Stock picking can be hugely lucrative, but finding the time to research individual shares presents a challenge for many DIY investors. Even professional wealth managers outsource the legwork to City analysts. 

This valuable research is not typically available to normal investors, but new analysis from the wealth manager Brewin Dolphin has revealed the most highly rated businesses by London’s professional stock pickers. 

We break down the City’s favourite FTSE 100 shares, with a score from zero to 10. The top is equal to a strong “buy” rating, five as a neutral “hold” and zero as a strong “sell”. 

The stocks to buy

At the top of the scoreboard is Hikma Pharmaceuticals, a £4bn global drugs manufacturer. But Brewin Dolphin warned that its share price performance had been disappointing recently, falling 7pc in the past five years. Rob Burgeman, of the wealth manager, was more confident about the runner-up, retailer JD Sports. 

“It continues to hold a lofty position near the top, despite seeing its shares drop by around one-third since the start of 2022,” Mr Burgemansaid. “Like other growth-oriented stocks, JD Sports has been hit hard by investors switching to ‘value’ companies with concerns over inflation and future interest rate rises. But the company performed very well during the pandemic.”