Must Know: 

The following information is intended to explore various market opportunities and serve as an initial reference for investors with different investment styles and risk tolerances. 

It is not intended as investment advice. Further research and analysis can help investors ensure that their investment decisions align with their personal financial goals and strategies.

Take a look at the 10 Best Affordable Tech Stocks according to InsiderMonkey:

Jeff deGraaf, Renaissance Macro Research chairman, joined CNBC on November 17, mentioned that the market is still tilted towards cyclical rather than defensive stocks. 

However, the situation is tricky as semiconductors are experiencing a downturn, which is a huge cyclical industry group. 

While the semiconductors have been down the software sector has been up on a relative basis. deGraaf noted that he wants to rotate out semiconductors broadly. 

While elaborating further he mentioned that his statement is based on relative performance, which is very crucial from an investment perspective. He added that except for a few names the semis have the worst momentum and long-term trend strength in the broad market. 

deGraaf pointed out that NVIDIA has been an exception to its group let alone the greater market, and for that reason, he also wants to avoid the semiconductor giant and rotate out of semis broadly.

Lastly, he pointed out the software group, saying that a lot of software names are improving and he thinks it makes sense to reallocate dollars to software companies as they have some good momentum.

InsiderMonkey's Methodology:

To compile the list of the 10 best affordable tech stocks to invest in now, InsiderMonkey used the Finviz stock screener and Yahoo Finance. Using the screener InsiderMonkey shortlisted technology stocks trading below the Forward P/E of 15 and whose earnings are expected to grow during the year. Next, they sorted the initial list by market capitalization and cross-checked the Forward P/E of each stock, and earnings growth from Yahoo Finance. Lastly, InsiderMonkey ranked the stocks in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders as per Insider Monkey’s database for Q3 2024.

Why interested about what hedge funds do? InsiderMonkey's reason is simple: research has shown that they can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds.

10. Seagate Technology Holdings plc

Forward P/E Ratio: 13.63

Earnings Growth This Year: 478.00%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 10

Seagate Technology PLC(STX.US) is a technology company specializing in data storage solutions. It manufactures Hard Disk Drives (HDD), Solid State Drives (SDD), Hybrid Drives, and Cloud storage solutions.

The company plays a crucial role in powering the AI revolution and the cloud computing industry through innovative storage solutions. For instance, its HDDs are particularly well-suited for cloud environments, they account for nearly 90% of bytes stored in public cloud environments. Moreover, its Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) is a major development for nearline drives, which are a type of data storage solution that serves as an intermediary between online and offline storage.

Management noted that its first-quarter revenue for fiscal 2025 was driven by robust demand in the nearline cloud segment. Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) posted a 49% year-over-year increase in revenue to reach $2.17 billion, with Non-GAAP gross margins at 33.3%, reflecting one of the highest margins in over a decade.

According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, cloud computing sales can go up to $2 trillion by the end of this decade. Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) stands at an indispensable position within the industry due to its storage solutions. Looking ahead management expects the second quarter revenue to be around $2.30 billion, driven by continued demand for its HDD technology. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Strategy made the following comment about Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) in its Q4 2022 investor letter:

“Our transactions were relatively limited in the fourth quarter, with a number of sales and trims driven by tax management. We cut our cyclical technology exposure with trims to hard disk drive makers Western Digital (WDC) and Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX), which have higher than average financial leverage for our portfolio and are facing a challenging demand environment.”

9. Nokia Oyj

Forward P/E Ratio: 11.59

Earnings Growth This Year: 14.10%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16

Nokia Oyj Sponsored ADR(NOK.US) is a leading telecommunication company based in Finland. It used to be a market leader in the hardware market, however, now the company focuses on providing network solutions including, data center network solutions, IP network solutions, and private network solutions.

