Amazon ( AMZN -1.09%) stands out because it has delivered this whopping gain and still has a long road ahead. The market wasn't so sure about this before artificial intelligence (AI) burst onto the scene two years ago, but in Amazon style, it has developed a robust AI platform that's becoming a massive tailwind for its business.

The early 2024 enthusiasm for Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) had some real truth to it. Micron makes both DRAM memory and NAND flash storage, but DRAM makes up the majority of its revenue, at 73%. With the rise of artificial intelligence,

AMD stock has underperformed the market in the past year, losing 16% of its value while the broader PHLX Semiconductor Sector index has clocked 20% gains over the same period. AMD's weak influence in the AI chip market is one of the key reasons behind its underperformance.

If 2023 was a year of wonder about artificial intelligence, 2024 was the year to try to get that wonder to do something useful without breaking the bank.

They make stocks more accessible by reducing the share price, and they can be roundabout indicators of high-quality companies. That's because forward stock splits are only necessary after significant share price appreciation,