In the midst of market volatility driven by sweeping tariffs and federal government shakeups, a unique investment opportunity has emerged in the autonomous vehicle sector. Marc Chaikin, a 50-year Wall Street veteran, has identified a little-known $7 stock poised for significant growth due to a pivotal announcement scheduled for May 22, 2025.
Below, I’ll dive into the potential of this stock, the technology behind it, and the broader implications for the self-driving revolution, drawing on Chaikin’s extensive experience and proprietary Power Gauge system.
The Market Context: Volatility and Opportunity
The stock market in 2025 is characterized by uncertainty, with major indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow experiencing significant fluctuations. Proposed tariffs and policy changes under the Trump administration have created a turbulent environment, leading to downward revisions in earnings estimates for many companies. However, Chaikin argues that this volatility has created a rare buying opportunity for a specific tech firm valued at approximately $11 billion, which he believes could grow to $200 billion in a best-case scenario.
Chaikin’s optimism is rooted in historical precedents where market downturns have preceded substantial gains for certain stocks. For instance, after the dotcom crash, PG&E soared 215% in 12 months; post-2008, 3Com jumped 382%; and following the 2020 crash, Wayfair surged 782%. These examples underscore the potential for significant returns during periods of market distress, particularly for stocks with strong fundamentals and catalysts.
The $7 Stock: A Catalyst on the Horizon
The focal point of Chaikin’s analysis is a corporate announcement scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern time on May 22, 2025, during the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. The last time this company held such a meeting, its stock surged 91% in less than two months. Chaikin anticipates a similar outcome, driven by the company’s recent launch of commercial operations in April 2025 and the expected release of compelling performance data.
Analysts are similarly bullish, with Morgan Stanley and Cantor Fitzgerald assigning OVERWEIGHT ratings, Goldman Sachs upgrading the stock, and Oppenheimer initiating coverage with a $15 price target—representing a 150% upside from current levels. Over the past 13 weeks, earnings estimates have trended higher, with analysts projecting 19% earnings growth and 62% revenue growth. These metrics suggest strong confidence in the company’s financial trajectory.
The Technology: Lidar and the Future of Autonomous Driving
At the heart of this investment opportunity is the company’s proprietary Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, protected by 95 iron-clad patents. Lidar works by emitting laser pulses to create a 3D point cloud map of the environment, enabling precise navigation in diverse conditions, including rain, fog, and snow. Unlike camera-only systems, Lidar provides millimeter-accurate measurements and rapid reaction times, making it a cornerstone of safe autonomous driving.
The company’s Lidar sensor offers nearly twice the range of conventional systems, detecting pedestrians at night from nearly a thousand feet away—11 seconds before they would be visible to the human eye. This capability has enabled the company’s vehicles to operate autonomously on public highways, such as the I-45 between Dallas and Houston, at speeds up to 75 miles per hour. In four years and one million autonomous miles, these vehicles have had only three accidents, all caused by human drivers in other vehicles.
Chaikin’s firsthand experience in a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco further validates the transformative potential of autonomous driving.
Waymo, a competitor, has captured nearly 25% of the rideshare market in San Francisco, providing over 150,000 paid rides weekly. Insurance data from Swiss Re indicates that Waymo’s robotaxis have 86% fewer property damage claims and 90% fewer injury claims than human drivers, highlighting the safety advantages of autonomous systems.
The Dream Team: Leadership in Autonomous Innovation
The company’s leadership is a critical factor in its potential success. Led by the “Father of Self-Driving Technology,” who coined the term “self-driving” and programmed Waymo’s early vehicles, the management team includes former Tesla and Uber engineers. This “dream team,” as described by Fortune magazine, has outpaced competitors, many of whom have faced layoffs, federal investigations, or delayed commercialization.
Since its inception eight years ago, the company has achieved milestones that set it apart. While competitors struggle to reach full commercialization by 2027, this firm has already deployed its commercial platform, with vehicles operating autonomously in Texas. Strategic partnerships with major players like Volkswagen, Hyundai, Toyota, Volvo, Uber, FedEx, and Nvidia further enhance its market position.
