Outperforming its counterpart, one of these AI stocks has shown promising results this year and has the potential to continue doing so. Which large-cap artificial intelligence (AI) stock has been performing the best in 2024?Many investors might assume it's Nvidia (NVDA 0. 69%), but they would be mistaken. Although Nvidia has achieved impressive gains this year despite recent setbacks, Super Micro Computer (SMCI 2. 38%), commonly known as Supermicro, has emerged as an even greater winner. Could Supermicro be a more favorable AI stock to consider investing in compared to Nvidia? Ultimately, the answer depends on individual investing preferences. When tasked with selecting the superior stock between two options, I typically offer a standard response: It depends on your investing style. This answer tends to be the most fitting, by the way. If you're a retiree seeking consistent income, a stock with a reliable dividend payment may be a better choice for you than a growth stock with no dividend at all. On the other hand, if you're an aggressive investor pursuing growth opportunities, the story changes. Technically, Nvidia may be a more suitable pick for income-driven investors due to its dividend offering, whereas Supermicro falls short in this regard. However, with Nvidia's minuscule forward dividend yield of 0. 035%, it's unlikely that income investors will find either of these AI stocks appealing. Similarly, value investors may not find either Supermicro or Nvidia attractive since both stocks trade at forward earnings multiples surpassing the threshold that usually captures the interest of most value investors. In the cases of Supermicro and Nvidia, the decision largely centers around growth. Investors faced with the choice between these two stocks must assess which one possesses stronger growth prospects. Wall Street's perspective on Supermicro and Nvidia can shed some light on this matter. Quick and straightforward answers can be obtained by examining analysts' forecasts. Projections indicate that Supermicro will experience an average annual earnings growth of approximately 62% over the next five years, surpassing Nvidia's expected average annual earnings growth of 46%. However, does this imply that Wall Street views Supermicro as the preferable stock to purchase?Some analysts may share this sentiment, but not all. In a survey conducted by LSEG in July, six analysts covering Supermicro were queried, with two rating the stock as a buy and the remaining four categorizing it as a hold.

The outcome for Nvidia appeared more favorable, as 21 out of the 38 surveyed analysts recommended buying or strongly buying the stock. Nearly all of the others advised holding Nvidia, with only two exceptions. Nevertheless, it is not advisable to rely solely on Wall Street projections and ratings when choosing between Supermicro and Nvidia. Conducting one's own research prior to making a decision is crucial. I believe that the optimistic growth prospects for both Supermicro and Nvidia are realistic. The demand for AI is bound to continue driving explosive growth for Supermicro's servers and storage systems alongside Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs). Additionally, these two companies possess robust competitive advantages over their rivals. One of the most crucial advantages claimed by Supermicro and Nvidia is their rapid pace of innovation. Supermicro's revenue is growing five times faster than the industry average, largely due to its ability to introduce new products swiftly. Similarly, Nvidia is now following a "one-year rhythm, " as described by CEO Jensen Huang, in releasing new GPU platforms. So, is Supermicro a better AI stock to purchase right now than Nvidia?For two primary reasons, I believe it is. Firstly, valuation plays a role. Supermicro's share price includes less growth potential compared to Nvidia. Secondly, Supermicro utilizes Nvidia's chips but also collaborates with AMD and Intel. Even if Nvidia loses market share to these competitors, Supermicro's growth should not be significantly impacted. Of course, I could be proven wrong, as could Wall Street. However, if I had to choose just one of these two AI stocks at this moment, my preference would be Supermicro.