I requested ChatGPT if I should purchase Aviva, Diageo or BAE Methods inventory and it stated…

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Within the month of March 2026, the three hottest FTSE 100 shares on The motley Idiot UK had been Aviva (LSE: AV), Diageo (LSE: DGE) and BAE Methods (LSE: BA.). The metric I’m utilizing for ‘popular’ right here is periods, that’s, the variety of occasions an article has been opened. So primarily, people are clicking on this website to examine these three greater than another Footsie shares.

I used to be curious to see which of the three ChatGPT favored the look of – and whether or not I agreed or disagreed with its alternative. Listed here are the outcomes.

Query: “Which stock should I buy: Aviva, Diageo or BAE Systems?”

Earlier than having a look on the reply, I ought to point out that utilizing ChatGPT is extra for enjoyable than the rest. It’s not a monetary advisor and shouldn’t be relied on as one. Additionally, I’ve needed to make the considerably time-consuming job of checking all the small print within the following desk so there aren’t any hallucinations as it will possibly provide you with some howlers.

With that out of the way in which, let’s have a look!

🛡️ BAE Methods — Greatest for development

+ momentum

🥃 Diageo — Turnaround / worth play🏦 Aviva — Revenue / regular dividendRobust earnings: revenue up ~12% and

file order backlog (£83bn)

Going through weak demand and steering

cuts, particularly within the US

Insurance coverage = usually steady

money circulate + dividends

Benefiting from a world surge in

defence spending (Ukraine, NATO

budgets, and so forth)

Dividend reduce + falling gross sales →

investor confidence hit

Much less thrilling development than

defence

Analysts broadly price it a “moderate

buy”

with upside targets within the £20+

vary

Some see it as undervalued after

a giant drop

Advantages from larger curiosity

charges (improves returns on investments)

Shares already up strongly in 2026

and close to highs

What’s its primary decide? BAE Methods – ChatGPT reckons it’s the very best total package deal.

The shares

For my cash, I can see why there’s a lot consideration on Diageo nowadays. It’s a fantastic firm with nice manufacturers and the share value is down 67%. If there’s a inventory that’s going to have individuals say ‘of course that was a time to buy the dip‘ in a few years’ time then this very properly may very well be it.

The opposite facet of the coin is that we’re very a lot in uncharted territory relating to altering shopper habits. Possibly individuals are going to show off alcohol the identical approach they did for cigarettes. That’s the concern, anyway.

The explanations Aviva is a well-liked inventory these days is nearly the other. The share value has been on a terrific run – shareholders might have tripled a stake since 2020. It’s additionally paying among the highest dividends on the FTSE 100. What’s to not love?

Valuation may be one downside. The worth-to-earnings ratio of 24 is excessive for the sector. People don’t are inclined to look in direction of insurers for shares with excessive expectations of development for the long run.

Value it?

As for the final alternative, BAE Methods has been a preferred inventory on this web site for years, and I’m not shocked. Defence manufacturing is one space the place Britain remains to be world-class, and the large shifts in authorities spending have given the agency a file order backlog that has simply elevated previous the £80bn mark.

It’s been a wierd interval for geopolitics, in equity. If a extra peaceable few years are coming (as I’m certain we’re all hoping for) then this might affect the inventory negatively. And it have to be stated, that’s an moral cause some could want to steer clear too.

As for my very own alternative, I really personal all three already. And within the case of BAE Methods, the inventory has grown to a big sufficient a part of my portfolio that I’m not fascinated by shopping for extra to turn out to be overexposed. To a brand new investor although? I believe it’s value contemplating.