Argus is hosting a five-part webinar series on Artificial Intelligence (AI), examining how this dynamic force will have an impact across the investing universe. Our team of analysts will identify companies we see as leaders or innovators in this evolving space. The series started on February 4 with a look at how AI is playing out in its dominant sector: Information Technology. Argus Analysts Jim Kelleher, CFA, and Joe Bonner, CFA, broke down the impact of AI on multiple industries within Information Technology. In subsequent webinars, we will examine the impact of AI on the Healthcare (March 4), Consumer (April 1), Financial (May 6), and Industrial/Energy (June 3) sectors. For our list this week, we present stocks that were featured in our initial webinar on IT, all of which are rated BUY at Argus.

This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

Looking at the global stock market, the U.S. has been the place to be for years, if not decades. It's very rare to hear an analyst recommending markets in Canada, Europe, Japan, China, Asia, Russia, South America, Latin America, etc., when all the alpha is available in the U.S. While we have seen some nice absolute returns in overseas equity markets, relative strength has remained in the U.S. Indeed, the S&P 500 has consistently outperformed the emerging markets ETF (EEM) since (drum roll please) 2010. But the EEM has caught our attention, as there now is some possibility of a trend change -- this as the peak in S&P 500 relative strength versus the EEM occurred in January 2025. While there have been some past periods of EEM outperformance, they were without any longer-term staying power. So perspective is always needed when undertaking this type of analysis, as EEM soared from April 2003 until October 2007 by an incredible 430%, destroying the almost-100% rally in the S&P 500. The parabolic EEM move stole a lot of future returns, as the ETF was at the same level in February 2024 as it was at its 2007 peak. The EEM really started popping after its April 2025 closing low at $37.60, surging to an all-time high in September. The advance hit $55 on October 29 before tracing out a bullish flag and then breaking out again on January 2. The entire rally has featured above-average volume, a bullish sign of institutional accumulation. The run also happened during a period of a flattish U.S. Dollar Index. Historically, EEM does its best when there is dollar weakness. (Mark Arbeter, CMT)

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.