AI Stock Picks — FTSE 100

Wednesday, August 19, 2026  ·  Five AI analysts screened this index for stocks with the best shot at gaining +5% within 30 days

Today's Market Mood

Optimistic  Normal choppiness · VIX 15.3

The FTSE 100 shows a broad, high-conviction rally with mining, financials, insurers, and select growth names posting outsized single-day and 30-day gains, while defensives (tobacco, utilities, staples, food retail) are being sold off in a clear risk-on rotation. Momentum is broad enough across sectors to suggest more than a one-day spike, though several names posting big one-day pops already show softening 5-day returns, warranting selectivity toward names confirmed by sustained multi-day strength.

Broad commodity/mining rally (gold, silver, copper, diversified miners) lifting Endeavour Mining, Fresnillo, Anglo American, Rio Tinto and GlencoreFinancials and insurers (Aviva, Admiral, Investec, St James's Place, ICG, 3i) rallying on rate and earnings optimismRotation out of defensives (tobacco, utilities, staples, food retail) into cyclicals and risk assetsHousebuilders (Barratt Redrow, Persimmon) and consumer-cyclical names (Kingfisher, JD Sports) rebounding on rate-cut hopesSeveral one-day spikers (Babcock, Weir, Metlen, Anglo) show negative 5-day returns, signalling chase risk versus genuine sustained momentum

Today's Actionable List

Which of today's picks to actually take, and at what size, given what you are already holding. Each pick's own Suggested Allocation sizes it in isolation; this table applies the portfolio limits — at most 20 open positions and 60% of the portfolio committed in total. Run with --capital 25000 to see these sizes as order amounts rather than percentages.

0 of 4
0%
81 · 718.5%
718.5% / 60%
0 of 20
RankStockActionSizeEntry → TargetNotes
#1 SMT.L SKIP — £1,451.83 → £1,524.42
stop £1,319.71
 Position cap reached — 81 of 20 slots in use.
#2 SGE.L SKIP — £1,070.00 → £1,123.55
stop £966.21
 Position cap reached — 81 of 20 slots in use.
#3 FRES.L SKIP — £3,057.00 → £3,209.85
stop £2,754.36
 Position cap reached — 81 of 20 slots in use.
#4 SHEL.L SKIP — £3,418.00 → £3,592.42
stop £3,202.67
 Position cap reached — 81 of 20 slots in use.

Already open: MTB (to Aug 20), CSX (to Aug 22), WAB (to Aug 22), CSX (to Aug 22), HON (to Aug 22), DGX (to Aug 23), HON (to Aug 23), JPM (to Aug 23), UNP (to Aug 23), CB (to Aug 24), JPM (to Aug 24), DGX (to Aug 26) … and 69 more. Symbols you already hold were excluded from this run's candidates rather than re-picked.

Position-sizing guidance only — half-Kelly per pick, bounded by the limits above. Not personal investment advice.

Behind the scenes: how each AI analyst did
Aria
7 picks
Blaze
4 picks
Nova
3 picks
Orion
3 picks
Quinn
6 picks

4 Stock Picks

Diversification filter applied: 1 pick removed due to high same-sector price correlation with a higher-ranked pick (BP.L), avoiding concentrated sector exposure.
#1 SMT.LScottish Mortgage Investment Trust
5/5 Agents Agree  Risk 5/10  ⚠ Conflicting Signals
Strong conviction · 72%

Scottish Mortgage is a large investment trust that holds a portfolio of global growth companies, including many technology and innovation-focused businesses. The stock is showing strong, well-rounded momentum, trading above both its short- and long-term trend lines, and comfortably beating the broader market. The main risk is that the trust's holdings are concentrated in growth stocks, which tend to be more volatile than the wider market if sentiment shifts.

Stop-loss£1,319.71-9.1%
Today's price£1,451.83
Target£1,524.42+5.0%
Agents estimate: £1,524.34 (0.0% vs target)
If you invested £1,000
▲£1,050 if the target hits (+5.0%)
▼£909 if the stop-loss is hit (-9.1%)
The AI puts the chance of the win case at 72%. Not a guarantee — always set the stop-loss.

