AI Stock Picks Today – July 29, 2026 | Top AI-Selected Stocks & Investment Analysis


TS2 TECH • DAILY MODEL PORTFOLIO

Stocks to Buy Today

Five U.S.-listed stocks were picked during Wednesday’s session. Each has just reported earnings, provided guidance, and still trades at a price that offers potential for a gradual entry. The list omits stocks with large opening gaps and steers clear of new positions ahead of Microsoft’s and Meta’s reports tonight.

U.S. market stance
Selective • post-Fed
Market snapshot • prices around 14:28 ET
S&P 500 proxy
-0.53%
Nasdaq 100 proxy
-0.59%
Dow proxy
-1.53%
U.S. oil proxy
+6.75%

The Federal Reserve left its target range unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%, with three policymakers favoring a 25 basis point hike. Oil prices surged, and major tech companies are set to report earnings after the close, suggesting the initial purchase should be smaller than the final target allocation.

#1 • BEST EARNINGS REVISION
24% target weight

AerCap

NYSE: AER

BUY IN STAGES

Model score
95 / 100
MEDIUM-HIGH RISK

AerCap has lifted its 2026 adjusted earnings outlook to roughly $16.80 per share from around $14.50. Shares are down today and currently value the company at approximately nine times the revised guidance. Aircraft supply remains constrained, lease revenue is increasing, and the company continues its share buyback program. Gains from asset sales contributed to the quarter’s results, so position sizing should still take into account AerCap’s leverage and exposure to the airline sector.

Reference price
$150.85
-2.1% today • 14:27 ET
2026 adjusted P/E
9.0×
Using company guidance
Price to book
1.27×
Book value $119.21 per share

Latest confirmed results

Total revenue and other income reached $2.167 billion, up 15%. Adjusted earnings per share were $5.14, ahead of the $4.00 forecast. Adjusted return on equity stood at 18%, while operating cash flow totaled $1.5 billion.

Company forecast

Adjusted EPS for 2026 is now projected at approximately $16.80, up 15.9% from around $14.50. Adjusted net income is forecast at about $2.6 billion. The outlook does not factor in any asset-sale gains for the second half.

Forecast check

Adjusted EPS for the quarter topped expectations by 28.5%. The company bought back $691 million in shares during Q2, and its adjusted debt-to-equity ratio stands at 2.05 times.

Model entry plan

Target entry range is $148 to $152. Initiate 40% of your planned position within this zone. Consider adding if the price falls below $147 or after a stable close. Avoid buying above $156.50.

Main risk: Airline credit, aircraft values and funding costs can change quickly. The annual forecast includes first-half gains on asset sales.

#2 • BEST INDUSTRIAL PULLBACK
22% target weight

Xylem

NYSE: XYL

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Model score
93 / 100
MEDIUM RISK

Xylem reported $3.1 billion in orders, outpacing quarterly revenue. Adjusted profit and margins rose, prompting management to lift its annual EPS outlook. Shares slipped over 2% today, providing a clearer entry point into water spending across municipal, power, semiconductor, and data center sectors.

Reference price
$122.26
-2.2% today • 14:28 ET
2026 adjusted P/E
21.7×
Using guidance midpoint
Orders to sales
1.33×
$3.1bn orders / $2.336bn revenue

Latest confirmed results

Revenue reached $2.336 billion, up 2%. Adjusted EPS rose 16% to $1.46. Adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 150 basis points to 23.3%. Reported orders jumped 42%.

Company forecast

The company expects 2026 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion, with adjusted EPS guidance raised to a range of $5.55 to $5.70, up from the previous $5.35 to $5.60. Free cash flow margin is projected between 10.2% and 11.0%.

Forecast check

Adjusted EPS surpassed consensus by 9.0%, with the guidance midpoint up 2.7%. The company now expects its annual adjusted EBITDA margin to range between 23.1% and 23.5%.

Model entry plan

Target entry between $120.50 and $123; consider an initial position with one-third allocation. Add more around $119 if prices dip. Avoid buying if shares rebound above $126.

Main risk: Revenue is growing slowly and the reported sales forecast softened. Large orders can take several quarters to convert.

#3 • BACKLOG AND CASH FLOW
20% target weight

General Dynamics

NYSE: GD

ACCUMULATE

Model score
91 / 100
MEDIUM RISK

General Dynamics surpassed expectations for revenue and earnings, lifting its full-year guidance and closing the quarter with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.4. Gulfstream deliveries and submarine production saw gains. After an early rise, the stock pulled back, offering a more attractive entry point than the opening price.

Reference price
$388.40
-1.2% today • 14:28 ET
2026 adjusted P/E
23.0×
Using guidance midpoint
Book to bill
1.4×
Total estimated contract value $186.9bn

Latest confirmed results

Revenue rose 8.1% to $14.09 billion. Earnings per share came in at $4.24, beating the expected $3.97. Operating earnings totaled $1.5 billion, with operating cash flow reaching $1.9 billion.

Company forecast

The company now forecasts 2026 EPS between $16.80 and $16.90, up from its previous range of $16.45 to $16.55. It expects annual revenue to total around $55.7 billion, with aerospace revenue projected at about $13.8 billion.

Forecast check

Quarterly EPS topped expectations by 6.8%, with revenue coming in 4.1% above forecasts. The midpoint for annual EPS guidance increased by 2.1%.

Model entry plan

Target entry is $386-$391, with two initial tranches. Reserve the final tranche for a dip below $382 or in the following session. Avoid buying above $398.