The Nvidia Partnership: A Game-Changer
A pivotal development occurred in January 2025 at CES, when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced a partnership with the company.
Nvidia, the leading maker of AI chips, will power the company’s vehicles with its next-generation DRIVE Thor system-on-a-chip. This collaboration is significant, given Nvidia’s dominance in AI and its track record of enabling high-growth companies like OpenAI, which grew from a $14 billion valuation in 2021 to $300 billion in 2025.
Huang’s endorsement, coupled with his prediction that self-driving vehicles will become the first multitrillion-dollar robotics industry, sent the company’s stock up 35% in a single day. The partnership underscores the company’s technological edge and its potential to scale rapidly, leveraging Nvidia’s expertise in AI and computing.
The Power Gauge: A Proprietary Edge
Chaikin’s recommendation is grounded in his Power Gauge system, a culmination of 45 years of Wall Street experience working with legends like George Soros and Paul Tudor Jones. The Power Gauge evaluates over 5,000 stocks based on 20 fundamental and technical factors, distilling them into simple ratings: BULLISH, NEUTRAL, or BEARISH.
Currently, the $7 stock holds a NEUTRAL+ rating, indicating it is on the cusp of turning BULLISH. This rating has historically preceded significant gains during volatile markets. For example, after the 2008 financial crisis, stocks like Hartford Insurance Group (370% gain), Goldman Sachs (208%), and Williams-Sonoma (352%) achieved remarkable returns following NEUTRAL+ ratings. The inflow of institutional capital, evidenced by Norges Bank’s $46 million stake and Geode Capital Management’s $147 million position, further supports the stock’s potential.
Chaikin’s Chaikin Money Flow indicator, used by major financial institutions, confirms a growing accumulation of cash in the stock since February 2025. This trend, combined with the company’s strong fundamentals and upcoming catalyst, positions it as a prime investment opportunity.
The Long-Term Potential: A $200 Billion Vision
The company’s long-term potential is staggering. It targets a market of 50 billion vehicle miles, aiming to generate $0.75 per mile, resulting in $37.5 billion in annual revenue. This figure would surpass software giants like Salesforce and Palantir, each valued at over $200 billion. Achieving a $200 billion market cap would represent a 1,700% gain from the current $11 billion valuation.
Even a conservative scenario is compelling. If the company reaches $5 billion in annual revenue, valued at 10 times sales (a common multiple for growing software companies), it could achieve a $50 billion market cap—a 355% gain. These projections highlight the “moonshot” potential that Chaikin believes could make this stock the biggest winner of his 59-year career.
The Tesla Cautionary Tale
In contrast, Chaikin warns against investing in Tesla (TSLA), which he describes as a “ticking time bomb” in the autonomous driving space.
Despite Elon Musk’s claims that solving full self-driving is critical to Tesla’s value, the company’s reliance on a camera-only approach has proven flawed. In May 2021, Musk removed radar sensors to cut costs, leading to issues like phantom braking and failure to detect obstacles.
Tesla’s accident rate is the highest among auto brands, and its stock has declined over 30% in 2025, earning a BEARISH rating from the Power Gauge. Chaikin advises investors to sell Tesla shares, arguing that its technological shortcomings and Musk’s strategic missteps have forfeited its first-mover advantage.
The Broader Implications of Autonomous Driving
The autonomous vehicle market is projected to surpass $2.2 trillion by 2030, driven by technological advancements and supportive legislation in 29 states. The Trump administration’s plans to enable wider deployment of driverless vehicles further bolster the industry’s outlook. Autonomous vehicles promise significant economic and societal benefits, including $470 billion in annual savings to the U.S. economy, over 1 million lives saved, and 50 million injuries prevented.
The company’s technology also has the potential to address America’s supply chain challenges by enabling efficient, autonomous freight transport. Its partnerships with logistics giants like FedEx and Uber suggest a strategic focus on disrupting the $1 trillion transportation market, beyond just robotaxis.
