Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) and BigBear.ai (NYSE: BBAI) Represent Two Different Ways to Invest in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market

Supermicro produces dedicated AI servers. BigBear.ai develops AI modules that can be plugged into edge networks to accelerate and automate certain tasks.

Both Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) and BigBear.ai (NYSE:BBAI) are interesting ways to invest in the artificial intelligence (AI) market.

Supermicro, which is more commonly known as Supermicro, makes dedicated AI servers. BigBear.ai, on the other hand, develops AI modules that can be plugged into edge networks to rapidly accelerate and automate certain tasks.

Both stocks are also trading far below their all-time highs. Supermicro, which hit a record high of $118.81 on March 13, has dropped to about $33. BigBear.ai, which closed at a record peak of $12.69 on April 13, 2022, trades at less than $3.

Let's see why these two AI stocks fizzled out -- and if either one is still worth buying today.

Image source: Getty Images.

Supermicro is overcoming some major problems

Supermicro controls a much smaller slice of the server market than Hewlett Packard Enterprise or Dell, but it established an early-mover advantage in the dedicated AI server market with its liquid-cooled systems. Its close relationship with Nvidia also provided it with a steady supply of the chipmaker's high-end data center GPUs for processing AI tasks.

Those advantages made Supermicro one of the market's hottest AI stocks. Its revenue grew 46% in fiscal 2022 (which ended in June 2022), 37% in 2023, and 110% in 2024.

But last August, a prolific short seller accused it of inflating its revenues. It subsequently delayed its 10-K filing for fiscal 2024, and it lost its auditor Ernst & Young in October. In November, it received a non-compliance letter from Nasdaq and its financial statements were subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice.

As it faced those daunting challenges, Supermicro's stock sank to a one-and-a-half year low of $18.01 on Nov. 14. However, it bounced back over the following months as it hired a new auditor, finally filed its overdue 10-K, and kept its listing.

Supermicro's revenue more than doubled year over year in the first half of fiscal 2025, and it anticipates 74%-101% growth for the full year as the AI boom continues. From fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027, analysts expect its revenue and EPS to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38% and 22%, respectively. Those are explosive growth rates for a stock that trades at just 10 times next year's earnings.

We should take those bullish estimates with a grain of salt -- since higher tariffs will likely throttle Supermicro's near-term sales and squeeze its margins. But it could emerge as a stronger company if it weathers the incoming storm.

BigBear.ai faces an existential crisis

BigBear.ai, which went public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in late 2021, originally claimed it could grow its annual revenue from $182 million in 2021 to $550 million in 2024. However, its revenue only reached $146 million in 2021 and $158 million in 2024. Its net loss more than doubled from $124 million in 2021 to $257 million in 2024.

BigBear.ai struggled with macro headwinds, tough competition from larger AI companies, and the bankruptcy of its top customer Virgin Orbit in 2023. It's also on its third CEO since its public debut, and it recently delayed its 10-K filing for 2024 to restate all of its financial statements for 2022 and 2023. That restatement only impacts the calculations for its convertible debt and won't affect its sales or margins, but it still rattled its disillusioned investors.

The bulls hope BigBear.ai's newest CEO, Kevin McAleenan, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security