Barron's Picks And Pans: Arista, Kroger, SeaWorld, Valeant And More

• This weekend's Barron's cover story looks at why the buyback boom is bullish for investors.
• Other featured articles offer a dozen elite dividend picks and ask whether a robot can build the perfect portfolio.
• Also, the prospects for a supermarket operator, a networking specialist and a theme park operator.

"Why the Buyback Boom Is Bullish for Investors" by Andrew Bary suggests that big corporations such as Apple Inc. AAPL and JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM have gone on a spending spree, repurchasing their shares in record amounts. Will others, such as Alphabet Inc GOOGL, follow suit?

Jack Hough's "Kroger: A Supermarket Stock on Sale" points out that as some rivals fall, big grocer Kroger Co KR should gain market share and improve its operating results. In other words, Barron's says it doesn't have to outrun the bear (i.e., Amazon and Walmart), it just has to run faster than the other hikers (its peers).

In "12 Elite Dividend Stocks," Lawrence C. Strauss reveals 12 standouts that Barron's culled from the famed Dividend Aristocrats. AT&T Inc. T, Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM and the rest all have nice yields with a record of increases for at least 25 years, but investors should beware, says the article: There's a catch.

This networking specialist run by former Cisco managers is about to take on its former employer in the corporate market, according to "Arista Takes Aim at Cisco" by Tiernan Ray. Can Arista Networks Inc ANET succeed? See why Barron's thinks its success or failure could determine whether its pricey shares can continue to rise.

See Also: A 'Layer Of Protection' From Amazon Is A Dividing Line In Retail

In Brett Arends's "SeaWorld Makes a Splash," see why even though shares of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc SEAS have rallied more than 25 percent this year, Barron's doesn't feel that now is the time to jump aboard. Check out the article to see what progress the theme park operator had made and what headwinds it still faces.

"Will Google's Robot Pick Good Stocks?" by Vito J. Racanelli suggests that until robots like Google Assistant can build a perfect portfolio, investors should stick with mundane market indicators. Also, what to expect from the markets this summer and fall, and the prospects for Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc VRX after its name change.

Also in this week's Barron's:

• How rising oil prices will affect the U.S. economy
• A "boot camp" for aspiring hedge fund stars
• Why to short tech and buy India
• Companies with ties to Michael Cohen
• A delayed death cross
• A new wave of China tech giant IPOs
• California and the outlook for the solar industry