Smaller companies are rising quickly to challenge Big Tech as AI's best trade

Reliable power, nuclear investment, data-center efficiency, and grid capacity are now core drivers of stock returns from the AI theme as demand ramps.

# Smaller companies are rising quickly to challenge Big Tech as AI's best trade Reliable power, nuclear investment, data-center efficiency, and grid capacity are now core drivers of stock returns from the AI theme as demand ramps. **Read the full article:** [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/17/ai-power-demand-markets-investor-risk.html) *This article was originally published by CNBC. MoneyWiseInc provides expert curation of the best financial content from trusted sources.*