Turning a $10 investment into $100 within a year is highly speculative. However, a small number of stocks that combine fast-growing revenue, shifting investor sentiment, and clear catalysts could achieve the feat.
Against that backdrop, Finbold asked OpenAI’s ChatGPT model to identify two equities that could plausibly deliver outsized gains by 2026, while acknowledging the elevated risks involved.
IonQ’s (NYSE: IONQ)
The model’s first pick was IonQ, a quantum computing company operating in an early-stage market drawing increasing interest from enterprises and governments seeking alternatives to classical computing.
ChatGPT pointed to IonQ’s (NYSE: IONQ) position as one of the few companies offering commercially accessible quantum hardware through a cloud-based “quantum as a service” model.
This approach lowers adoption barriers and allows customers to access quantum systems without owning the hardware.
Analysts expect rapid revenue growth through 2026 as pilot projects convert into longer-term commercial contracts, supported by partnerships with major cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure.
The model noted that if quantum computing moves beyond experimentation into practical applications like optimization, simulation, and cryptography, even modest adoption could materially affect IonQ’s financial profile and trigger a valuation re-rating.
ChatGPT also flagged key risks, including ongoing losses, share price volatility, and uncertainty around the timing of broad quantum adoption.
Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU)
The second selection was Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU), a firm that has transitioned from a streaming hardware business into a connected TV platform driven primarily by advertising and subscription revenue.
ChatGPT noted that Roku’s platform revenue has outpaced overall growth as streaming engagement increases and ad monetization improves.
The ongoing shift of advertising budgets from traditional television to streaming remains a central tailwind, supported by Roku’s large user base and expanding relationships with major advertisers.
Connected TV continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments in digital advertising, and Roku’s scale positions it to capture a growing share of that spend. Improvements in ad technology and potential political advertising tied to U.S. midterm elections in 2026 could further support revenue and margins. Risks include competition, uneven hardware performance, and exposure to cyclical advertising demand.
The model concluded that while the upside cases are clear, tenfold returns over a short period are rare. Stocks capable of such gains are typically volatile, and outcomes often fall short of expectations, making risk management essential.
Featured image via Shutterstock
