The Zacks Computer – Micro Computers industry, which includes players like Dell Technologies (DELL) and One Stop Systems (OSS), is experiencing steady demand for enterprise devices such as laptops and smartphones. As of 2026, Dell reported $64.1 billion in AI orders, with a backlog of $43 billion. The company’s stock has increased by 40.5% year-to-date. However, the industry’s overall growth faces challenges from declining consumer PC demand and geopolitical factors, particularly weak demand in China.
The industry is projected to benefit significantly from the integration of artificial intelligence in PCs, with AI-capable PC shipments expected to make up 50% of the total by 2026. The industry’s average forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 27.47x, surpassing the S&P 500’s 21.05x and the broader sector’s 23.41x, indicating a strong valuation. Despite this, the industry has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 and the broader technology sector over the past year, appreciating only 14.3% compared to the S&P’s 18.3% and the sector’s 30.1%.
Dell Technologies and One Stop Systems both rank as Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stocks due to their favorable earnings outlook and ongoing investments in next-generation products. OSS, focused on high-performance computing for AI applications, has seen its stock rise by 25.9% year-to-date, with a break-even consensus estimate for 2026 earnings.