Why the AI likes it

What could go wrong

⚔ The Skeptic's View — Sage, the Devil's Advocate
  • Price (1451.8) is only ~2% below the upper Bollinger Band (1481.3), leaving little room before the band itself becomes resistance — the 'room to extend' argument understates how stretched the current move already is.
  • The MACD line (12.96) sits nearly 11 points above its signal line (1.19), an unusually wide gap that is more consistent with an extended, decelerating move than fresh acceleration.
Show the detailed analysis

Calibrated probability: 72% (raw model estimate: 64%) — adjusted using the accuracy of past resolved picks.

Trade math

0.5:1
65%
-0.1%
8.5%

Suggested allocation is half-Kelly sizing guidance capped at 10% — not personal investment advice. Allocations are scaled to 85% of half-Kelly for the current market regime.

What each AI analyst estimated

Aria
75%
Very High
Blaze
56%
Medium
Nova
53%
Medium
Orion
76%
Very High
Quinn
60%
Medium

Data Sources

Yahoo FinanceFinvizMarketWatchSeeking Alpha
#2 SGE.LThe Sage Group plc
5/5 Agents Agree  Risk 5/10  ⚠ Conflicting Signals
Strong conviction · 72%

Sage makes accounting and payroll software used by small and medium-sized businesses. Its share price has surged nearly 26% over the past month and is still climbing this week, benefiting from investors favoring growth-oriented names in the current market rally. The key risk is that after such a steep run-up, the stock looks stretched and could pause or pull back.

Stop-loss£966.21-9.7%
Today's price£1,070.00
Target£1,123.55+5.0%
Agents estimate: £1,123.60 (+0.0% vs target)
If you invested £1,000
▲£1,050 if the target hits (+5.0%)
▼£903 if the stop-loss is hit (-9.7%)
The AI puts the chance of the win case at 72%. Not a guarantee — always set the stop-loss.

Why the AI likes it

What could go wrong

⚔ The Skeptic's View — Sage, the Devil's Advocate
  • RSI-14 is at 70.29, in overbought territory — directly undercuts the 'room before fully stretched' framing and raises the odds of a near-term pullback.
  • The MACD histogram has narrowed to just 2.03 (MACD 49.6 vs signal 47.6), a much tighter gap than the price action implies, suggesting momentum is decelerating even as the 30-day return (+25.9%) stays elevated.
Show the detailed analysis

Calibrated probability: 72% (raw model estimate: 61%) — adjusted using the accuracy of past resolved picks.

Trade math

0.5:1
66%
-0.7%
8.5%

Suggested allocation is half-Kelly sizing guidance capped at 10% — not personal investment advice. Allocations are scaled to 85% of half-Kelly for the current market regime.

What each AI analyst estimated

Aria
60%
Medium
Blaze
56%
Medium
Nova
53%
Medium
Orion
76%
Very High
Quinn
60%
Medium

Data Sources

Yahoo FinanceFinvizMarketWatchSeeking Alpha
#3 FRES.LFresnillo plc
3/5 Agents Agree  Risk 4/10  ⚠ Conflicting Signals
Strong conviction · 72%

Fresnillo mines silver and gold, mostly in Mexico. The stock is riding a strong, sustained rally as mining and materials shares lead a broad market upswing, and it's trading right at its highest point of the past month with strong buying momentum. The main risk is that mining stocks can swing hard on commodity prices and on political developments in the countries where they operate.

Stop-loss£2,754.36-9.9%
Today's price£3,057.00
Target£3,209.85+5.0%
If you invested £1,000
▲£1,050 if the target hits (+5.0%)
▼£901 if the stop-loss is hit (-9.9%)
The AI puts the chance of the win case at 72%. Not a guarantee — always set the stop-loss.

Why the AI likes it

What could go wrong

⚔ The Skeptic's View — Sage, the Devil's Advocate
  • Price (3057) is still below its 200-day SMA (3192.2), meaning the long-term trend remains bearish even as short-term momentum surges — this is a much larger long-term overhang than the bull case acknowledges.
  • The stock is 31.6% below its 52-week high despite the 24.4% rally, and 5-day momentum has slowed to just 0.49-1.36% — a sharp deceleration from the pace implied by the 30-day gain, suggesting the sharpest part of the bounce may be over.
Show the detailed analysis

Calibrated probability: 72% (raw model estimate: 69%) — adjusted using the accuracy of past resolved picks.

