RF Lafferty Names Dell, HPE and ASML Overlooked AI Picks

Robert Hackel, chief operating officer at New York–headquartered broker-dealer RF Lafferty, named Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and ASML as overlooked AI stock opportunities. He made the remarks after U.S. equity markets posted a strong April–May rally and amid ongoing tensions near the Strait of Hormuz.

Hackel pointed to the corporate buildout for artificial intelligence-servers, data-center equipment and semiconductor manufacturing-as an area with clearer near-term revenue than some high-profile AI developers. He linked interest in those suppliers to the recent market gains: the S&P 500 rose more than 16% across April and May, driven in part by renewed investor demand for AI-related exposure.

On client behavior, Hackel described a typical pattern when geopolitical risks or commodity shocks rise. “When volatility increases in the short term, either geopolitically or with commodity disruptions, you do see a temporary slowdown in investments as clients reassess portfolios and reduce risk,” he noted, adding that both retail and institutional investors often wait for more clarity before adding new positions.

To manage near-term uncertainty, RF Lafferty has been steering some wealthy clients into defensive and dividend-paying stocks while keeping exposure to firms that supply AI infrastructure. Hackel identified real estate investment trusts and large-cap financial stocks as possible safe havens if disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz continue.

Hackel said RF Lafferty has been adding positions in key equipment vendors such as ASML. He included energy and industrial names in the list of relevant companies, naming NextEra Energy, Constellation Energy and Honeywell as firms tied to energy and infrastructure needs that support AI deployment.

On the IPO pipeline, Hackel described unusually strong investor interest for the second half of the year. He said filing documents are giving investors more details on business models and financials and that demand is likely to remain high until offerings begin trading flat or down. He expressed a cautious short-term view of the expected SpaceX offering, forecasting an initial price pop driven by pent-up demand and heavy media attention but stopping short of projecting long-term returns.

Looking ahead, Hackel tied the market outlook to geopolitical developments and interest-rate trends. He expects markets to continue their advance if the Iran tensions ease and interest rates stabilize or decline. For investors seeking steady returns over a multi-year horizon, he recommended holding large-cap dividend payers and defensive consumer names, citing UPS, Target, General Mills and Pfizer as examples that can provide income while keeping selective exposure to AI-related suppliers.