Most people are talking about the same AI stocks - NVIDIA, Palantir, Vertiv. But honestly, there are some solid plays flying under the radar that could benefit just as much from the AI boom.

I've been looking at Photronics lately. This company makes photomasks - basically the stencils that print circuits onto semiconductor wafers. It's a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), and here's why it matters: as AI chips get more complex, the demand for precision in chip manufacturing goes through the roof. PLAB had a rough breakout attempt late February that didn't stick, which is frustrating from a technical standpoint. But the fundamentals tell a different story.

Their latest earnings showed record revenue in advanced chips, with solid momentum in the US market. What caught my attention was the EPS revision activity - positive revisions kept coming through February. Plus, they're seriously ramping up CapEx. Last fiscal year they spent $188.1 million compared to $131 million the year before. That's expansion in the US and South Korea, which makes sense given where chip manufacturing is heading.

Now Teradyne is another one that's been less discussed despite its importance. They make the equipment that tests chips - and right now, the fastest-growing segment is AI data center chips and accelerators. More complex chips mean more testing required, and AI chips are basically the most complex things being made right now. The stock is up 40% so far this year, crushing the S&P 500's performance. They've got that coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) rating too.

Both companies have taken some hits recently, but the outlook hasn't changed. Positive EPS revisions, critical roles in the chip supply chain, and plenty of runway as AI spending continues. If you're looking beyond the obvious mega-cap AI names, these two are worth watching closely. The supply chain plays often outperform once people finally notice them.