diff --git a/lib/logstorage/parser_test.go b/lib/logstorage/parser_test.go
index 06d289151..72cdaf667 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/parser_test.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/parser_test.go
@@ -834,47 +834,63 @@ func TestParseQuerySuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	f(`foo | skip 10 | skip 100`, `foo | skip 10 | skip 100`)
 
 	// stats pipe count
-	f(`* | Stats count() AS foo`, `* | stats count() as foo`)
 	f(`* | STATS bY (foo, b.a/r, "b az") count(*) XYz`, `* | stats by (foo, "b.a/r", "b az") count(*) as XYz`)
 	f(`* | stats by() COUNT(x, 'a).b,c|d') as qwert`, `* | stats count(x, "a).b,c|d") as qwert`)
+	f(`* | stats count() x`, `* | stats count(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats count(*) x`, `* | stats count(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats count(foo,*,bar) x`, `* | stats count(*) as x`)
 
 	// stats pipe sum
 	f(`* | stats Sum(foo) bar`, `* | stats sum(foo) as bar`)
 	f(`* | stats BY(x, y, ) SUM(foo,bar,) bar`, `* | stats by (x, y) sum(foo, bar) as bar`)
+	f(`* | stats sum() x`, `* | stats sum(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats sum(*) x`, `* | stats sum(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats sum(foo,*,bar) x`, `* | stats sum(*) as x`)
 
 	// stats pipe max
 	f(`* | stats Max(foo) bar`, `* | stats max(foo) as bar`)
 	f(`* | stats BY(x, y, ) MAX(foo,bar,) bar`, `* | stats by (x, y) max(foo, bar) as bar`)
+	f(`* | stats max() x`, `* | stats max(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats max(*) x`, `* | stats max(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats max(foo,*,bar) x`, `* | stats max(*) as x`)
 
 	// stats pipe min
 	f(`* | stats Min(foo) bar`, `* | stats min(foo) as bar`)
 	f(`* | stats BY(x, y, ) MIN(foo,bar,) bar`, `* | stats by (x, y) min(foo, bar) as bar`)
+	f(`* | stats min() x`, `* | stats min(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats min(*) x`, `* | stats min(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats min(foo,*,bar) x`, `* | stats min(*) as x`)
 
 	// stats pipe avg
 	f(`* | stats Avg(foo) bar`, `* | stats avg(foo) as bar`)
 	f(`* | stats BY(x, y, ) AVG(foo,bar,) bar`, `* | stats by (x, y) avg(foo, bar) as bar`)
+	f(`* | stats avg() x`, `* | stats avg(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats avg(*) x`, `* | stats avg(*) as x`)
+	f(`* | stats avg(foo,*,bar) x`, `* | stats avg(*) as x`)
 
 	// stats pipe uniq
 	f(`* | stats uniq(foo) bar`, `* | stats uniq(foo) as bar`)
 	f(`* | stats by(x, y) uniq(foo,bar) as baz`, `* | stats by (x, y) uniq(foo, bar) as baz`)
 	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq(*) z`, `* | stats by (x) uniq(*) as z`)
-	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq() z`, `* | stats by (x) uniq() as z`)
+	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq() z`, `* | stats by (x) uniq(*) as z`)
+	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq(a,*,b) z`, `* | stats by (x) uniq(*) as z`)
 
 	// stats pipe uniq_array
 	f(`* | stats uniq_array(foo) bar`, `* | stats uniq_array(foo) as bar`)
 	f(`* | stats by(x, y) uniq_array(foo, bar) as baz`, `* | stats by (x, y) uniq_array(foo, bar) as baz`)
 	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq_array(*) y`, `* | stats by (x) uniq_array(*) as y`)
-	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq_array() y`, `* | stats by (x) uniq_array() as y`)
+	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq_array() y`, `* | stats by (x) uniq_array(*) as y`)
+	f(`* | stats by(x) uniq_array(a,*,b) y`, `* | stats by (x) uniq_array(*) as y`)
 
 	// stats pipe multiple funcs
-	f(`* | stats count() "foo.bar:baz", uniq(a) bar`, `* | stats count() as "foo.bar:baz", uniq(a) as bar`)
+	f(`* | stats count() "foo.bar:baz", uniq(a) bar`, `* | stats count(*) as "foo.bar:baz", uniq(a) as bar`)
 	f(`* | stats by (x, y) count(*) foo, uniq(a,b) bar`, `* | stats by (x, y) count(*) as foo, uniq(a, b) as bar`)
 
