Robert J. Williams 
Key Takeaways for Stock Market Investors
- Nvidia is shaping more than AI chips—its influence reaches deep into the design of data center infrastructure.
- TSMC remains essential for leading-edge chip production and dominates the AI hardware supply chain.
- ASML’s unrivaled EUV lithography machines are at the center of advanced chip manufacturing.
The political standstill in Washington is bringing fresh uncertainty, particularly for areas relying on government continuity. Yet, artificial intelligence (AI) shows little sign of slowing. As data center investment continues, companies at the technological core maintain momentum, prioritizing the AI race over external obstacles.
For those exploring how to invest in stocks or seeking stock tips for beginners, getting familiar with such companies is a worthwhile starting point. The following profiles highlight three stocks benefiting from present-day political gridlock—appealing options for those looking for the best stocks to invest in right now.
Nvidia: At the Heart of AI and Data Center Progress
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has moved a long way from just making GPUs for gaming. In 2025, the company is actively shaping how major data center platforms look and operate. Nvidia’s CUDA software remains the reference point for running the majority of complex AI models, giving it a wide competitive moat. Newcomers face real difficulties gaining ground in this space.
Beyond hardware, Nvidia now shapes entire data center projects, integrating networking, specialized cooling, and a vertically-linked software stack. What’s more, it controls chip allocations, sending its high-end products to carefully selected clients first. This past year, Nvidia’s investment of up to $100 billion in OpenAI (Bloomberg, 2025) underscored its strong ties to the next wave of large language models—demonstrating both trust and strategic alignment between the companies.
Adding to this, Nvidia’s partnership with Intel highlights cooperation over rivalry. New jointly developed hardware brings fresh options for AI applications, and major cloud service providers, including Amazon and Alphabet, frequently seek Nvidia’s input before making big AI chip announcements. This is no small sign of respect—and it signals Nvidia’s entrenched role in the current AI infrastructure surge.
The company’s momentum has shown through in its stock price: during the first half of 2025, shares climbed roughly 45%, spurred by product launches such as its DGX H100 supercomputer platform and by continued demand from data centers (Source: Bloomberg, Nvidia Press Release). For investors learning how to start investing in stocks and searching for exposure to AI advancements, Nvidia stands out as a clear contender.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC): The Engine of AI Chip Supply
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM) has become nearly impossible for advanced chip designers to overlook. TSMC’s foundries produce most of the planet’s fastest chips, serving not just Nvidia, but also competitors like Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom. By relentlessly pushing “node scaling,” or the reduction of chip feature sizes, TSMC maintains an edge other manufacturers have yet to match.
While many chip designers crave more supply options, few can step away from TSMC’s high-yield, next-generation production. This strength allowed the company to hike prices in recent years and invest billions in new capacity—even during geopolitically tense times. In 2025, TSMC made headlines by announcing a 30% boost in production capacity and opening its Arizona fab (TSMC Annual Report, Reuters). These moves not only reduce reliance on a single region but also make it easier for global customers to secure the latest chips.
For anyone researching stock market for beginners, TSMC’s outsized role in the AI chip boom points to why it remains one of the best stocks to invest in right now, especially as AI-related demand accelerates on several continents.
ASML: Supplying the Single Most Critical Tool in Modern Chipmaking
Though less frequently mentioned by retail investors, ASML (NASDAQ: ASML) is indispensable to the AI hardware chain. The company holds the world’s only effective monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machinery. Every leading-edge chip reaching the tiniest nodes starts its life under one of ASML’s EUV machines. Without them, neither Nvidia nor TSMC would produce their most advanced processors.
Each EUV system is staggeringly complex and expensive—costing more than $220 million. The latest “high-NA” models are fetching nearly double that price. Even so, top chip manufacturers keep lining up for new deliveries, and there are no alternative sources. In Q1 of 2025, ASML reported a 25% revenue jump, thanks in large part to robust demand for these unique machines (ASML Financial Statements).
ASML also continues to look ahead, investing in AI endeavors such as Mistral AI (ASML Corporate News). Nevertheless, its true staying power centers on its equipment’s necessity: fabs worldwide depend on ASML technology to match the pace of Moore’s Law. This reliability can make ASML an appealing selection when searching for safe stocks to invest in, particularly for those wary of wider market swings.
Stock Market Insights: Should You Buy Nvidia Stock Now?
The question of when—or whether—to buy Nvidia surfaces regularly among both new and experienced investors. Despite Nvidia’s dominance, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor team’s current recommended top 10 stocks do not include Nvidia, aiming instead to provide a diversified approach that adapts to current market conditions.
This perspective draws on previous success stories. Take Netflix, for example: an early recommendation in December 2004 would have multiplied $1,000 into about $621,976 by today. Nvidia’s own past stock advisor pick in April 2005 would have soared to $1,150,085 from the same amount—figures that put most benchmarks in the shade.
On average, Stock Advisor recommendations have posted total returns of 1,058%, dwarfing the S&P 500’s 191% in the same window. For those learning how to pick stocks for beginners, trusting time-tested sources—while also understanding the forces driving each business—may prove more productive than simply chasing consensus or headlines.
Practical Tips for Beginners Investing in the Stock Market
Entering the stock market for beginners is often compared to learning a new skill. Taking it step by step, and sticking with basic principles, is usually wise. Consider these beginner stock tips and also a few easy stocks to invest in as a starting point:
| If You’re… | Recommended Action | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Starting to invest | Focus on diversified index funds or ETFs | Broaden exposure and help reduce single-company risk |
| Interested in AI and tech growth | Consider stocks like Nvidia and TSMC | These firms stand at the core of the growing AI hardware sector |
| Seeking safer, less volatile options | Explore safe stocks to invest in like ASML | Its near-monopoly status brings stability and long-term potential |
| Want to learn how to pick stocks for beginners | Use stock tips from trusted advisory services | Benefit from seasoned analysis and avoid frequent pitfalls |
Patience remains a valuable trait. As with most successful strategies, consistent research and realistic expectations will help you navigate market events—political or otherwise—without losing perspective. Informed choices, from the selection of sectors to the timing of purchases, are the foundation of growing a portfolio with confidence.
Historical & Market Context: How 2025 Compares
Government gridlocks in the U.S. have rarely managed to halt stock market progress altogether. The 2025 standoff has not prevented companies from boosting investments in data centers, AI, and chip technologies. This echoes periods like the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, when hardware and software innovators recovered rapidly once economic conditions stabilized.
What stands out now is the scale and pace of AI and semiconductor growth. Corporate actions—such as TSMC’s Arizona expansion and Nvidia’s major commercial launches—reflect an appetite for technological improvement that often outpaces political delays (Reuters; Nvidia Press Release, 2025). The same is true for ASML, whose revenue uptick this year is closely tied to growing chip demand.
For those just learning how to start investing in stocks, grasping these patterns helps anchor long-term perspective. As the current AI wave builds, investment decisions rooted in broader historical context can help offset knee-jerk reactions to headlines and breaking news.
Conclusion: Investing in Uncertain Times
Market uncertainty comes and goes, often in waves set in motion by Washington or world events. Yet the growth of AI infrastructure stocks—namely Nvidia, TSMC, and ASML—shows few signs of losing strength or relevance. Political standoffs have little impact when fundamental demand for next-generation computing persists at this scale.
Whether you’re just beginning or already building an investment portfolio, keeping up with beginner stock tips, refining your approach to how to invest in stocks, and paying attention to the best stocks to invest in right now can support wiser decisions. Learning from past cycles, and focusing on businesses at the heart of structural technology shifts, may help your investments withstand the turbulence—and perhaps even grow because of it.
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