not established by the article summary; company filings and announcements are needed to assess them.
What you need to compare before choosing
The source provides a qualitative thesis, not a full investment comparison. It does not establish current valuation, balance-sheet resilience or comparable financial forecasts for Broadcom, Applied Digital and Palantir. Without those, a claim that one is the better buy cannot be supported by the reported AI-growth and capacity figures alone.
Rank #4
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- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
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- Valuation: Compare each company’s current market price with relevant earnings, cash flow, growth expectations and capital needs. A strong business can still be an unattractive investment at an excessive price.
- Financial resilience: Review debt, liquidity, cash generation and expected funding requirements, especially where a thesis relies on building infrastructure.
- Customer and demand concentration: Determine how much expected business depends on a small number of customers, and what protections or conditions apply to those commitments.
- Execution: For infrastructure, examine construction timelines, power and operating capacity, leasing progress and the path from commitments to recognized revenue. For chip and networking exposure, assess customer demand and the durability of growth.
- Portfolio fit: Consider your time horizon, tolerance for drawdowns and how much company-specific risk you already hold. A volatile, concentrated position may not fit a portfolio even if its industry outlook is attractive.
How to read the “forget Palantir” question
Read “forget” as a prompt to compare business exposure, not as an instruction to sell one ticker and buy two others. Broadcom and Applied Digital offer distinct infrastructure theses; they are not interchangeable with each other, and the article does not establish that either is superior to Palantir at today’s price. Use the article’s framing to decide which business risks you want to investigate, then verify the underlying disclosures and valuation before making an investment decision.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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