Trade math

0.5:1
66%
+0.4%
8.5%

Suggested allocation is half-Kelly sizing guidance capped at 10% — not personal investment advice. Allocations are scaled to 85% of half-Kelly for the current market regime.

What each AI analyst estimated

Aria
70%
High
Blaze
—
—
Earnings-date data looks stale/unreliable and the stock has already run 24% in 30 days with no fresh catalyst confirmed, making the risk/reward less attractive than the selected picks.
Nova
—
—
Orion
76%
Very High
Quinn
60%
Medium

Data Sources

Yahoo FinanceFinvizMarketWatchSeeking Alpha
#4 SHEL.LShell plc
3/5 Agents Agree  Risk 4/10  ⚠ Conflicting Signals
Strong conviction · 72%

Shell is one of the world's largest oil and gas companies. Its shares have climbed steadily, beating the broader market, and the stock has a solid history of beating earnings expectations. A tightening trading range suggests a bigger move could be building. The main risk is that oil and gas prices are unpredictable, and a drop in energy prices would likely weigh on the stock.

Stop-loss£3,202.67-6.3%
Today's price£3,418.00
Target£3,592.42+5.1%
Agents estimate: £3,595.93 (+0.1% vs target)
If you invested £1,000
▲£1,051 if the target hits (+5.1%)
▼£937 if the stop-loss is hit (-6.3%)
The AI puts the chance of the win case at 72%. Not a guarantee — always set the stop-loss.

Why the AI likes it

What could go wrong

⚔ The Skeptic's View — Sage, the Devil's Advocate
  • The MACD histogram is negative (-0.27), with the MACD line just below its signal line — a bearish crossover that contradicts the 'steady momentum' framing despite the price strength.
  • A Bollinger squeeze is directionally neutral, not inherently bullish; with price (3418) already at the upper band (3415.7), the eventual breakout could just as easily resolve downward, especially against a stalling MACD.
Show the detailed analysis

Calibrated probability: 72% (raw model estimate: 65%) — adjusted using the accuracy of past resolved picks.

Trade math

0.8:1
55%
+1.1%
8.5%

Suggested allocation is half-Kelly sizing guidance capped at 10% — not personal investment advice. Allocations are scaled to 85% of half-Kelly for the current market regime.

What each AI analyst estimated

Aria
72%
Very High
Blaze
69%
High
Nova
—
—
Orion
—
—
Quinn
55%
Medium

Data Sources

Yahoo FinanceFinvizMarketWatchSeeking Alpha

Retail Investor Execution Guide

This report identifies stocks with an AI-assessed probability of gaining +5% within 30 calendar days (target exit by September 18, 2026). Picks are ranked by how many independent AI agents agreed — more agreement means higher conviction. The guide below tells you exactly how to act on them.

Step-by-Step Action Plan

  1. Act within one trading day. Prices are freshest now. The longer you wait, the more the entry price drifts away from what the agents analysed.
  2. Verify the entry price. Check the live price before buying. If a stock has already moved more than 3% above the Current Price shown in the report, skip it or wait for a pullback — the risk/reward has shifted.
  3. Use limit orders, not market orders. Set your buy limit at or below the Current Price shown. Chasing with a market order gives brokers and algorithms an advantage over you.
  4. Set your stop-loss immediately after buying. Use the Max Downside % on each pick card as your hard exit level. If the price falls to that level, sell without hesitation — the trade thesis is broken.
  5. Set a take-profit at the Target Price. Place a limit sell order at the Target Price shown. When it fills, the trade is done — resist the urge to hold for more.
  6. Exit all positions by September 18, 2026. This is your hard deadline. If a stock has not hit its target by then, exit anyway. Holding past the window turns a short-term trade into an unsupervised long-term position.
  7. Never add to a losing position. If your stop-loss is hit, exit completely. Averaging down turns a small, controlled loss into a potentially large one.

Position Sizing by Conviction Tier

Size each position according to the coloured border on its pick card. Cap your total exposure across all picks from this report at 25% of your overall trading budget.