 	// stats pipe with grouping buckets
-	f(`* | stats by(_time:1d, response_size:1_000KiB, request_duration:5s, foo) count() as foo`, `* | stats by (_time:1d, response_size:1_000KiB, request_duration:5s, foo) count() as foo`)
-	f(`*|stats by(client_ip:/24, server_ip:/16) count() foo`, `* | stats by (client_ip:/24, server_ip:/16) count() as foo`)
-	f(`* | stats by(_time:1d offset 2h) count() as foo`, `* | stats by (_time:1d offset 2h) count() as foo`)
-	f(`* | stats by(_time:1d offset -2.5h5m) count() as foo`, `* | stats by (_time:1d offset -2.5h5m) count() as foo`)
+	f(`* | stats by(_time:1d, response_size:1_000KiB, request_duration:5s, foo) count() as foo`, `* | stats by (_time:1d, response_size:1_000KiB, request_duration:5s, foo) count(*) as foo`)
+	f(`*|stats by(client_ip:/24, server_ip:/16) count() foo`, `* | stats by (client_ip:/24, server_ip:/16) count(*) as foo`)
+	f(`* | stats by(_time:1d offset 2h) count() as foo`, `* | stats by (_time:1d offset 2h) count(*) as foo`)
+	f(`* | stats by(_time:1d offset -2.5h5m) count() as foo`, `* | stats by (_time:1d offset -2.5h5m) count(*) as foo`)
 
 	// multiple different pipes
 	f(`* | fields foo, bar | head 100 | stats by(foo,bar) count(baz) as qwert`, `* | fields foo, bar | head 100 | stats by (foo, bar) count(baz) as qwert`)
@@ -1123,22 +1139,18 @@ func TestParseQueryFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	// invalid stats sum
 	f(`foo | stats sum`)
 	f(`foo | stats sum()`)
-	f(`foo | stats sum() as abc`)
 
 	// invalid stats max
 	f(`foo | stats max`)
 	f(`foo | stats max()`)
-	f(`foo | stats max() as abc`)
 
 	// invalid stats min
 	f(`foo | stats min`)
 	f(`foo | stats min()`)
-	f(`foo | stats min() as abc`)
 
 	// invalid stats avg
 	f(`foo | stats avg`)
 	f(`foo | stats avg()`)
-	f(`foo | stats avg() as abc`)
 
 	// invalid stats uniq
 	f(`foo | stats uniq`)
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/pipe_stats.go b/lib/logstorage/pipe_stats.go
index 86a6ee5d0..56d8e418c 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/pipe_stats.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/pipe_stats.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package logstorage
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"unsafe"
@@ -659,7 +660,7 @@ func tryParseBucketSize(s string) (float64, bool) {
 	return 0, false
 }
 
-func parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex *lexer, funcName string) ([]string, error) {
+func parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex *lexer, funcName string) ([]string, error) {
 	if !lex.isKeyword(funcName) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected func; got %q; want %q", lex.token, funcName)
 	}
@@ -668,6 +669,9 @@ func parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex *lexer, funcName string) ([]string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse %q args: %w", funcName, err)
 	}
+	if len(fields) == 0 || slices.Contains(fields, "*") {
+		fields = []string{"*"}
+	}
 	return fields, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/stats_avg.go b/lib/logstorage/stats_avg.go
index edeb2a2a5..517fb6837 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/stats_avg.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/stats_avg.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package logstorage
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
@@ -43,15 +42,14 @@ func (sap *statsAvgProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
 			sap.sum += f
 			sap.count += uint64(count)
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Scan the requested columns
-	for _, field := range sap.sa.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f, count := c.sumValues(br)
-		sap.sum += f
-		sap.count += uint64(count)
+	} else {
+		// Scan the requested columns
+		for _, field := range sap.sa.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f, count := c.sumValues(br)
+			sap.sum += f
+			sap.count += uint64(count)
+		}
 	}
 	return 0
 }
@@ -66,16 +64,15 @@ func (sap *statsAvgProcessor) updateStatsForRow(br *blockResult, rowIdx int) int
 				sap.count++
 			}
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Scan only the given fields for the given row
-	for _, field := range sap.sa.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
-		if !math.IsNaN(f) {
-			sap.sum += f
-			sap.count++
+	} else {
+		// Scan only the given fields for the given row
+		for _, field := range sap.sa.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
+			if !math.IsNaN(f) {
+				sap.sum += f
+				sap.count++
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return 0
@@ -93,13 +90,10 @@ func (sap *statsAvgProcessor) finalizeStats() string {
 }
 
 func parseStatsAvg(lex *lexer) (*statsAvg, error) {
-	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex, "avg")
+	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex, "avg")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if len(fields) == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("'avg' must contain at least one arg")
-	}
 	sa := &statsAvg{
 		fields:       fields,
 		containsStar: slices.Contains(fields, "*"),
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/stats_count.go b/lib/logstorage/stats_count.go
index 81d9ebf0c..c87587a03 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/stats_count.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/stats_count.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ type statsCountProcessor struct {
 
