3 Under-the-Radar Tech Stocks That Could Outperform the Nasdaq in 2026

1 hour ago 1

Marc Guberti, The Motley Fool

Tue, May 26, 2026 astatine 5:05 AM CDT 5 min read

Many large tech stocks person performed good this year, with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) being the lone "Magnificent Seven" stocks down during the past year. Those 7 stocks heavy power the Nasdaq Composite, but uncovering under-the-radar tech stocks tin nutrient overmuch higher returns.

The 3 stocks connected this database aren't marque names, and astir investors aren't paying overmuch attraction to them. However, these aforesaid maturation stocks person outperformed the Nasdaq Composite this twelvemonth and look poised to proceed that trend.

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A idiosyncratic pressing tech icons connected a wide dashboard display.

1. Iren

Iren (NASDAQ: IREN) is simply a neocloud supplier that produces artificial quality (AI) information centers for hyperscalers. Tech companies request AI information centers and vigor to standard their AI ambitions, and IREN checks disconnected some boxes. That worth proposition helped Iren onshore a five-year woody with Microsoft for $9.7 cardinal successful speech for 200 megawatts of capacity.

Investors had to hold a fewer months for different deal, but radical accumulated Iren shares soon aft the institution announced a woody with Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) for $3.4 cardinal implicit 5 years. This woody includes entree to 60 megawatts. Iren precocious bought bundle institution Mirantis to assistance with the deal. This bundle acquisition should pull much customers and assistance Iren unafraid higher margins successful the agelong run.

Megawatts are the sanction of the game, and since Iren has a 5-gigawatt pipeline, it tin make important yearly recurring gross erstwhile its sites are energized and acceptable for business. The institution anticipates $3.7 cardinal successful contracted yearly recurring gross by the extremity of the year, showing that immoderate of the momentum is taking spot close now.

Iren precocious penetrated European markets with a caller AI information halfway and has besides acceptable its sights connected the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

2. MaxLinear

MaxLinear (NASDAQ: MXL) provides optical interconnect solutions for AI infrastructure. The company's exertion helps AI chips pass with each different and determination information seamlessly. It's a amended solution than accepted copper wires, which are constricted successful however overmuch information they tin transfer. Data transportation velocity is besides enhanced with optical interconnects implicit copper wires.

This technological vantage is fueling maturation for MaxLinear. Its first-quarter results hint astatine the accomplishment of sequential maturation that helped Micron (NASDAQ: MU) and Sandisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) trounce the banal market. I saw this signifier successful Silicon Motion Technology (NASDAQ: SIMO) earlier it reported Q1 earnings. That banal has tripled twelvemonth to date.