Spatial computing is a sector that will continue to grow rapidly as Virtual and Augmented Reality become more commonplace. Now is the right time to learn more about spatial computing company stocks and gain exposure to this promising industry.
Table of Contents
- What Is Spatial Computing?
- What to Look for in the Global Spatial Computing Stock
- Outlook for the Spatial Computing Industry
- Top 21 Spatial Computing Stocks
- 1. Microsoft (MSFT)
- 2. Alphabet (GOOGL)
- 3. Facebook (FB)
- 4. Apple (AAPL)
- 5. Amazon (AMZN)
- 6. Tesla (TSLA)
- 7. Snap (SNAP)
- 8. Warby Parker (WRBY)
- 9. Qualcomm (QCOM)
- 10. Vuforia (PTC)
- 11. Ford (F)
- 12. IBM (IBM)
- 13. Deere & Company (DE)
- 14. Matterport (MTTR)
- 15. Nvidia (NVDA)
- 16. Sony (SONY)
- 17. Ambarella (AMBA)
- 18. Luminar Technologies (LAZR)
- 19. Medtronic (MDT)
- 20. Impinj (PI)
- 21. Syneos Health (SYNH)
What Is Spatial Computing?
Spatial computing refers to a branch of computing that transforms the way we interact with technology.
Although the term is almost twenty years old, recent advancements in artificial intelligence and sensor technology are making some spatial computing applications a reality.
Simply put, spatial computing allows us to integrate digital activities into our environment.
An application that has received much attention lately is gaming with products like the Oculus Quest. With Facebook working on its Metaverse project, this virtual reality product that plunges the user into a virtual world could become a core element of social and leisure activities.
There are many other uses for spatial computing:
- Self-driving vehicles use spatial computing to navigate their environment. This technology is still in its early stages, but it has vast potential.
- Autonomous machines are already present in some factories and could become more common. Tesla is a leader in this market with its Gigafactory robots that build car batteries.
- Order fulfillment and warehouse management could soon become entirely automated. While Amazon and other major retailers still rely on humans for this process, machines that use spatial computing could pick and fulfill orders.
- Many other uses for spatial computing include medical research, virtual design, remote training, real estate visits, virtual shopping, and more.
What to Look for in the Global Spatial Computing Stock
When investing in spatial computing stocks, it’s essential to consider the company’s financial health. Here are different factors you should assess whether you’re investing in spatial computing or another sector:
- Look at historical earnings and sales data. Does the company have a strong history of launching successful products?
- A company’s debt-to-equity ratio can indicate its financial health and whether it is using viable strategies to achieve growth.
- What is the company’s current market share? How do the earnings compare to what competitors report? Does the company have a product that differentiates it? These questions will help you assess the potential for future growth.
- It’s also important to consider risks. There could be factors limiting future growth, such as a new competitor, issues with the supply chain, or even regulatory challenges.
- Things like leadership and ECG matter. A clear mission statement and some strong values can help a company succeed.
There are additional considerations that are specific to the spatial computing sector:
- Remember that spatial computing isn’t a technology that exists in a vacuum. Many applications leverage other technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and hardware. Businesses with a solid background in these areas have an advantage.
- Patents are important. Spatial computing is still in its early stages, and some of the concepts researchers are coming up with don’t have an application yet. However, some of these early concepts could become game-changers, and the business that holds the patents will grow.
- Mergers and acquisitions are other vital considerations. Tech giants often buy startups and small businesses to acquire intellectual property. Investing in a small company could mean that you will receive cash for the stock or receive shares of the larger company that purchases it if a merger occurs in the future.
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Outlook for the Spatial Computing Industry
Is investing in spatial computing stocks profitable? Because some of the major tech companies are focusing on spatial computing, it’s possible to find profitable spatial computing stocks. However, some smaller players in this sector might not be profitable yet.
Since spatial computing has a strong outlook, things will change over the next few years. Experts believe this industry will grow by 41% before 2026 and generate $196.21 billion in revenues.
Among other things, the Internet of Things, a subset of spatial computing, has an estimated CAGR of 25.4% a year between 2021 and 2028.
Top 21 Spatial Computing Stocks
The following products are some of the best spatial computing stocks. These companies will expose you to the different technologies that will play a vital role as spatial computing becomes more common.
