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In an age where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming everything from trading desks to drug discovery, we wanted to test how far the technology could go in investment research. So, we asked ChatGPT Pro, bolstered by its Deep Research mode, to identify U.S.-listed small-cap stocks that could plausibly return 100x in the next 10 years. Using these features, you can get investment-grade research in about 20 or 30 minutes, saving investors what could be days of research.
For those interested in the full report, you can subscribe to the Barchart Brief newsletter, and we will be sending it out to subscribers next week.
The Goal: Finding the Next 100-Bagger
The task was simple in theory, but bold in ambition: identify small-cap companies with modest valuations that could achieve extraordinary upside by 2035. The focus was on frontier sectors like AI, quantum computing, space/aerospace, biotech platforms, clean energy, semiconductors, robotics, cybersecurity, and advanced materials. It excludes pink sheet companies, unaudited financials, and ventures too speculative or at risk for fraud, giving them at least a relatively stable foundation from which to grow.
It considered things like funding and balance sheets, founding teams, and the likelihood of the technology coming to fruition. ChatGPT Pro applied a scoring rubric (0–100) across five dimensions:
- Execution (30%)
- Market size & timing (25%)
- Moat/technology (20%)
- Financial health (15%)
- Valuation vs. potential (10%)
The result was a ranked list of 15 companies with detailed analysis, bull and bear cases, and 10-year upside scenarios.
The Standout Picks
At the very top were companies using platform models in biotech and drug discovery. According to the AI, these firms stand out because success doesn’t hinge on a single product, but on a pipeline of opportunities.
- AbCellera Biologics (ABCL) – An antibody discovery platform that partners with pharma giants. With over 100 programs and a robust royalty model, ChatGPT argued that even a handful of blockbuster successes could catapult its valuation.
- Schrödinger (SDGR) – A hybrid software-biotech company selling computational chemistry tools while also running its own drug pipeline. If even one AI-designed drug hits, it could transform the company’s value.
- Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) – Dubbed the “AWS of synthetic biology,” Ginkgo programs cells for uses in agriculture, pharma, and industrial manufacturing. While controversial, ChatGPT sees massive upside if even a fraction of its hundreds of programs succeed.
On the frontier tech side, leaders included:
- IonQ (IONQ) – A quantum computing pure-play with best-in-class trapped-ion systems. If it achieves fault-tolerance and widespread adoption, it could become the “Intel + AWS of quantum.”
- Rocket Lab (RKLB) – Already the world’s #2 small-launch provider, with plans to scale into larger rockets and space systems. A successful rollout of its Neutron rocket could cement its role as the next SpaceX-lite.
- Solid Power (SLDP) – A promising solid-state EV battery developer backed by Ford and BMW. If its technology achieves performance parity at scale, revenues could explode.
Other Notable Mentions
The report also highlighted niche leaders:
- Aehr Test Systems (AEHR) – Dominant in silicon carbide chip testing, crucial for EV growth.
- NuScale Power (SMR) – The first U.S.-approved small modular reactor company, positioned to ride nuclear’s potential comeback.
- AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) – Building satellite-based cellular networks. A high-risk moonshot, but with a billion-user total addressable market (TAM).
- Origin Materials (ORGN) – Converting wood waste into zero-carbon plastics, with Pepsi and Ford as early customers.
The Bull and Bear Divide
For each stock, ChatGPT laid out bull case vs. bear case scenarios. Take Ginkgo Bioworks: in the bull case, it becomes the dominant cell programming platform powering products across industries. In the bear case, biology proves harder to industrialize than expected, partners leave, and it burns through cash.
Similarly, IonQ could either usher in the quantum age—or see its trapped-ion approach eclipsed by competitors like Google, IBM, or newer entrants.
This duality underscores the high-risk nature of chasing 100× returns. The potential upside is staggering, but the likelihood of failure is equally high.
The Master List
According to ChatGPT’s top 15 ranked companies were:
- AbCellera Biologics
- Schrödinger
- Rocket Lab
- Ginkgo Bioworks
- IonQ
- Solid Power, Inc. (SLDP)
- AeroVironment (AVAV)
- Aehr Test Systems
- NuScale Power
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals (RXRX)
- Origin Materials
- Nano Dimension (NNDM)
- C3.ai (AI)
- AST SpaceMobile
- Arqit Quantim (ARQQ)
They represent various domains, but each has a growth story in its own right. There were also various other names mentioned in the report that didn’t make the top 15 list, despite being leaders in their own fields.
The Bottom Line
The report doesn’t pretend to offer certainty — it’s a roadmap of possibilities. A 100× return requires everything to go right: flawless execution, huge market growth, favorable regulation, and a lot of luck. For most investors, these names are closer to lottery tickets than sure bets.
Still, ChatGPT Pro’s analysis highlights a truth: the next decade will be shaped by breakthroughs in AI, biotech, quantum, energy, and space. Today’s small-caps could be tomorrow’s giants — or tomorrow’s bankruptcies.
As the AI itself concluded, these are not safe investments. But if you’re hunting for the next NVIDIA (NVDA) or Moderna (MRNA) before they broke out, this is where the search begins.
On the date of publication, Caleb Naysmith had a position in: RKLB , IONQ , SMR . All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
