Jefferies updates its list of highest-conviction Buy-rated stocks

Jefferies updated its Franchise Picks list of highest-conviction Buy-rated stocks, shifting toward U.S. equities tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure, digital advertising, healthcare, and selective consumer value opportunities. New positions were added in Amazon, AppLovin, and Credo Technology. Additional additions included McDonald’s, Thermo Fisher, American Healthcare REIT, and Ovintiv. Broadcom and Nike were removed, along with American International Group. The updated lineup emphasized AI-driven infrastructure and monetization themes, plus defensive and steady-growth exposure in healthcare and consumer staples. Amazon was highlighted for early-stage reacceleration in AWS as new capacity comes online and AI partnerships strengthen revenue visibility. AppLovin was added for mobile gaming advertising and expanding direct-to-consumer e-commerce exposure. Credo was added based on expectations for increased adoption of active electrical cable technology. McDonald’s was included for the McValue platform’s potential to support same-store sales and defend market share. RadNet was cited for rising outpatient imaging demand across PET, MRI, and CT procedures.

"Jefferies, an investment banking and capital management firm, has updated its 'Franchise Picks' list, which features the company's highest-conviction 'Buy' rated stocks. The reshuffling shows a clear preference for U.S. equities with ties to artificial intelligence ( AI) infrastructure, digital advertising, healthcare, and selective consumer value opportunities. Most notably, the research team added new positions in Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP), and Credo Technology (NASDAQ: CRDO)."

"At the same time, the firm removed some rather notable names from the list, including American International Group (NYSE: AIG), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), and Nike(NYSE: NSE). Elaboration on the updates, Jefferies said the new lineup is indeed a step further toward AI-driven infrastructure and monetization themes, alongside defensive and steady-growth exposure in healthcare and consumer staples."

"The bank highlighted Amazon as benefiting from early-stage reacceleration in Amazon Web Services (AWS), as new capacity comes online and AI partnerships strengthen long-term revenue visibility. Similarly, AppLovin was added for its position in mobile gaming advertising and expanding direct-to-consumer e-commerce exposure, while Credo made the cut on expectations of increased adoption of active electrical cable technology."

"On the consumer side, McDonald's illustrates the company's hope that McValue platform can support same-store sales and help defend market share, even amid subdued near-term expectations. In healthcare, RadNet (NASDAQ: RDNT) was cited for rising outpatient imaging demand, including growth in PET, MRI, and CT procedures. At the same time, Thermo Fisher was added on expectations of an earnings inflection tied to improving b"

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