Artificial Intelligence Stocks Quietly Outperforming Micron with 76% and 82% Gains

Two AI stocks are outperforming Micron Technology with gains of 76% and 82% in 2026. These stocks remain unpublicized but have significant upside. Investors are advised to note these stocks for potential investment.

Two artificial intelligence stocks have been quietly outperforming MU in 2026, with gains of 76% and 82% respectively. Despite their strong performance, these companies have gone largely under the radar while investor attention has been focused on higher-profile AI chip names like NVDA and Micron.

The stocks in question are LITE (Lumentum) and WDC (Western Digital). Lumentum's revenue surged 62% in the first half of its fiscal year to $1.2 billion, with non-GAAP earnings jumping 367% year-over-year to $2.80 per share, driven by booming demand for optical networking components used in AI data centers. Western Digital posted a 26% revenue increase to $5.83 billion over the same period, with earnings doubling to $3.92 per share on favorable NAND pricing and enterprise SSD demand.

Both companies are positioned at critical junctures of the AI infrastructure stack — Lumentum in high-speed optical interconnects and Western Digital in storage — suggesting their outperformance may reflect a broadening of AI investment beyond processors. As AI data center buildouts accelerate, demand for these enabling technologies could sustain elevated growth rates through 2026 and beyond.