However, remember it’s a relatively new sector, and things can change quickly. New players will likely emerge, and more major tech companies will probably start developing new projects related to spatial computing.
1. Microsoft (MSFT)
Microsoft is a pioneer in spatial computing with products like the HoloLens. This VR headset focuses on business and industrial applications. A hardhat-compatible version could one day change construction and engineering projects.
Microsoft is an excellent addition to your portfolio because it’s a blue-chip stock with a relatively low-risk profile. Microsoft is also a good candidate for absorbing smaller spatial computing companies to grow its intellectual property portfolio.
Another advantage of buying shares of Microsoft is that this company will expose you to other tech industries, including software, gaming, or personal computers.
See Related: Best Robotics Stocks to Buy Now
2. Alphabet (GOOGL)
Alphabet is a tech giant with a solid background in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and algorithms. These technologies are building blocks for spatial computing.
Google is already working on spatial computing projects with Google Lens. This initiative is exciting because Google products have a high adoption rate, and Google Lens could become one of the most popular spatial computing platforms.
Google is also working on self-driving cars. As more companies embrace spatial computing, the need for storage and computing power will increase. Google can address this demand thanks to its cloud computing service, another reason to invest in Alphabet. Google Maps also plays a role in spatial computing by allowing other companies to use their maps and build/collect spatial data for different projects.
See Related: Similar Stocks Like Tesla (TSLA) to Invest in Today
3. Facebook (FB)
Facebook is another tech giant you should have in your portfolio. With 2.89 billion monthly active users, it’s a central platform for online advertising.
With the Oculus Quest and its rebranding centered on the Metaverse development, Facebook is already making waves in the global spatial computing market. If this project succeeds, Facebook could become one of the leading virtual reality platforms for entertainment, shopping, and more.
See Related: 8 Best Augmented Reality Stocks to Invest in Today
4. Apple (AAPL)
Apple recently released AirTags. These products are small beacons you can use to track your devices.
It might sound like another gadget, but Apple’s revolutionary U1 chip for this device uses a protocol that allows devices to share spatial and directional data.Â
While GPS and Bluetooth technology already allow devices to communicate with each other, the U1 chip is much more precise and could revolutionize the way IoT machines communicate.
Apple is also innovating with sensors. The latest generation of iPads has sensors with depth-sensing capabilities. These devices can track where people are, a key technology for smooth interactions with a virtual or augmented reality environment.
5. Amazon (AMZN)
Like Google, Amazon is a primary cloud computing service provider that will continue to grow as businesses need more computing power to support spatial computing systems. With over 200 cloud-based services to choose from, Amazon already has a solid portfolio and will continue to develop innovative solutions to boost the performance of its AWS service.
Amazon could become an essential player in the global spatial computing market with autonomous deliveries. The retailer has already launched drone deliveries via Prime Air. We could also see Amazon adopt IoT solutions to automate warehouse order fulfillment.
6. Tesla (TSLA)
Tesla is one of the best spatial computing stock companies to invest in because of its patents. Tesla currently has over 3,000 different patents:
- The majority of these patents are for battery technology and energy storage. This technology could power autonomous robots since one of the advantages of spatial computing is the potential for remote applications.
- Tesla holds 132 patents related to autonomous vehicles and is already a leader in rolling out self-driving features for its vehicles.
- The automaker also has 58 patents for manufacturing automation, making Tesla one of the key players in the autonomous factory market. These factories could become the norm in the future.
See Related: Is Tesla Powerwall Worth it?
7. Snap (SNAP)
Snap is the company behind the popular app Snapchat, which allows users to transform themselves into animals or cartoon characters thanks to the built-in filters and lenses.
Snapchat isn’t a significant advertising platform like other social media networks, but the technology behind these filters and lenses is interesting. Snap has a groundbreaking Lens Studio that develops these filters by leveraging advanced augmented reality technology.
This studio can potentially change how mobile devices interact with their environment to deliver more immersive experiences.
See Related: 8 Best Augmented Reality Stocks to Invest in Today
8. Warby Parker (WRBY)
Warby Parker is an online eyewear retailer disrupting the traditional brick-and-mortar model. If that’s not reason enough to invest in this stock, Warby Parker is also offering a virtual try-on experience.