Risks and Considerations
Investing in the $7 stock is not without risks. The NEUTRAL+ rating reflects recent market volatility, driven by external factors like tariffs rather than company-specific issues. While the company has outperformed earnings expectations in 10 of the last 12 quarters and faces no significant negative news, market turbulence could delay its upward trajectory. Additionally, the autonomous vehicle industry faces public skepticism, with 66% of U.S. drivers expressing safety concerns about robotaxis.
Chaikin acknowledges that past performance does not guarantee future results and emphasizes the importance of emotional discipline in volatile markets. Investors must weigh the potential rewards against the inherent uncertainties of a nascent industry.
How to Act on This Opportunity
Chaikin has compiled his full analysis in a report titled “The Self-Driving Technology Moonshot”, available through his PowerProfits research service.
The report includes the stock’s name, ticker symbol, Power Gauge reading, and additional insights, such as the company’s connections to the Pentagon and its strategy to disrupt a market 400 times larger than robotaxis. Due to the stock being an open recommendation, Chaikin cannot disclose its identity publicly.
To make this opportunity accessible, Chaikin offers PowerProfits at a discounted rate, including over $11,000 in additional reports, videos, and tools. These resources cover four other NEUTRAL+ stocks and strategies for identifying high-quality growth stocks in uncertain markets.
Conclusion
The $7 stock represents a rare convergence of technological innovation, market opportunity, and strategic timing. With a proprietary Lidar technology, a world-class leadership team, and a transformative Nvidia partnership, the company is well-positioned to lead the self-driving revolution. The upcoming May 22, 2025, announcement could serve as a catalyst for significant short-term gains, while the long-term potential offers a path to substantial wealth creation.
Chaikin’s Power Gauge system, backed by decades of Wall Street expertise, provides a data-driven foundation for this recommendation. By acting swiftly and strategically, investors can position themselves to capitalize on a once-in-a-generation opportunity, while avoiding pitfalls like Tesla’s flawed approach. As the autonomous vehicle market accelerates toward a $2.2 trillion future, this $7 stock stands out as a potential moonshot in a volatile world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the $7 stock Marc Chaikin is recommending?
The $7 stock is a little-known tech firm valued at approximately $11 billion, focused on autonomous vehicle technology. Marc Chaikin cannot disclose the stock’s name or ticker symbol publicly, as it is an open recommendation in his PowerProfits research service. Detailed information, including the stock’s identity, is available in his report, The Self-Driving Technology Moonshot, accessible through a PowerProfits subscription.
Why is May 22, 2025, significant for this stock?
On May 22, 2025, at 1 p.m. Eastern time, the company will hold its annual shareholders’ meeting. Chaikin expects this event to act as a catalyst, potentially driving significant stock price increases, as the company will likely share exciting data from its commercial operations launched in April 2025. The last time the company held its annual meeting, its stock surged 91% in less than two months.
What technology is driving the company’s potential?
The company’s proprietary Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, protected by 95 patents, is central to its success. Lidar uses laser pulses to create 3D point cloud maps, enabling precise navigation in various conditions (e.g., rain, fog, snow). Its Lidar sensor has nearly twice the range of conventional systems, detecting pedestrians from nearly a thousand feet away, providing an 11-second advantage over human drivers.
What is the Power Gauge, and how does it support this recommendation?
The Power Gauge is Marc Chaikin’s proprietary system, developed over 45 years on Wall Street, which evaluates over 5,000 stocks based on 20 fundamental and technical factors. It currently assigns the $7 stock a NEUTRAL+ rating, indicating it is on the verge of becoming BULLISH. This rating has historically preceded significant gains during volatile markets, such as Hartford Insurance Group’s 370% rise post-2008. The Chaikin Money Flow indicator also shows growing cash inflows into the stock since February 2025.
What are the potential returns for this stock?
Chaikin outlines two scenarios:
- Best-case scenario: The company could generate $37.5 billion in annual revenue by targeting 50 billion vehicle miles at $0.75 per mile, potentially reaching a $200 billion market cap—a 1,700% gain from its current $11 billion valuation.
- Conservative scenario: Achieving $5 billion in annual revenue, valued at 10 times sales, could lead to a $50 billion market cap—a 355% gain.