The company is making significant strides in enhancing the telecommunication network across Europe. On October 31, the company announced entering a partnership with Hrvatski Telekom (HT), the largest telecommunications operator in Croatia. The partnership is aimed to launch a series of pilot projects aimed at expanding 5G application development. It will use Nokia’s Oyj (NYSE:NOK)  “Network as Code” platform, which allows developers to access and leverage HT’s advanced 5G network capabilities through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Moreover, in another major development announced on November 27, the company announced securing a significant contract with Deutsche Telekom to develop a large-scale Open RAN (O-RAN) network in Germany, covering over 3,000 sites. The company will supply its 5G AirScale portfolio, which includes advanced equipment designed for high capacity and energy efficiency. This deal represents Nokia’s Oyj (NYSE:NOK) return as a key supplier for Europe’s largest telecommunications network.

Financially speaking, the third quarter of fiscal 2024 witnessed the company’s Fixed and IP Networks segments return to growth, growing 9% and 6% respectively, driven by a strong demand from North America. However, the overall market slowdown resulted in the net sales declining 7% year-over-year. Management remains optimistic that the market is turning, meanwhile sticking to its cost-saving program highlighting that they have now achieved EUR 500 million in run rate gross cost savings. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

Artisan International Value Fund made the following comment about Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) in its second quarter 2023 investor letter:

“Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) is the world’s third-largest provider of telecommunications equipment. The company sells its products to service providers, such as AT&T and Vodaphone. While we have held the stock, new management has simultaneously improved competitiveness and reduced costs—a remarkable achievement that has resulted in improved growth and profitability. Despite that, the share price has declined, and the valuation multiple has shrunk below 10X forward earnings. The reason is that telecommunications operators are cutting back on investment. Higher interest rates, inflation and competition are eating into customer cash flows, resulting in less capital spending. For now, Nokia will experience reduced demand. At some point, the ever-increasing need for wire and wireless bandwidth will force service providers to increase investment. In addition, Nokia’s market share is improving due to geopolitical changes and improved market competitiveness. The share price declined by 15% during the quarter.”

8. Gen Digital Inc.

Forward P/E Ratio: 14.04

Earnings Growth This Year: 12.28%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Gen Digital Inc. - Common Stock(GEN.US) is a global cybersecurity company that focuses on protecting individuals and businesses from online threats. It operates several well-known brands that provide various cybersecurity solutions, including Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender, and CCleaner.

With cybersecurity threats on the rise, the use case of companies like Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:GEN) is getting highlighted. For instance, according to a report published by Security Intelligence on August 19, the US National Public Data Breach resulted in exposing data of an estimated 270 million social security numbers, leaving one out of three Americans at threat of identity attack.

Management of the company noted that the recent identity threat incidents resulted in more customers acquiring its cybersecurity services. During the second quarter results for fiscal 2025, the company reported adding 389,000 new customers to expand its total customer base to 39.7 million.

The company also improved its bookings by 5% year-over-year, marking the 21st consecutive quarter of growth. Its Anti Scam solution provided by Norton uses AI to protect against Identity scams, the app has been downloaded by more than 1.6 million users to date. Management noted that stronger growth in the US market and more awareness of its identity offering resulted in higher revenues for the company. During the quarter it grew its total revenue of $974 million by 3% year-over-year.

The company expects its cyber safety bookings to keep growing throughout the fiscal year 2025 at a steady rate of 4% to 5%. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

7. Super Micro Computer, Inc.

Forward P/E Ratio: 12.2

Earnings Growth This Year: 27.78%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

Super Micro Computer, Inc.(SMCI.US), is a technology company that specializes in manufacturing high-performance services and storage systems. Its products are critical for cloud computing, data centers, and artificial intelligence. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

The company is recognized as one of the leading tech providers fueling the AI revolution. It has grown its revenue and net income by 34% and 76%, during the past 5 years, respectively. However, the company has been in the grey due to a series of challenges regarding its filings with the SEC.

The challenge appeared when Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI) was unable to file its 10-K form for the latest fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, for which the deadline was August 29. The company has still not been able to file the form and is at threat of being delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange.

Management has appointed an independent auditor tasked with following the compliance plan, which if expected by the stock exchange will give the company another 180 days to file the forms.

The delay and threat of delisting have been impacting the share price of the stock. On the other hand, the update on first quarter results for fiscal 2025, indicated that the company is expecting net sales to be between $5.9 billion to $6 billion. The midpoint of the expected net sales range points towards an 181% increase year-over-year, indicating that demand for its products still remains strong. The stock was held by 33 hedge funds in Q3 2024, as per Insider Monkey’s database.

