Ritholtz Wealth Management CEO Josh Brown is urging investors to maintain positions in three standout stocks through the end of 2026: Interactive Brokers (IBKR), Caterpillar (CAT), and Delta Air Lines (DAL). These names have significantly outpaced the broader market in recent months, and Brown argues that winning positions require no new justification to remain in a portfolio.
Interactive Brokers: Momentum from Record Growth
Interactive Brokers has been a fixture on Brown's list of top market picks since breaking out of a cup-and-handle pattern in mid-2025. Over the trailing 12 months, the electronic brokerage giant has surged approximately 80%. Brown attributes part of this rally to a limited float relative to founder Thomas Peterffy's large stake, which constrains supply amid sustained demand.
The company's first-quarter results reinforce the bullish case. Client accounts grew 31% year-over-year to 4.75 million, client equity rose 38%, and margin loans climbed roughly 40% to $90 billion. Commissions hit a record $613 million, with double-digit annual gains across stock, futures, and options volumes. A modest 0.36% dividend yield adds to the stock's appeal for 2026.
Caterpillar: AI Infrastructure Drives Power Segment
Caterpillar joined Brown's list in April, primarily due to its Power and Energy segment's exposure to the AI infrastructure buildout—a thesis that has only strengthened. In the first quarter, power generation sales soared 48% year-over-year, pushing the order backlog up 79% to record levels. Management responded by raising 2026 revenue guidance and more than tripling its long-term power generation target through the end of the decade.
Despite a 270 basis point tariff impact, Caterpillar's adjusted earnings per share rose 30% in the latest quarter. Notably, a gas engine running continuously for data centers generates about 40 times the lifetime services revenue of a standby diesel unit. The board recently lifted the quarterly dividend to $1.63, extending a 32-year streak. Since early April, the stock has gained nearly 45%. For context on the broader AI-driven energy theme, see our coverage on AI-Driven Power Demand Fuels Nuclear Stocks.
Delta Air Lines: Premium Demand Lifts Results
Brown first shared a constructive view on Delta in December 2025, and the stock has gained over 20% since then. The rebound is fueled by premium and corporate demand: premium revenue grew 14% in Q1, loyalty sales rose 13%, and corporate bookings hit a quarterly record. The main cabin posted its first positive unit revenue growth since late 2024, with domestic and international revenue up 6% and 5%, respectively.
Delta reported a record $14.2 billion in Q1 sales, generating $1.2 billion in free cash flow. The current quarter outlook points to low-teens revenue growth. Like the other picks, Delta shares offer a 1% dividend yield. For more on stocks drawing institutional interest, check out 5 Stocks Drawing Heightened Institutional Interest Ahead of Key Earnings Week.
Brown's strategy emphasizes holding onto proven winners rather than seeking new catalysts. With strong fundamentals and favorable trends across brokerage, industrial, and airline sectors, these three stocks remain central to his long-term outlook.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