Agents Agreeing What It Means Max Allocation Per Pick
5/5 Highest conviction — all five independent analytical checks passed Up to 10%
4/5 Very high conviction — four of five independent checks aligned Up to 8%
3/5 High conviction — three agents independently agreed Up to 6%
2/5 Moderate conviction — two agents independently agreed Up to 4%
1 Agent Speculative — solo pick, admitted only at Very High confidence Up to 2%

The Three Exit Rules

These picks are generated by AI agents for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Probability estimates reflect the agents' analytical models — they are not guarantees of any outcome. Past results are not indicative of future performance. Markets can and do move against even well-researched trades. Always conduct your own research, and consider seeking advice from a licensed financial adviser before placing any orders. Never invest money you cannot afford to lose.

Understanding the Numbers

A plain-English guide to every figure shown on each pick card — what it means, how it is calculated, and what a good or bad value looks like.

AI Conviction Meter
Estimated probability of hitting the target, shown as a 5-bar gauge
The filled bars and label translate the AI's probability estimate into plain language: 75%+ is Very strong, 60–74% Strong, 50–59% Moderate, below 50% Cautious. Where enough past picks have been resolved, the probability is calibrated against the AI's real track record.
e.g. "Moderate conviction · 58%" — the AI thinks this trade works slightly more often than a coin flip.
✓ More filled bars = more confidence — but even Very strong picks fail sometimes; always size positions accordingly.
If You Invested $1,000
$1,000 × (1 + Target Gain ÷ 100)  /  $1,000 × (1 + Max Downside ÷ 100)
The same Target Gain and Max Downside percentages expressed in concrete money terms for a $1,000 position — what you'd have if the target hits versus if your stop-loss is triggered.
e.g. +10% target and −12.3% stop → $1,100 on a win, $877 on a stopped-out loss.
✓ Scales linearly — a $500 position sees half these amounts, a $2,000 position double.
Current Price
Market price at time of analysis
The stock's price when this report was generated. All other figures on the card are calculated from this reference point.
e.g. $215.20 — check the live price before placing an order; if it has moved more than ~3%, re-evaluate the risk/reward.
✓ No positive/negative distinction — it is simply your cost basis.
Target Price
Current Price × (1 + Target Gain ÷ 100)
The price the agents project the stock could reach within the time window. This is your take-profit level — place a limit sell order here after buying.
e.g. $215.20 × 1.085 = $233.49 target on an 8.5% pick.
✓ Always above Current Price — this tool only selects upside candidates.
Target Gain
(Target Price − Current Price) ÷ Current Price × 100
The percentage return you would earn if the stock hits its Target Price from your entry. Set by the run parameters — every pick in this report targets the same percentage.
e.g. +8.5% means a $100 stock has a $108.50 target; a $500 stock has a $542.50 target.
✓ Always positive — picks are upside-only. A larger % means a bigger move is required.
Max Downside
Estimated stop-loss level, as % below entry
The worst-case loss the agents estimated if the thesis fails — based on key support levels and recent volatility. Use this as your hard stop-loss. If the price falls to this level, exit immediately; the trade thesis is broken.
e.g. −12.0% means: if you bought at $100, sell if it drops to $88.00.
⚠ Always negative. A smaller magnitude (e.g. −5%) = tighter risk. A larger magnitude (e.g. −20%) = more room to fall before you exit — riskier.
Reward : Risk
Target Gain ÷ |Max Downside|
How much you could gain for every dollar you are risking. A ratio of 2.0:1 means you stand to make $2 for every $1 at risk. Higher is better.
e.g. 8.5% gain ÷ 12% downside = 0.7:1 (unfavourable). 10% gain ÷ 5% downside = 2.0:1 (good).
✓ ≥ 2.0:1 is strong. ⚠ < 1.0:1 means you are risking more than you could gain — approach with caution.
Breakeven Win Rate
|Max Downside| ÷ (Target Gain + |Max Downside|) × 100
The minimum percentage of trades at this reward:risk that must succeed for you to break even over time — regardless of how good your stock picking is.
e.g. 12 ÷ (8.5 + 12) = 59% — you need roughly 6 in 10 trades to win just to avoid losing money.
✓ Lower is better — ≤ 35% means even a poor win rate is survivable. ⚠ ≥ 55% means you need most trades to work out.
Expected Value
(Probability% × Target Gain%) + ((1 − Probability%) × Max Downside%)
The average return per trade if the AI's probability estimate is accurate over many similar trades. A positive Expected Value means the trade has a mathematical edge; a negative value means the math works against you on average, even if you sometimes win.
e.g. 65% × +8.5% + 35% × −12% = +1.3% EV. Over 100 similar trades you would expect an average gain of 1.3% per trade.
✓ Positive = edge in your favour over many trades. ⚠ Negative = the math loses money on average — even if individual wins feel good. Note: EV is only as reliable as the probability estimate.
Suggested Allocation
half-Kelly: (Probability ÷ |Max Downside| − (1 − Probability) ÷ Target Gain) ÷ 2, capped at 10%
The Kelly criterion computes the portfolio fraction that maximises long-run growth for a bet with these odds; half-Kelly is the standard hedge against the probability estimate being too optimistic. Uses the calibrated probability where available. 0% means the math sees no edge worth sizing; — means it couldn't be computed.
e.g. 57% probability, +10% target, −13% downside → Kelly ≈ 8.5% of portfolio, half-Kelly ≈ 4.2%.
Generic sizing guidance only — not personal investment advice. Position sizing must reflect your own portfolio, risk tolerance and circumstances.
Every stock Scout considered — and why each was discarded