Why is the Nvidia partnership important?
In January 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced a partnership with the company at CES, with its vehicles powered by Nvidia’s DRIVE Thor system-on-a-chip. Nvidia’s dominance in AI chips and its role in high-growth companies like OpenAI (valued at $300 billion in 2025) make this partnership a significant endorsement. The announcement caused the stock to rise 35% in one day, signaling strong market confidence.
Who is leading the company?
The company is led by the “Father of Self-Driving Technology,” who coined the term “self-driving” and programmed Waymo’s early vehicles. The leadership team, described by Fortune as “some of the best minds in self-driving cars,” includes former Tesla and Uber engineers. Their expertise has enabled the company to outpace competitors, launching commercial operations while others face delays or closures.
Why does Chaikin warn against investing in Tesla?
Chaikin labels Tesla (TSLA) a “ticking time bomb” due to its flawed camera-only approach to autonomous driving, implemented after removing radar sensors in May 2021 to cut costs. This has led to issues like phantom braking and high accident rates. Tesla’s stock is down over 30% in 2025 and holds a BEARISH Power Gauge rating. Chaikin advises selling Tesla shares, arguing it has lost its first-mover advantage in the driverless revolution.
What are the risks of investing in this stock?
Key risks include:
- Market volatility: The stock’s NEUTRAL+ rating reflects recent market turbulence driven by tariffs, not company-specific issues. Continued volatility could delay gains.
- Industry skepticism: A AAA survey shows 66% of U.S. drivers have safety concerns about autonomous vehicles, which could slow adoption.
- Execution risks: While the company has launched commercial operations, scaling to 50 billion vehicle miles and achieving projected revenues will take years and face competition. Chaikin emphasizes that past performance does not guarantee future results, and all investments carry risks.
How does this stock benefit from market volatility?
The stock’s NEUTRAL+ rating indicates it is attracting significant cash inflows during market downturns, a pattern seen in past volatile periods (e.g., post-2008, post-9/11). Historical backtests show NEUTRAL+ stocks like NVR (131% gain post-9/11) and Goldman Sachs (208% post-2008) delivering substantial returns. The current volatility, driven by tariffs, has lowered the stock’s price, creating a buying opportunity.
What broader impacts could this company have?
The company’s technology could:
- Save the U.S. economy $470 billion annually.
- Prevent over 1 million deaths and 50 million injuries each year.
- Address supply chain issues through autonomous freight transport, partnering with companies like FedEx and Uber. The global autonomous vehicle market is projected to reach $2.2 trillion by 2030, supported by legislation in 29 states and potential federal policies under the Trump administration.
How can I access Chaikin’s full analysis?
Chaikin’s full analysis, including the stock’s name, ticker symbol, and Power Gauge reading, is available in The Self-Driving Technology Moonshot report, part of his PowerProfits research service. He offers a discounted subscription that includes the report, over $11,000 in additional resources, and details on four other NEUTRAL+ stocks.
Why can’t Chaikin reveal the stock’s name publicly?
The stock is an open recommendation in PowerProfits, and revealing its identity publicly would be unfair to paying subscribers. Chaikin prioritizes providing exclusive value to his subscribers while offering non-subscribers a chance to access the recommendation through a discounted PowerProfits subscription.
Is this a short-term or long-term investment?
Chaikin sees both short-term and long-term potential:
- Short-term: The May 22, 2025, announcement could drive immediate gains, similar to the 91% surge following the last annual meeting.
- Long-term: The company’s $200 billion market cap potential (1,700% gain) or conservative $50 billion target (355% gain) makes it a compelling hold for years, given its role in the $2.2 trillion autonomous vehicle market.
How does Chaikin’s experience validate his recommendation?
With 59 years in finance, Chaikin has worked with Wall Street legends like George Soros and Paul Tudor Jones. He developed the Chaikin Money Flow indicator, used globally, and created three Nasdaq indices. His accurate market predictions, such as the 2014 correction and 2022 bank run, demonstrate his expertise. The Power Gauge, built on fundamental and technical analysis, underpins his confidence in this stock.