Columbia Acorn Fund stated the following regarding Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI) had a tough quarter due to a confluence of negative events. It declined, but is still up significantly for the year. While demand for the company’s AI server racks remains strong, with revenue up over 100%, gross margins have fallen sharply for two straight quarters, implying a price war. In addition, Super Micro was the subject of a short-seller report and a delay in filing its annual report with the SEC. We have been taking profits in the stock all year and have only a small position, which we are maintaining given the strong performance and demand for Super Micro’s AI racks and a depressed stock valuation.”

6. HP Inc.

Forward P/E Ratio: 10.85

Earnings Growth This Year: 6.75%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42

HP Inc.(HPQ.US) is a major technology company that primarily focuses on personal computing and printing products. The company operates through three main segments including Personal Systems, Printing, and Corporate Investment.

It has been making significant developments with regards to artificial intelligence in both personal PC and Printing technology. During the fourth quarter results for fiscal 2024, the company announced that it has not only accelerated its structural cost-saving initiatives but is also simultaneously investing in growth areas, demonstrating a commitment to both efficiency and expansion. For instance, HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) introduced new AI-powered capabilities across its products. A standout feature is the HP AI Companion, which utilizes generative AI to assist users in managing tasks, analyzing files, and creating content efficiently.

Moreover, in collaboration with Zoom, it is working to enhance the functionality of AI Companion. This partnership aims to streamline meeting preparations and automate tasks based on meeting outcomes. The recent quarter was also marked as the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in its Personal Systems segment, driven by strong commercial performance. The segment revenue grew 2% year-over-year to reach $9.6 billion. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

Greenlight Capital stated the following regarding HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

“In addition to gold, we had four material winners in our long portfolio this quarter. HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) jumped from $30.22 to $35.02. After seven quarters of declines, PC sales turned marginally positive during the quarter. The industry appears to be in the early stages of an upcycle, perhaps to be enhanced by recently launched AI-enabled PCs that are expected to ramp up over the next several quarters.”

5. SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. 

Forward P/E Ratio: 14.92

Earnings Growth This Year: 12.11%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.(SSNC.US) is a company that provides software and services primarily for the financial services and healthcare industries. Within the financial services industry, the company helps financial institutions automate their business operations. This means they provide tools that make tasks like trading, portfolio management, and compliance easier and faster. On the other hand, its Healthcare solutions include managing pharmacy benefits, optimizing health outcomes, and claims processing and benefits management.

On October 7, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSNC) unveiled innovative solutions at the Deliver 2024 Conference. The company introduced significant enhancements aimed at streamlining investor onboarding and improving fund administration processes. The launch of Battea Class Action Services marked a notable advancement in securities claims management, while the DomaniRx platform was unveiled to assist healthcare payers in navigating regulatory challenges and optimizing data management. Moreover, the company also presented the DealCentre AI™ platform as a tool for simplifying deal management, integrating advanced AI capabilities to enhance user experience. Additionally, the SS&C Blue Prism Enterprise AI portfolio combines generative AI with enterprise automation, further solidifying the company’s role in leveraging intelligent automation for operational improvements.

Financially speaking the company posted significant improvement in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, mainly due to strong performance in Global Investor and Distribution Solutions (GIDS) and Wealth and Investment Technologies (WIT) sectors. Moreover, it also experienced accelerated license revenue in the Wealth and Investment Technologies division. Overall, the adjusted revenue came in at $1.47 billion indicating a 7.3% increase year-over-year. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund stated the following regarding SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSNC) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“In the third quarter, the Fund liquidated its position in SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.(NASDAQ:SSNC), a provider of application software for financial services. The company specializes in software solutions that facilitate trading, modeling, portfolio management, reporting, and various back-office functions. The decision to sell this holding was based on the assessment that its market value had surpassed our best estimate of the company’s fair value.”

4. Global Payments Inc.

Forward P/E Ratio: 10.14

Earnings Growth This Year: 11.14%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66

Global Payments Inc.(GPN.US) is a payments technology company that specializes in providing software and services for processing payments. It operates mainly through two segments: Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions.