Scout scanned 100 FTSE 100 constituents and short-listed 27 candidates for deep analysis by the five analysts. Here is what happened to each one.

  • ADM.LAdmiral Group plcAlready held
    Scout: Positive across 1-day/5-day/30-day windows and only 2% off its 52-week high — clean, sustained momentum with little overhead resistance.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-18 runs until 2026-09-17 (30 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • AV.LAviva plcAlready held
    Scout: Consistent gains across all timeframes and within 3% of its 52-week high, indicating genuine trend strength rather than a one-day pop.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-18 runs until 2026-09-17 (30 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • CRDA.LCroda International PlcLiquidity filter
    Scout: Strong double-digit 30-day and today's gain with 5-day return roughly flat and just 2.7% off its high — momentum with stability.
    20-day average daily volume 447,744 shares is below the 500,000-share liquidity floor.
  • INVP.LInvestec GroupPassed over
    Scout: Solid 30-day gain and just 3.8% off its 52-week high, showing the rally has legs beyond a single session.
    Blaze: 5-day momentum is slightly negative and the stock is under 4% off its 52-week high, leaving little value-entry cushion with no catalyst data to support further upside.
    Orion: Financials are aligned with the rally, but this stock's short-term trend and momentum indicator have turned slightly negative.
  • CCC.LComputacenter plcLiquidity filter
    Scout: All three return windows positive and just 2.6% off its high — a rare case of accelerating momentum with no recent pullback.
    20-day average daily volume 311,929 shares is below the 500,000-share liquidity floor.
  • SGRO.LSEGRO PlcDropped at merge
    Scout: Steady gains across 5-day and 30-day windows, trading near its 52-week high, suggesting real estate/logistics rotation is intact.
    Only Aria selected this stock — single-agent picks require Very High confidence and at least 70% probability (this pick: High, 62% raw (72% after calibration)).
  • RR.LRolls-Royce Holdings plcAlready held
    Scout: Strong double-digit 30-day gain and only 4.3% off its 52-week high, continuing a well-established uptrend.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-17 runs until 2026-09-16 (28 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • AAL.LAnglo American plcPassed over
    Scout: Sharp 30-day and today's rally in the broader mining complex, though the softer 5-day figure warrants a tighter stop.
    Aria: Anglo American's price fell over the past 5 days despite a strong 30-day gain, failing the short-term momentum requirement.
    Blaze: Had a huge one-day jump (+15.8%) but its 5-day return has already turned negative (-3.0%), the softening-momentum pattern the market backdrop specifically flagged as risky.
    Nova: Despite a big 30-day gain, the last 5 days have turned negative, suggesting the rally is already fading
    Orion: Today's large jump follows a declining 5-day trend, looking more like a one-day pop than a sustained move.
  • BGEO.LLion Finance Group PLCLiquidity filter
    Scout: Strong, consistent gains across all windows and only 5.4% off its high — one of the cleanest momentum profiles in the index.
    20-day average daily volume 72,627 shares is below the 500,000-share liquidity floor.
  • SGE.LThe Sage Group plcPicked #2
    Scout: Powerful sustained rally (+25.9% over 30 days, +4.9% over 5 days) approaching its 52-week high, suggesting a durable re-rating.
    Made the final report at #2.
  • EDV.LEndeavour Mining plcAlready held
    Scout: Explosive breakout (+27% today and over 30 days) tracking the gold rally, with 5-day momentum still positive.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-18 runs until 2026-09-17 (30 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • FRES.LFresnillo plcPicked #3
    Scout: Major breakout in the silver/precious metals space with sustained 30-day strength, though still well off its 52-week high leaving room to run.
    Made the final report at #3.
  • GLEN.LGlencore plcPassed over
    Scout: Strong today's and 30-day gains riding the broader commodity rally.
    Aria: Glencore's price has pulled back over the past 5 days, failing the short-term momentum requirement.
    Blaze: 5-day return has turned slightly negative and no fundamental catalyst data was found, leaving only an already-cooling 30-day trend as support.
    Nova: 5-day momentum has turned negative despite a strong 30-day gain, suggesting fading buying pressure
    Orion: Despite being in the favoured mining sector, the stock has slipped over the past week, suggesting today's pop may not hold.
    Quinn: MACD crossover is only marginal and trading volume is diverging from the recent price gain, pulling the computed odds below a genuine 50% conviction level, especially with 5-day momentum already fading.
  • RIO.LRio Tinto GroupPassed over
    Scout: Solid 30-day and today's gains as diversified miners re-rate on commodity strength.
    Aria: Rio Tinto's 5-day momentum turned negative, so it didn't clear the short-term momentum bar despite a positive monthly trend.
