8 Tech Stocks that Could Perform Magic

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," British author and futurist Sir Arthur Clarke once observed.

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"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," British author and futurist Sir Arthur Clarke once observed. If that's the case, there's plenty of magic in today's wired world, from smart phones that can tell jokes to machines that can tell you why they're malfunctioning. As these technologies turn into necessities, tech stocks can turn out to be surprisingly magical, too. "It's a great sector to invest in," says Bernie Williams, chief investment officer of USAA's money-management division. "It's got something for everyone."

Whether you're looking for steady dividends from an established giant such as Apple or Microsoft or wanting to place a bet on a fast-growing upstart, opportunities abound. Here are eight stocks worth a look. (The stocks are listed in order of market value.)

Disclaimer

Prices and related data are as of the June 10 close. Price-earnings ratios are based on earnings estimates for the next four quarters. Sales are for the last four quarters.

Kathy Kristof
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kristof, editor of SideHusl.com, is an award-winning financial journalist, who writes regularly for Kiplinger's Personal Finance and CBS MoneyWatch. She's the author of Investing 101, Taming the Tuition Tiger and Kathy Kristof's Complete Book of Dollars and Sense. But perhaps her biggest claim to fame is that she was once a Jeopardy question: Kathy Kristof replaced what famous personal finance columnist, who died in 1991? Answer: Sylvia Porter.