Management has a clear focus on strengthening its market share in the small and medium-sized businesses sector. This strategy has proved to work well for the company as it has maintained high customer retention rates for its Merchant Solutions segment, particularly in North America, where customers have been using its services for over 6 years.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) grew its adjusted revenue by 6% year-over-year to reach $2.4 billion. Its revenue growth was driven by consistent growth in both its segments. While the Issuer Segment revenue grew 2%, the Merchant segment took the lead by improving more than 7% during the same time.

Looking ahead management expects revenue growth between 6% to 7% for the fiscal year 2024, with 100% free cash flow conversion. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

Weitz Large Cap Equity Fund stated the following regarding Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“We continued to increase the Fund’s positions in Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) and Idex Corp. during the quarter. Both stocks trade at significant discounts to our business value estimates. The companies have fundamental catalysts that could drive the stocks, but the timetable may have slipped a bit. The challenge is that investors want results now, especially in a bull market. We have specific milestones to track, and we think their achievement can be measured in quarters rather than years. In our view, the potential payoffs are well worth the wait.”

3. Western Digital Corporation

Forward P/E Ratio: 9.71

Earnings Growth This Year: 3858.70%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66

Western Digital Corporation(WDC.US) is a major technology company that specializes in data storage solutions. They manufacture and sell Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Flash Storage drives, including Solid State Drives (SSDs).

The company, like other storage solution manufacturers, is experiencing increased demand for its products due to its application in powering AI and Data Centers. However, Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) exercises its competitive edge of higher gross margins over its competitors.

During the fiscal first quarter results of 2025, the company reported that it achieved record data center revenue for its Hard Drives. Its HDD revenue was $2.2 billion, representing an impressive 85% year-over-year increase. Management attributed this growth to the adoption of its UltraSMR technology, which enhances capacity and reliability. The Flash revenue was also remarkable and improved 21% year-over-year to reach $1.9 billion. Overall, the revenue for Western Digital Corporation’s (NASDAQ:WDC) FQ1 2025 grew by 49% to reach $4.1 billion with gross margins at 38.5%, up 3.4% year-over-year.

Looking ahead management is expecting revenue for the fiscal second quarter to be between $4.20 billion and $4.40 billion. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

Parnassus Mid Cap Fund stated the following regarding Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

“We re-initiated a position in Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC), a manufacturer of memory semiconductor chips and hard disk drives, as we believe earnings expectations are far too low. Semiconductors have been another of our most-alpha-generative industries, thanks to the industry’s secular tailwinds and our in-house expertise. Western Digital stands to benefit from the rapid growth of memory-hungry AI applications. The valuation for Western Digital was low relative to its peers, giving us a way to participate in AI at a reasonable valuation.”

2. QUALCOMM Incorporated

Forward P/E Ratio: 14.02

Earnings Growth This Year: 9.52%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 74

QUALCOMM Incorporated(QCOM.US) is a leading technology company that focuses on developing essential technologies for wireless communication. The company not only designs and manufactures integrated circuits and software that are crucial for various smartphones and smart devices. They also work on advanced technologies for cars, such as automated driving systems. It also holds numerous patents related to wireless technology. The company operates through three main segments including Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, Qualcomm Technology Licensing, and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives.

QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) is a leading player in the smartphone industry, with its Snapdragon X75 modem being used in the new iPhone 16 models. It also powers the South Korean smartphone giant, Samsung with Snapdragon processors to power its generative AI-enabled Galaxy smartphones. During the fourth quarter results for fiscal 2024, the company reported its QCT segment revenue which deals with handsets improved more than 9% year-over-year to reach $33.2 billion. Within this segment handsets revenue accounted for $6.1 billion, mainly driven by its recent Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.

While the current growth is impressive for the company, what’s more impressive is its nealine growth prospects. Samsung is expected to launch its next-generation Galaxy S25 during the start of next year, the phones are reported to be powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite, indicating robust growth for the company. Moreover, other smartphone OEMs ASUS, Honor, OnePlus, and OPPO to name a few are also launching devices powered by the same chipset. Looking ahead management expects its first-quarter revenue for fiscal 2025 to be around $10.5 billion and  $11.3 billion. It is one of the best affordable tech stocks to invest in now.

