AI Stock Picks — FTSE 100

Monday, August 31, 2026  ·  Five AI analysts screened this index for stocks with the best shot at gaining +5% within 30 days

Today's Market Mood

Neutral  Calm market · VIX 15.0

The FTSE 100 shows sharp sector dispersion: mining, financials, and select industrials are on strong multi-week uptrends near 52-week highs, while consumer staples, pharma, tobacco, and a few housing-adjacent names have sold off hard over the past month. Breadth in the winning cohort is wide enough to support a constructive near-term view on those names, even though the index-wide picture is mixed rather than uniformly bullish.

Broad-based mining and metals rally (copper, gold, diversified miners) with several names near 52-week highsUK financials (banks, insurers, wealth/asset managers) showing steady multi-week gainsRotation away from defensives and pharma/staples (weak recent performance in GSK, AstraZeneca, BAT, Imperial Brands, Tesco)Selective strength in software/IT services and housebuilders on rate-cut optimism

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 2
0%
109 · 968.5%
968.5% / 60%
0 of 20
RankStockActionSizeEntry → TargetNotes
#1 MRO.L SKIP — £515.20 → £540.97
stop £467.80
 Position cap reached — 109 of 20 slots in use.
#2 IMI.L SKIP — £3,112.00 → £3,267.60
stop £2,906.61
 Position cap reached — 109 of 20 slots in use.

Already open: AMP (to Sep 3), RJF (to Sep 4), NVDA (to Sep 5), AME (to Sep 6), SWK (to Sep 6), FAST (to Sep 9), WAT (to Sep 9), EMR (to Sep 10), LLY (to Sep 10), DRI (to Sep 11), DXCM (to Sep 11), BDX (to Sep 12) … and 97 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
4 picks
Blaze
3 picks
Nova
3 picks
Orion
4 picks
Quinn
3 picks

2 Stock Picks

#1 MRO.LMelrose Industries PLC
5/5 Agents Agree  Risk 5/10
Strong conviction · 68%

Melrose owns GKN Aerospace and GKN Automotive, making engine and driveline components for planes and cars. The stock has been climbing faster than the wider market over the past month and the momentum is accelerating, with technical signals lining up in its favor. The main risk is that the shares are still well below their 52-week high, so this could be a bounce rather than a lasting recovery.

Stop-loss£467.80-9.2%
Today's price£515.20
Target£540.97+5.0%
If you invested £1,000
▲£1,050 if the target hits (+5.0%)
▼£908 if the stop-loss is hit (-9.2%)
The AI puts the chance of the win case at 68%. 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 (515.2) sits below its 200-day SMA of 536.31 with no golden cross, meaning the 30-day pop is a rally within a longer-term downtrend, not a confirmed trend reversal.
  • OBV reading of -54,318,130 shows cumulative volume flow has been net negative even as price rallied, undercutting the 'no volume-based warning signs' claim.
  • The stock is already pressing its upper Bollinger Band (517.79 vs. a 515.2 price), suggesting the recent 8-9% surge may be technically stretched short-term despite RSI 63 not being extreme.
Show the detailed analysis

Calibrated probability: 68% (raw model estimate: 62%) — adjusted using the accuracy of past resolved picks.

Trade math

0.5:1
65%
-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
56%
Medium
Nova
56%
Medium
Orion
66%
High
Quinn
60%
Medium

Data Sources

Yahoo FinanceFinvizMarketWatchSeeking Alpha
#2 IMI.LIMI plc
3/5 Agents Agree  Risk 5/10
Strong conviction · 68%

IMI makes precision flow-control and motion equipment used in energy, life sciences and other industrial applications. The stock is trading close to its 52-week high and has climbed steadily over the past month as part of a broader rally in FTSE industrial names. The main risk is that trading volume hasn't fully kept pace with the price rise, a warning sign that buying interest could be thinner than the chart suggests.

Stop-loss£2,906.61-6.6%
Today's price£3,112.00
Target£3,267.60+5.0%
If you invested £1,000
▲£1,050 if the target hits (+5.0%)
▼£934 if the stop-loss is hit (-6.6%)
The AI puts the chance of the win case at 68%. 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
  • ObvDivergence is flagged true, indicating volume flow is not confirming the price advance — a classic warning that the rally could be running out of participation.
  • MACD histogram is negative (-0.1595) with the MACD line just below its signal line, pointing to fading upside momentum right as the bulls cite 'continuing positive momentum'.
  • At 1.71% below its 52-week high, upside room is minimal, so a 5% target essentially requires a fresh breakout rather than just continuation of the existing move.
Show the detailed analysis

Calibrated probability: 68% (raw model estimate: 60%) — adjusted using the accuracy of past resolved picks.

Trade math

0.8:1
57%
+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
57%
Medium
Blaze
—
—
Already trading near its 52-week high, leaving little discount for a value entry despite a steady uptrend.
Nova
56%
Medium
Orion
66%
High
Quinn
—
—
No qualifying technical setup — MACD histogram is flat-to-negative, no squeeze, no golden cross, and RSI isn't low enough for mean reversion

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 30, 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 30, 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 23 candidates for deep analysis by the five analysts. Here is what happened to each one.