Shoppers can use their webcam or phone camera to see what frames will look like on them before choosing one. This technology could transform online shopping.
9. Qualcomm (QCOM)
Qualcomm is partnering with other tech companies to imagine what mixed reality interfaces could look like.
The company is positioning itself to become a leader in the spatial computing market with a new generation of extended reality headsets. These headsets have applications for e-commerce, gaming, and more.
Qualcomm is also developing a set of developer tools that will allow brands and content creators to offer innovative AR and VR experiences.
10. Vuforia (PTC)
Vuforia offers an AR platform for businesses with an emphasis on industrial applications. What sets Vuforia apart is that this business provides comprehensive developer tools so organizations can create their products with this platform.
There are applications in manufacturing, sales, marketing, and more. An interesting approach to using Vuforia is having technicians leverage the platform to repair cars and other complex products.
11. Ford (F)
The automaker recently invested $7 billion in developing autonomous vehicles. Ford also launched Ford X, an incubator that is using spatial computing to develop more inclusive vehicles thanks to a cross-reality platform. This type of platform could become a central tool for developing new vehicles.
12. IBM (IBM)
IBM has always been a leader in data science. With spatial computing, businesses will face new challenges due to the many data points that sensors and visual tools can collect.
IBM is already developing solutions for geospatial analytics. These solutions will allow users to create systems that work with visual data and other types of data points in real time.Â
There are many applications, from working with satellite maps for weather forecasts to creating more accurate databases for insurance companies.
13. Deere & Company (DE)
John Deere is a leading manufacturer of farming equipment. The company recently invested millions in building a system that uses computer vision to spot manufacturing defects.Â
This innovative approach to quality control could become a common way of inspecting parts and products.
14. Matterport (MTTR)
Matterport is a spatial data company that has developed a groundbreaking product. This platform can scan any real space and transform it into a 3D environment.
The patents behind this advanced capture technology make Matterport an attractive investment. This technology has countless applications, from real estate to event planning.
15. Nvidia (NVDA)
One of the challenges of spatial computing is the need for machines that can process vast amounts of data in real time. Nvidia offers GPUs that can handle the graphics demands of extended reality applications and support real-time user interactions. These GPUs will be crucial in building interfaces that allow users to interact with VR products.
16. Sony (SONY)
Sony is a major tech company and maker of consumer electronics. Investing in Sony stock will give you access to a wide range of markets since Sony has a presence in the gaming sector as well as in the digital camera market.
Sony also focuses on spatial computing with new products like the Spatial Reality Display. This display uses a new type of screen that can track the user’s eye position and create a 3D image based on where the user is.
17. Ambarella (AMBA)
Ambarella is a small but promising company that develops innovative imaging solutions. You’ll find most of the products created by Ambarella in smart camera systems.
This company uses proprietary technology to create AI-powered systems to extract visual information from images or videos in real time. A characteristic of these systems is that they use chips with low power consumption, which is ideal for portable applications.
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18. Luminar Technologies (LAZR)
Luminar Technologies is another small company you should consider adding to your portfolio. This company develops software and sensors for autonomous vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz is using some of these sensors in its latest vehicles, and more automakers may adopt Luminar Technologies in the future.
19. Medtronic (MDT)
Spatial computing is creating some exciting opportunities in healthcare. Medtronic is a medical company that recently partnered with Surgical Theater to develop a system that allows surgeons to use AR to improve visibility during complex cranial surgery procedures.
20. Impinj (PI)
Impinj is a promising IoT company. This company makes a wide range of chips that connect objects, buildings, people, and more. Impinj also uses groundbreaking strategies to collect data from these chips and extract actionable insights.
21. Syneos Health (SYNH)
Syneos Health is a medical company that is transforming the way businesses connect and collaborate in virtual environments. This business had developed technology and best practices for getting the most out of virtual meetings.
This company is also working on innovative ways to decentralize patient outcomes and research; some projects could incorporate spatial computing.
In conclusion, investing in spatial computing stocks is a wise investment with the potential to grow exponentially.
While spatial computing might sound new, investing in top VR stocks indirectly invests in spatial computing stocks. This is because companies listed in virtual reality stocks use spatial technology in their projects.
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