Arm Holdings a 'Large-Cap Top Pick' as Edge AI Opportunities Emerge, Morgan Stanley Says

Arm Holdings (ARM) remains a "large-cap top pick" following the launch this week of the artificial intelligence-powered iPhone 16, whose release suggested the utilization of an Arm-based A-18 processor in the Apple (AAPL) device, Morgan Stanley said Wednesday.

The chipmaker "remains our favored play on the emerging Edge AI opportunity," the investment firm said.

"We think of Arm as more than a mobile CPU story and instead look to the growing use of custom silicon on Arm as a strong driver of royalties' expansion across the next 2-3 years at least," Morgan Stanley said. "Drivers of custom silicon royalties already come from cloud AI, but this will shift in large part to mobile soon."

Arm could also benefit from "any positive outcome in the upcoming QCOM litigation," the firm said, referring to a legal dispute between Arm and Qualcomm (QCOM) over technology licensing.

Morgan Stanley also said that given Arm's UK-centric IP portfolio, the chipmaker is unlikely to get hit by potential new China restrictions over the near-to-medium term.

The firm has an overweight rating on the stock and $175 price target.

Shares of Arm were up about 4.5% in recent trading.

Price: 131.38, Change: +4.16, Percent Change: +3.27