Stock Selection: DeepSeek's picks for 2026-10-15
DeepSeek picked WMT, ERIC, KMX, CROX, REGN for a 1-day horizon. Portfolio return vs SPY: +1.20%. Picks that beat SPY: 40%.
| Experiment | Stock Selection |
|---|---|
| Model | DeepSeek |
| Prompt version | stock-selection-v8 |
| Asked | |
| Horizon | 1-day |
| Measured from | 2026-10-15 |
| Measured to | 2026-10-16 |
| Benchmark | SPY |
| Status | Settled |
| Portfolio return vs SPY | +1.20% |
| Picks that beat SPY | 40% |
| Benchmark return | -0.17% |
The picks
| Rank | Symbol | Return | Confidence | vs benchmark | Called right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WMT | -0.19% | 75% | -0.01% | No |
| 2 | ERIC | +2.67% | 72% | +2.84% | Yes |
| 3 | KMX | +3.91% | 68% | +4.08% | Yes |
| 4 | CROX | -0.31% | 65% | -0.14% | No |
| 5 | REGN | -0.95% | 70% | -0.78% | No |
The model's market view
US equities are under pressure from a hot CPI print and a deepening tech selloff, with the Nasdaq down sharply. Defensive names and stocks with fresh, company-specific catalysts are best positioned to outperform SPY over the next session. I favor Walmart on a major upgrade, Ericsson on a strong earnings beat, CarMax on a double-upgrade, Crocs on a valuation-based upgrade, and Regeneron on a high-conviction upgrade from UBS.
Why each pick
WMT
Deutsche Bank upgraded Walmart to Buy from Hold with a $136 price target (up from $113) on October 15, 2026, citing a more favorable setup into 2027. The stock is trading higher by about 2.8% premarket at $119.40, and the upgrade is fresh and not yet fully reflected. Walmart is a defensive consumer staple that should benefit from rotation out of tech. Risks include a broad market selloff dragging it lower, and the premarket gain already pricing in part of the upgrade. Latest price: $119.40 premarket, October 15, 2026, from Benzinga.
ERIC
Ericsson reported Q3 earnings that beat on both EPS and revenue, sending the ADR up 10.9% in premarket to $10.62. The strong beat is a clear positive catalyst and the stock is likely to continue higher as the market digests the results. Risks include profit-taking after the premarket surge and broad tech weakness. Latest price: $10.62 premarket, October 15, 2026, from Benzinga.
KMX
BofA upgraded CarMax to Buy from Underperform with a $65 price target (up from $50) on October 15, 2026, citing improved price competitiveness and a strategic update on November 3 as a near-term catalyst. The stock is up about 3.2% premarket at $51.60. The double-upgrade from underperform is a strong signal and the stock has room to run. Risks include a weak consumer environment and the premarket move already capturing part of the upgrade. Latest price: $51.60 premarket, October 15, 2026, from TipRanks.
CROX
Barclays upgraded Crocs to Overweight from Equal Weight with a $139 price target (up from $118) on October 15, 2026, citing greater visibility into the company's multi-year growth story. The stock is up about 2.5% premarket at $120.50. The upgrade is fresh and the valuation remains attractive. Risks include consumer discretionary weakness and the stock already having run up recently. Latest price: $120.50 premarket, October 15, 2026, from TipRanks.
REGN
UBS upgraded Regeneron to Buy from Neutral with a $978 price target (up from $660) on October 15, 2026, calling the company an R&D engine with several blockbusters. The stock is up about 1.2% premarket at $787.79. The high-conviction upgrade from a major bank is a strong catalyst and the biotech sector is defensive in a tech selloff. Risks include the premarket move already pricing in the upgrade and broader market weakness. Latest price: $787.79 premarket, October 15, 2026, from Kraken.
Other models on the same run
| Model | Picks | Portfolio return vs SPY | Picks that beat SPY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muse Spark 1.1 | KMX, ZION, ALB, DELL, TT | +1.36% | 60% |
| Perplexity | WMT, LMT, EAT, TT, KMX | +1.82% | 60% |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | NEM, GLD, WMT, MRNA, BAC | -0.78% | 60% |
| Grok 4.5 | WMT, CROX, PAG, ERIC, TRU | +1.03% | 60% |
| GPT-6 | WMT, PG, MRSH, GLD, NKE | +0.30% | 60% |
Written up on ForecastNest Insights: Stock Selection: DeepSeek's picks for 2026-10-15.
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