A few years ago, we were seeing how 2023 was shaping up as a turning point for the markets. It wasn't just any year: AI was revolutionizing everything, renewable energy was gaining ground, and electric vehicles were no longer futuristic but becoming reality. If at that moment you had wanted to know which companies were the best to invest in for 2023, the answer wasn't as obvious as it seemed.

The interesting thing was that while some traditional tech sectors faced pressure, others emerged with brutal strength. The market was hit by high inflation and restricted credit, so it wasn't just about finding winners but understanding which industries were at their peak and which were becoming obsolete.

Microsoft was probably the clearest case. Since Satya Nadella took control, the company diversified its revenue beyond Windows, heavily betting on cloud and AI systems. When OpenAI launched ChatGPT, Microsoft already had its hands in the pie, integrating the tool into Edge, Bing, and Office. This put it ahead of the competition in a way that markets rewarded generously.

But it wasn't just Microsoft. Nvidia was on the radar of anyone who understood that behind every AI, powerful hardware was needed. While others developed the software, Nvidia sold the GPUs that made all that possible. Sales figures were extraordinary during those months.

On the renewable side, Iberdrola benefited directly from the acceleration that the war in Ukraine had forced in Europe. When Russia started using oil and gas as economic weapons, European governments accelerated the energy transition overnight. Iberdrola, as the leading producer of clean energy on the continent, was in the perfect position.

Then there were electric vehicle manufacturers. Tesla remained the biggest name, although its shares had lost value due to Elon Musk's eccentricities and because investors often bet on Tesla as a proxy for private businesses not listed on the stock exchange. BYD, for its part, was doing what Tesla didn't: producing affordable electric cars that people could actually buy. Its expansion in Europe was the event to watch.

Xiaomi deserves a special mention. While its net profits were lukewarm, the company was strategically positioning itself in new markets, especially in electric vehicles. Its diversification strategy and its focus on quality at competitive prices made it attractive in the medium term.

Alphabet was in an uncomfortable position. Google had invested in AI for years, but when ChatGPT arrived, it was Microsoft that seemed to be winning the race. Bard, Google's response, needed to step up to regain ground. That created uncertainty in the markets.

Tencent took advantage of Microsoft's legal issues with its attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard. While that was slowly being resolved, Tencent could grow without direct competition in gaming.

In mining, Tianqi Lithium was the clear bet. With the rise of electric vehicles accelerating, demand for lithium for batteries could only go in one direction. Prices had fallen temporarily, but that presented an opportunity if you believed in future demand.

Siemens, though less sexy than tech startups, was the kind of company that supported global infrastructure. Its investment in renewable power plants, its generous dividend, and its influence in industrial automation made it solid for the long term.

What really moved the markets at that time was understanding that the AI revolution wasn't just ChatGPT. It was a deeper transformation affecting virtually every sector. The companies to invest in 2023 weren't just those developing AI but those that knew how to integrate it or benefit indirectly from it.

The energy transition was also continuing its course. It wasn't something that would stop; it was gradual but unstoppable. Clean energy manufacturers and electric vehicle producers were on the winning side of that equation.

Of course, there were global risks: the war in Ukraine, OPEC's decisions on oil production, inflation that refused to cede. But if you knew where to look, the best companies to invest in 2023 were those positioned on the right waves of technological and energy change.

In retrospect, it was a year where the speed of AI evolution surprised even optimists. We've rarely seen such a sudden revolution in such a massive sector. And although the landscape changed drastically in months, the companies that correctly bet in that direction were the ones that reaped the biggest gains.