  • AAL.LAnglo American plcAlready held
    Scout: Up nearly 18% over 30 days and still accelerating (+5% in the last 5 days) while sitting just above 1% off its 52-week high — strong, sustained mining-sector momentum with room to make new highs.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-24 runs until 2026-09-23 (23 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • RIO.LRio Tinto GroupAlready held
    Scout: Nearly 12% higher over the past month with positive short-term momentum, benefiting from the broader diversified-miner rally.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-25 runs until 2026-09-24 (24 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • GLEN.LGlencore plcAlready held
    Scout: Up over 17% in 30 days on heavy volume, tracking the sector-wide commodity rally with the stock still notably below its high, leaving upside room if the trend continues.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-21 runs until 2026-09-20 (20 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • ANTO.LAntofagasta plcAlready held
    Scout: Copper miner up over 13% in a month with continued 5-day strength, aligned with the broader mining upswing.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-28 runs until 2026-09-27 (28 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • AV.LAviva plcAlready held
    Scout: Up 5.5% over 30 days and trading within 1.4% of its 52-week high — steady, high-conviction momentum in the insurance sector.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-18 runs until 2026-09-17 (17 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • ADM.LAdmiral Group plcAlready held
    Scout: Nearly 7% higher over the month and just 2.5% off its 52-week high, showing consistent strength in UK insurance.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-27 runs until 2026-09-26 (27 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • STJ.LSt. James's Place plcAlready held
    Scout: Up over 9% in 30 days, reflecting a sustained recovery in the wealth-management space with continued positive momentum.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-17 runs until 2026-09-16 (16 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • BGEO.LLion Finance Group PLC (Bank of Georgia)Liquidity filter
    Scout: Up over 17% in a month and within 1.5% of its 52-week high, showing one of the strongest and most consistent uptrends among financials.
    20-day average daily volume 69,263 shares is below the 500,000-share liquidity floor.
  • NWG.LNatWest Group plcDropped at merge
    Scout: Up 2.2% over 30 days with resilient banking-sector momentum and manageable distance from its 52-week high.
    Only Blaze selected this stock — single-agent picks require Very High confidence and at least 70% probability (this pick: Medium, 56% raw (48% after calibration)).
  • STAN.LStandard Chartered PLCDropped at merge
    Scout: Nearly 4% higher over the month with continued short-term gains, benefiting from the broader bank rally with Asia-linked upside.
    Only Orion selected this stock — single-agent picks require Very High confidence and at least 70% probability (this pick: High, 63% raw (68% after calibration)).
  • INVP.LInvestec GroupDropped at merge
    Scout: Up over 4% in the last 5 days and 2.5% over 30 days, showing accelerating momentum within financials.
    Only Orion selected this stock — single-agent picks require Very High confidence and at least 70% probability (this pick: High, 66% raw (68% after calibration)).
  • BTRW.LBarratt Redrow plcDropped at merge
    Scout: Up 8% over 30 days with continued 5-day gains, reflecting renewed strength in housebuilders on rate-cut expectations.
    Only Aria selected this stock — single-agent picks require Very High confidence and at least 70% probability (this pick: Medium, 60% raw (68% after calibration)).
  • PSN.LPersimmon PlcAlready held
    Scout: Up over 6% in a month and accelerating in the past week, tracking the housebuilder recovery theme.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-18 runs until 2026-09-17 (17 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • RR.LRolls-Royce Holdings plcAlready held
    Scout: Up nearly 8% over 30 days and within 3.5% of its 52-week high, continuing its multi-quarter turnaround momentum.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-17 runs until 2026-09-16 (16 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • MRO.LMelrose Industries PLCPicked #1
    Scout: Momentum is accelerating sharply — up 9.5% in just the last 5 days versus 8.4% over 30 days — suggesting a fresh breakout in progress.
    Made the final report at #1.
  • IMI.LIMI plcPicked #2
    Scout: Up over 4.6% in the past month and within 2% of its 52-week high, showing steady industrial-sector strength.
    Made the final report at #2.
  • HLMA.LHalma plcDropped at merge
    Scout: Positive across both the 5-day and 30-day windows with accelerating short-term momentum in a defensive-growth industrial name.
    Average probability across the 2 agent(s) that selected it was 58% raw (48% after calibration), below the 52% minimum to qualify.
  • SGE.LThe Sage Group plcAlready held
    Scout: Up over 16% in 30 days on strong volume, one of the best-performing software names in the index.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-19 runs until 2026-09-18 (18 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • CCC.LComputacenter plcLiquidity filter
    Scout: Up nearly 18% over 30 days with an 11.5% surge in just the last 5 days, trading almost at its 52-week high — the strongest acceleration in the index.
    20-day average daily volume 244,091 shares is below the 500,000-share liquidity floor.
  • SMT.LScottish Mortgage Investment TrustAlready held
    Scout: Up 12.6% over 30 days and continuing to climb, within 4.5% of its 52-week high as growth-equity sentiment improves.
    Already held: a position opened 2026-08-19 runs until 2026-09-18 (18 day(s) left). Re-picking it would concentrate the portfolio, not diversify it.
  • CRDA.LCroda International PlcLiquidity filter
    Scout: Up 9.5% over the month and within 2% of its 52-week high, indicating a durable rebound in specialty chemicals.
    20-day average daily volume 482,756 shares is below the 500,000-share liquidity floor.
  • LSEG.LLondon Stock Exchange Group plcDropped at merge
    Scout: Despite a flat 30-day return, the stock has surged 4.6% in just the last 5 days, suggesting fresh buying interest and a possible trend reversal.
    Average probability across the 3 agent(s) that selected it was 57% raw (48% after calibration), below the 52% minimum to qualify.
  • MTLN.LMetlen Energy & Metals PLCLiquidity filter
    Scout: Up over 10% in 30 days and continuing to gain in the past week, benefiting from strength in energy and metals markets.
    20-day average daily volume 121,685 shares is below the 500,000-share liquidity floor.

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.