Nokia Stock Hits 16-Year High, Up 105% YTD as AI Pivot Lifts Growth
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · May 13
Nokia Stock Hits 16-Year High, Up 105% YTD as AI Pivot Lifts Growth
2 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · May 13
Nokia shares have climbed to a 16-year high, rising about 105% year to date by May 12 as investors reward its shift from legacy telecom gear to AI-native networking.
Q1 2026 AI and cloud-related net sales jumped 49% year over year, helping generate 1 billion euros in new orders, while Nokia lifted its AI and cloud growth outlook through 2028 to a 27% CAGR from 16%.
Nvidia is central to that push: its $1 billion October investment backs joint AI-RAN development that combines Nokia's 5G-Advanced and 6G software with Nvidia computing to turn base stations into edge AI nodes.
Nokia is also extending the same networking expertise into defense through Anduril, including a March project for the Belgian military that uses private 5G communications for counter-drone and autonomous sensor operations.
That mix of hyperscaler AI infrastructure demand, future 6G upgrades and government defense contracts is widening Nokia's addressable market beyond cyclical telecom spending.
Is Nokia's AI pivot a true revival, or a high-stakes dependency on its powerful partner, Nvidia?
How will Nokia balance commercial AI goals with the security demands of its growing military and defense contracts?
As cell towers become AI nodes, who will govern the massive new streams of public data they collect?
Nokia’s 2026 Stock Surge: AI-Driven Transformation, Strategic Partnerships, and the Road to 6G
Overview
Nokia’s 2026 story is defined by a major stock surge and a bold strategic transformation. While exact financial details of the surge are not yet available, the market is closely watching for upcoming Q2 2026 results, which are expected to reveal whether Nokia’s Network Infrastructure segment is accelerating and if Mobile Networks orders are turning around. These results will be crucial for understanding the real drivers behind Nokia’s performance. The company’s shift toward AI-native network infrastructure and its focus on intelligent, software-driven solutions are at the heart of its new direction, setting the stage for future growth and industry leadership.