Investors Seek Refuge in Asset-Heavy Stocks as AI Jitters Rattle Markets, Analysts Say

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 13, 2026. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty ImagesInvestors unnerved by growing fears of artificial intelligence-driven disruption are rotating into asset-heavy companies such as industrials, infrastructure, and energy firms, seeking insulation from volatility in high-flying technology shares, analysts say.A recent report from BNP Paribas Wealth Management argues that 2026 marks a turning point in how markets perceive AI-linked investments, with rising capital expenditure no longer enough to guarantee outperformance. Instead, investors are rewarding companies with tangible, hard-to-replicate assets and stable economic relevance.