    Blaze: 5-day momentum has turned sharply negative (-4.6%) with a bearish MACD signal, undermining the earlier 30-day gain.
    Nova: 5-day momentum is sharply negative (-4.6%), a warning sign the recent pop is reversing
    Orion: Momentum is fading — the stock is down over the last 5 days and its trend indicator has turned negative.
    Quinn: MACD histogram is negative and 5-day momentum has turned sharply negative (-4.6%), despite the positive 30-day return.
  • KGF.LKingfisher plcDropped at merge
    Scout: Positive across all windows with an accelerating 30-day trend, benefiting from the consumer-cyclical rotation.
    Only Nova selected this stock — single-agent picks require Very High confidence and at least 70% probability (this pick: Medium, 53% raw (48% after calibration)).
  • DGE.LDiageo plcPassed over
    Scout: Sharp today's and 30-day rebound, potentially the start of a recovery from depressed levels versus its 52-week high.
    Aria: Diageo's price has dropped over the past 5 days, failing the short-term momentum requirement despite a positive monthly trend.
    Blaze: 5-day momentum is negative and trading volume shows a bearish divergence, consistent with the broader sell-off hitting defensive consumer names.
    Nova: 5-day momentum is negative and the stock remains far below its 52-week high, showing weak follow-through
    Orion: Diageo is a defensive consumer-staples stock, a sector being sold off in the current risk-on rotation, so it doesn't fit the market's current favoured theme.
    Quinn: MACD histogram is negative, volume is diverging from price, and 5-day momentum has turned negative — no qualifying technical setup.
  • STJ.LSt. James's Place plcAlready held
    Scout: Strong today's and 30-day gains as wealth managers rally on rate-cut optimism.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-17 runs until 2026-09-16 (28 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • III.L3i Group OrdDropped at merge
    Scout: Consistent gains across 30-day and today's windows, with 5-day momentum still positive despite trading well below its high.
    Only Quinn selected this stock — Quinn solo picks require High or Very High confidence and at least 60% probability (this pick: Medium, 54% raw (48% after calibration)).
  • EXPN.LExperian plcPassed over
    Scout: Positive across all three windows including a healthy 5-day gain, showing steady rather than spiky momentum.
    Nova: 5-day momentum is essentially flat-to-negative with the weakest 30-day return in the group
    Orion: Weakest monthly gain among the growth-aligned names, with a negative trend indicator and flat weekly momentum.
  • SMT.LScottish Mortgage OrdPicked #1
    Scout: Broad-based gains across all timeframes as growth/tech-adjacent trusts catch a bid.
    Made the final report at #1.
  • BTRW.LBarratt Redrow plcPassed over
    Scout: Strong 30-day and today's gains as housebuilders rally on rate-cut hopes.
    Aria: Barratt Redrow passed the initial screen, but volume isn't confirming the gains and its earnings report falls inside the 30-day holding window, adding uncertainty.
    Quinn: MACD histogram is negative and volume is diverging from the price gain, with no squeeze or golden cross to offset it.
  • PSN.LPersimmon PlcAlready held
    Scout: Double-digit 30-day gain alongside today's rally, tracking the housebuilder sector rotation.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-18 runs until 2026-09-17 (30 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • JD.LJD Sports Fashion PlcPassed over
    Scout: Gains across all windows including a solid 5-day return, suggesting a genuine consumer-cyclical recovery.
    Aria: JD Sports has pulled back over the past 5 days, failing the short-term momentum requirement.
    Blaze: No fundamental catalyst data was found, and its earnings date falls inside the 30-day holding window, adding event risk without an offsetting catalyst.
    Nova: 5-day momentum is negative despite the 30-day gain, indicating fading short-term strength
    Quinn: MACD histogram is negative, volume is diverging from price, and 5-day momentum has turned negative.
  • CTEC.LConvatec Group PLCDropped at merge
    Scout: Consistent positive momentum across 5-day, 30-day and today's returns with room before hitting its 52-week high.
    Qualified on merit but ranked #6, outside the 5-pick limit for this run.
  • SHEL.LShell plcPicked #4
    Scout: Positive across all windows, tracking firmer energy prices with a healthy 5-day gain confirming the move.
    Made the final report at #4.
  • ICG.LICG plcPassed over
    Scout: Strong today's and 30-day gains as alternative asset managers benefit from the risk-on rotation.
    Aria: ICG's price has dipped over the past 5 days, failing the short-term momentum requirement.
    Nova: 5-day momentum is negative, suggesting today's bounce isn't part of a sustained move
    Orion: Weekly momentum has softened even though the month-long trend is still positive.
  • BP.LBP p.l.c.Diversification filter
    Scout: Modest but consistent gains across all three windows, tracking the broader energy sector uptick.
    Dropped by diversification filter: 0.94 30-day daily-return correlation with SHEL.L (both in Energy).