Main risk: Submarine schedules, labor availability and supplier delays remain important. Business-jet demand can also slow from current levels.

#4 • QUALITY CASH ENGINE
18% target weight

Visa

NYSE: V

BUY WITH LIMITS

Model score
88 / 100
MEDIUM-LOW RISK

Visa posted double-digit gains in revenue, payment volume, cross-border activity, and processed transactions. Serving as the portfolio’s low-volatility anchor, the stock is trading higher today. Given its elevated valuation, the model assigns a smaller weight and maintains a strict entry ceiling.

Reference price
$369.32
+0.7% today • 14:28 ET
FY2026 forward P/E
28.0×
Using current EPS consensus
FY2027 EPS growth
+13.6%
Current analyst consensus

Latest confirmed results

Net revenue rose 14% to $11.63 billion. Adjusted EPS came in at $3.32, just above the $3.23 analysts expected. Payment volume increased 10%, while cross-border volume climbed 13%.

Company forecast

Full-year revenue is expected to rise at the lower end of the low teens, with EPS growth at the lower end of the mid teens. Fourth-quarter revenue growth is projected to hit the higher end of the low double digits.

Forecast check

Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter topped estimates by 2.8%. Processed transactions rose 10%, with quarterly payment volume exceeding $4 trillion.

Model entry plan

Target buying between $362 and $369 with a limit order. Consider adding shares below $358 if overall market declines. Avoid new buys above $374.

Main risk: Operating expenses rose 19% and the planned workforce reduction carries execution risk. Regulation and payment competition remain long-term concerns.

#5 • RECORD ORDER BOOK
16% target weight

IDEX

NYSE: IEX

TACTICAL BUY

Model score
85 / 100
MEDIUM-HIGH RISK

IDEX reported record sales and adjusted EPS, along with more than $1 billion in orders. The company also raised its guidance for annual organic growth and profit. Shares are already up 3.6%, so the initial buy is limited. A drop toward the day’s lower range would make for a better entry.

Reference price
$232.69
+3.6% today • 14:28 ET
2026 adjusted P/E
26.5×
Using guidance midpoint
Orders to sales
1.16×
$1.072bn orders / $920.6m sales

Latest confirmed results

Sales reached $920.6 million, up 6%. Adjusted EPS rose 12% to $2.32. Reported orders climbed 29%. Free cash flow totaled $177 million, with cash conversion at 103%.

Company forecast

For 2026, organic sales growth is now projected at 5% to 6%, up from a previous range of 3% to 4%. The company also raised its adjusted EPS outlook to $8.70 to $8.85, compared to the earlier estimate of $8.35 to $8.55. Third-quarter EPS is expected at $2.20 to $2.25.

Forecast check

Adjusted EPS for the quarter topped consensus by 10.0%. The midpoint of annual guidance is 3.4% higher than the current consensus. Adjusted EBITDA margin stands at 28.1%.

Model entry plan

Target entry range is $228-$233. Start with half the usual initial position since shares have already advanced. Avoid buying above $240.

Main risk: The multiple is above the portfolio average. Some industrial markets remain cyclical, and tariff refunds helped quarterly cash flow.

Target portfolio structure
Aircraft leasing
24%
Water infrastructure
22%
Defense & aerospace
20%
Payments network
18%
Industrial components
16%

How the ranking is built
Earnings and forecast revision30%
Valuation against company guidance25%
Cash flow, orders and backlog20%
Current entry quality15%
Balance sheet and event risk10%

Forecast note

Share prices and daily movements reflect intraday data. Forward P/E for AerCap, Xylem, General Dynamics, and IDEX is based on the midpoint of company guidance. Visa uses current analyst EPS consensus for fiscal year 2026. Adjusted figures are non-GAAP where indicated.

Build each position in three trades. Keep cash for the next session.

Begin by taking roughly 40% of the planned position, add another 30% if the stock pulls back, and complete the final 30% after tonight’s major technology earnings or following a steady close. IDEX requires a smaller initial buy since it has already gained over 3%.

Good reports, poor entry prices
Garmin
NYSE: GRMN

DO NOT CHASE +18.1%

Adjusted EPS was $2.81, and full-year EPS guidance increased to around $10. The results were solid, but the valuation gap remains too wide to warrant a prudent new entry.

Ford
NYSE: F

WAIT FOR A LOWER ENTRY

Ford lifted its adjusted EBIT forecast to $10 billion–$11 billion and raised its free cash flow outlook to $6 billion–$7 billion. Shares have climbed roughly 3.7% and continue to show strong cyclical behavior.

Vertiv
NYSE: VRT

WAIT FOR PRICE STABILITY

Annual profit and cash flow outlooks have been raised, yet the stock has fallen roughly 17% following a revenue shortfall. Investors may want to wait for a steadier foundation before buying in.

Portfolio heat
6.9 / 10

Elevated. While these companies benefit from recent operational support, broader market direction could hinge on oil prices, the Fed decision, and tonight’s tech earnings.

Market risk check

The Fed kept interest rates steady, though three policymakers favored a hike. Oil prices have climbed roughly 6.8%, while the Dow is down about 1.6%. Microsoft and Meta are set to report earnings after the bell. Consider using limit orders and keep the final tranche unallocated.

TS2 DAILY MODEL PORTFOLIO
100% target allocation

This is an editorial model portfolio and does not constitute personalized investment advice. Prices, company forecasts, and analyst estimates may change before an order is executed.