AI growth could make these 2 S&P 500 stocks decade-long buys

The article builds its case on the scale of AI infrastructure spending, citing Nvidia's projection of $3 trillion to $4 trillion in related spending per year by the end of this decade. This spending boom has already benefited companies like Nvidia, whose shares have surged 934% in five years. However, the author argues that the real opportunity lies in the knock-on effects on the broader economy, particularly in payments.

If AI accelerates U.S. GDP growth to 6.7% annually, the economy would grow 91% in a decade, exceeding the 74% cumulative gain of the past 10 years. Visa and Mastercard, as payment networks, would capture incremental fees from higher spending. Their existing scale—$30 trillion in combined annualized payment volume—gives them a strong base, and their early moves into agentic payments and stablecoins could extend their dominance.

The threat from stablecoins is acknowledged, but the article argues that Visa and Mastercard's deep relationships with financial institutions, merchants, and consumers create network effects that stablecoins lack. Both companies are also integrating stablecoins into their infrastructure, suggesting they are adapting rather than being disrupted. The overall thesis is that these two stocks offer a grounded way to benefit from AI's economic upside, even if the technology's ultimate impact remains uncertain.