Agent Analytical Approaches

Aria

Momentum & Technical

Checks 30-day price history for every candidate before making any selection. Requires positive period return and positive 5-day momentum as mandatory gates. Ranks picks by proximity to their period high and adjusts probability based on volume. Uses news only to rule out major negative catalysts.

Blaze

Fundamental & Earnings

Searches earnings results, analyst upgrades, and revenue trends before checking price data. Requires at least one verifiable fundamental catalyst — earnings beat, analyst upgrade, or revenue acceleration — within the last 60 days. Favours stocks with strong fundamentals trading below recent highs (value entry).

Nova

News Catalyst & Event-Driven

Hunts for specific events within the last 21 days: FDA approvals, major contract wins, product launches, earnings surprises, or significant analyst upgrades. Requires a positive price reaction confirming the market is recognising the catalyst. Also scans for upcoming events that could drive further gains.

Orion

Macro & Sector Rotation

Maps the macroeconomic regime (risk-on / risk-off / neutral) and identifies sectors benefiting from current conditions before looking at individual stocks. Only selects stocks from macro-aligned sectors with confirmed sector tailwinds. Adjusts for interest rate sensitivity and geopolitical factors.

Sage

Devil's Advocate

Reviews the final picks after all four analysts agree and actively challenges each bull thesis. Searches for bearish technical signals, negative news, insider selling, and elevated short interest that the agreeing agents may have underweighted. Produces evidence-based counter-arguments shown on each pick card.

Quinn

Quantitative / Statistical

Pure-quant analyst: no news, no narrative, only numbers. Identifies mean-reversion setups from RSI extremes (<35) with momentum turning, Bollinger squeeze breakouts, and multi-factor quant scores using RSI, MACD, OBV, short interest, and insider transaction data. Counterbalances narrative bias across the four analyst agents.