Picture supply: Getty Photographs
For a few of us, ChatGPT has already turn into a vital instrument for navigating each day life. However how useful is it when attempting to slender down one of the best FTSE shares to ponder shopping for for 2026?
I ran a bit experiment to seek out out.
The bot’s prime 5
The AI bot’s response was a smattering of the UK’s largest and best-known firms:
- AstraZeneca
- Nationwide Grid
- Barclays
- Aviva
- Rolls-Royce
Every of the above has loved wonderful positive aspects in 2025. Even the ‘worst’ performer — energy supplier Nationwide Grid — nonetheless rewarded holders with a 19% acquire (as I kind on 30 December). That’s on par with the index itself.
And let’s not overlook that the entire above can have additionally distributed dividends over this era.
FTSE shining star
The inclusion of Rolls-Royce wasn’t precisely stunning. Buyers loved one other marvellous 12 months with the share worth nearly doubling.
Even so, this has left the inventory at a punchy valuation of 35 instances forecast FY26 earnings, implying that a whole lot of excellent news is already priced in. A ceasefire in Ukraine may see short-term merchants soar ship.
So, is that this the place the music stops?
Presumably not. There’s nonetheless lots to love right here. Demand for air journey continues to be strong, boosting gross sales of engines (and the profitable upkeep contracts that include them). No matter what occurs subsequent in Japanese Europe, geopolitical jitters and better defence spending by nations gained’t go away in a single day both.
Oh, and the steadiness sheet seems an terrible lot extra sturdy than it as soon as did.
Put merely, a inventory can preserve rising even when it already seems costly.
Not so quick
However as attention-grabbing as ChatGPT’s choice is, there are some things that hassle me.
The bot solely went for firms from the FTSE 100. That’s not unsuitable in itself. However it does imply that plenty of different high-quality companies from decrease down the FTSE meals chain have been ignored. They usually may get pleasure from sensible/higher positive aspects subsequent 12 months given ample boosts.
Second, Barclays and Aviva each sit within the Financials sector. Positive, share costs may fall en masse within the occasion of an financial disaster. However spreading danger across the market is smart. So, there might be extra diversification right here.
Final, there have been no turnaround or contrarian performs. In different phrases, the bot appeared drawn to shares displaying optimistic momentum. And but it’s usually the case that probably the most hated in a single 12 months are most in demand the following.
Warning suggested
To be honest, ChatGPT is as handicapped as we’re in the case of inventory selecting. Nobody actually is aware of what is going to occur subsequent 12 months. Curiously, it’s the long-term outlook we could be extra assured about.
I additionally solely requested for 5 recommendations. Realistically, an investor could be courageous to limit their portfolio to such a quantity, particularly if producing passive revenue — which may by no means be assured — have been the purpose.
However these caveats (and my earlier issues) are precisely why I believe ChatGPT ought to be used with warning (if in any respect). At greatest, the bot may get fortunate. At worst, it may trigger monetary ache, particularly because it has no concept how the individual prompting it’d behave within the occasion of a market crash.
No matter occurs in 2026, I gained’t be delegating necessary choices to AI.
Picture supply: Getty Photographs
For a few of us, ChatGPT has already turn into a vital instrument for navigating each day life. However how useful is it when attempting to slender down one of the best FTSE shares to ponder shopping for for 2026?
I ran a bit experiment to seek out out.
The bot’s prime 5
The AI bot’s response was a smattering of the UK’s largest and best-known firms:
- AstraZeneca
- Nationwide Grid
- Barclays
- Aviva
- Rolls-Royce
Every of the above has loved wonderful positive aspects in 2025. Even the ‘worst’ performer — energy supplier Nationwide Grid — nonetheless rewarded holders with a 19% acquire (as I kind on 30 December). That’s on par with the index itself.
And let’s not overlook that the entire above can have additionally distributed dividends over this era.
FTSE shining star
The inclusion of Rolls-Royce wasn’t precisely stunning. Buyers loved one other marvellous 12 months with the share worth nearly doubling.
Even so, this has left the inventory at a punchy valuation of 35 instances forecast FY26 earnings, implying that a whole lot of excellent news is already priced in. A ceasefire in Ukraine may see short-term merchants soar ship.
So, is that this the place the music stops?
Presumably not. There’s nonetheless lots to love right here. Demand for air journey continues to be strong, boosting gross sales of engines (and the profitable upkeep contracts that include them). No matter what occurs subsequent in Japanese Europe, geopolitical jitters and better defence spending by nations gained’t go away in a single day both.
Oh, and the steadiness sheet seems an terrible lot extra sturdy than it as soon as did.
Put merely, a inventory can preserve rising even when it already seems costly.
Not so quick
However as attention-grabbing as ChatGPT’s choice is, there are some things that hassle me.
The bot solely went for firms from the FTSE 100. That’s not unsuitable in itself. However it does imply that plenty of different high-quality companies from decrease down the FTSE meals chain have been ignored. They usually may get pleasure from sensible/higher positive aspects subsequent 12 months given ample boosts.
Second, Barclays and Aviva each sit within the Financials sector. Positive, share costs may fall en masse within the occasion of an financial disaster. However spreading danger across the market is smart. So, there might be extra diversification right here.
Final, there have been no turnaround or contrarian performs. In different phrases, the bot appeared drawn to shares displaying optimistic momentum. And but it’s usually the case that probably the most hated in a single 12 months are most in demand the following.
Warning suggested
To be honest, ChatGPT is as handicapped as we’re in the case of inventory selecting. Nobody actually is aware of what is going to occur subsequent 12 months. Curiously, it’s the long-term outlook we could be extra assured about.
I additionally solely requested for 5 recommendations. Realistically, an investor could be courageous to limit their portfolio to such a quantity, particularly if producing passive revenue — which may by no means be assured — have been the purpose.
However these caveats (and my earlier issues) are precisely why I believe ChatGPT ought to be used with warning (if in any respect). At greatest, the bot may get fortunate. At worst, it may trigger monetary ache, particularly because it has no concept how the individual prompting it’d behave within the occasion of a market crash.
No matter occurs in 2026, I gained’t be delegating necessary choices to AI.