Madison Sustainable Equity Fund stated the following regarding QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“Alphabet Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM), Microsoft Corporation, and Apple Inc. were the largest detractors. Qualcomm has given back some of its first half gains after the CFO commented at a conference that its entrance into the AI PC business would take time to ramp. We continue to see Qualcomm as well positioned with growth from AI moving into the mobile phone, from new opportunities in the Internet of Things (IoT), and within the Auto industry but will also look to future growth as they enter the PC market.”

1. Micron Technology, Inc.

Forward P/E Ratio: 11.4

Earnings Growth This Year: 586.63%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 107

Micron Technology, Inc.(MU.US) is the best affordable tech stock to invest in now. The company specializes in memory and storage solutions for various technology applications. Its product portfolio includes Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM), NAND Flash Memory, and NOR Flash Memory.

While Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) may not be the biggest player in the storage drive markets, however, its chips are recognized to be denser than most of its competitors thereby giving it a competitive edge. For instance, its Higher-density DRAM chips allow data centers to store more short-term data, whereas NAND chips are used to store long-term data in solid-state drives.

The company has shifted its focus to meeting the demand for AI and data centers. To cater to this it released its fastest and most efficient 60TB SSD on November 12. The SSD is designed specifically to cater to workloads such as networked AI data lakes, ingest, data preparation, and checkpointing.

During the fiscal fourth quarter of 2024, the company generated $7.75 billion in revenue, indicating 93% year-over-year growth. The quarter was fueled by robust AI demand for its DRAM and other memory products. Management expects strong demand in the data center.

Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund stated the following regarding Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) is a leading provider of innovative memory and storage solutions supporting key trends like AI, 5G, machine learning, and autonomous vehicles. Micron’s portfolio includes high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is critical for efficient AI workloads, along with storage solutions like DRAM, NAND, and NOR. These are sold in various forms such as wafers, components, modules, SSDs (solid-state drives), and MCPs (multi-chip packages). We believe the company is well-positioned to potentially benefit from secular trends in AI, data centers, cloud computing, and 5G markets. In July, shares detracted from performance after management lowered expectations due to the slower-than-expected pace of clearing excess inventory. Weak demand in markets like PCs and smartphones led to lower shipment forecasts for the next fiscal quarter. However, towards the end of the quarter, Micron reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results, driven by strong data center demand and continued growth in AI-leveraged HBM sales. Although the share price rose after the announcement, shares were still down overall for the quarter.”

Background of This Topic

The US tech stocks have recently faced significant pressure, contributing to a decline in major stock indexes amid ongoing discussions about tariffs. Semiconductors is one of the segments facing a downturn. Jeff deGraaf, Renaissance Macro Research chairman, joined CNBC on November 17 to talk about the state of semiconductors. deGraaf thinks that the rally as it stands today is somewhat overbought internally. This means that while the overall market may be experiencing upward movement, there are underlying signs that it may not be sustainable. An overbought condition typically indicates that asset prices have risen too quickly and may be due for a correction. However, deGraaf also mentioned that the current market is a trend market, not a momentum market, which suggests price movements are driven by broader economic trends and fundamental factors rather than short-term speculative trading. He notes that after the recent elections, there was no significant change in market momentum. This stability reinforces his view that the market has achieved escape velocity, indicating that it is positioned to continue its upward trend despite potential challenges.

He mentioned that the market is still tilted towards cyclical rather than defensive stocks. However, the situation is tricky as semiconductors are experiencing a downturn, which is a huge cyclical industry group. While the semiconductors have been down the software sector has been up on a relative basis. deGraaf noted that he wants to rotate out semiconductors broadly. While elaborating further he mentioned that his statement is based on relative performance, which is very crucial from an investment perspective. He added that except for a few names the semis have the worst momentum and long-term trend strength in the broad market. deGraaf pointed out that NVIDIA has been an exception to its group let alone the greater market, and for that reason, he also wants to avoid the semiconductor giant and rotate out of semis broadly.

Lastly, he pointed out the software group, saying that a lot of software names are improving and he thinks it makes sense to reallocate dollars to software companies as they have some good momentum.