 func (scp *statsCountProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
 	fields := scp.sc.fields
-	if len(fields) == 0 || scp.sc.containsStar {
+	if scp.sc.containsStar {
 		// Fast path - unconditionally count all the columns.
 		scp.rowsCount += uint64(len(br.timestamps))
 		return 0
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func (scp *statsCountProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
 
 func (scp *statsCountProcessor) updateStatsForRow(br *blockResult, rowIdx int) int {
 	fields := scp.sc.fields
-	if len(fields) == 0 || scp.sc.containsStar {
+	if scp.sc.containsStar {
 		// Fast path - unconditionally count the given column
 		scp.rowsCount++
 		return 0
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ func (scp *statsCountProcessor) finalizeStats() string {
 }
 
 func parseStatsCount(lex *lexer) (*statsCount, error) {
-	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex, "count")
+	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex, "count")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/stats_max.go b/lib/logstorage/stats_max.go
index b842810de..bfbd959c2 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/stats_max.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/stats_max.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package logstorage
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
@@ -44,15 +43,14 @@ func (smp *statsMaxProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
 				smp.max = f
 			}
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Find the maximum value across the requested columns
-	for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f := c.getMaxValue(br)
-		if f > smp.max || math.IsNaN(smp.max) {
-			smp.max = f
+	} else {
+		// Find the maximum value across the requested columns
+		for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f := c.getMaxValue(br)
+			if f > smp.max || math.IsNaN(smp.max) {
+				smp.max = f
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return 0
@@ -67,15 +65,14 @@ func (smp *statsMaxProcessor) updateStatsForRow(br *blockResult, rowIdx int) int
 				smp.max = f
 			}
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Find the maximum value across the requested fields for the given row
-	for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
-		if f > smp.max || math.IsNaN(smp.max) {
-			smp.max = f
+	} else {
+		// Find the maximum value across the requested fields for the given row
+		for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
+			if f > smp.max || math.IsNaN(smp.max) {
+				smp.max = f
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return 0
@@ -93,13 +90,10 @@ func (smp *statsMaxProcessor) finalizeStats() string {
 }
 
 func parseStatsMax(lex *lexer) (*statsMax, error) {
-	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex, "max")
+	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex, "max")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if len(fields) == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("'max' must contain at least one arg")
-	}
 	sm := &statsMax{
 		fields:       fields,
 		containsStar: slices.Contains(fields, "*"),
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/stats_min.go b/lib/logstorage/stats_min.go
index e15c47794..5aa20a6d0 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/stats_min.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/stats_min.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package logstorage
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
@@ -44,15 +43,14 @@ func (smp *statsMinProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
 				smp.min = f
 			}
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Find the minimum value across the requested columns
-	for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f := c.getMinValue(br)
-		if f < smp.min || math.IsNaN(smp.min) {
-			smp.min = f
+	} else {
+		// Find the minimum value across the requested columns
+		for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f := c.getMinValue(br)
+			if f < smp.min || math.IsNaN(smp.min) {
+				smp.min = f
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return 0
@@ -67,15 +65,14 @@ func (smp *statsMinProcessor) updateStatsForRow(br *blockResult, rowIdx int) int
 				smp.min = f
 			}
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Find the minimum value across the requested fields for the given row
-	for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
-		if f < smp.min || math.IsNaN(smp.min) {
-			smp.min = f
+	} else {
+		// Find the minimum value across the requested fields for the given row
+		for _, field := range smp.sm.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
+			if f < smp.min || math.IsNaN(smp.min) {
+				smp.min = f
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return 0
@@ -93,13 +90,10 @@ func (smp *statsMinProcessor) finalizeStats() string {
 }
 
 func parseStatsMin(lex *lexer) (*statsMin, error) {
-	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex, "min")
+	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex, "min")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if len(fields) == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("'min' must contain at least one arg")
-	}
 	sm := &statsMin{
 		fields:       fields,
 		containsStar: slices.Contains(fields, "*"),
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/stats_sum.go b/lib/logstorage/stats_sum.go
index 5ed33418a..bdb97cbd5 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/stats_sum.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/stats_sum.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package logstorage
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
@@ -48,18 +47,17 @@ func (ssp *statsSumProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Sum the requested columns
-	for _, field := range ssp.ss.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f, count := c.sumValues(br)
-		if count > 0 {
-			if math.IsNaN(ssp.sum) {
-				ssp.sum = f
-			} else {
-				ssp.sum += f
+	} else {
+		// Sum the requested columns
+		for _, field := range ssp.ss.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f, count := c.sumValues(br)
+			if count > 0 {
+				if math.IsNaN(ssp.sum) {
+					ssp.sum = f
+				} else {
+					ssp.sum += f
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -79,18 +77,17 @@ func (ssp *statsSumProcessor) updateStatsForRow(br *blockResult, rowIdx int) int
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		return 0
-	}
-
-	// Sum only the given fields for the given row
-	for _, field := range ssp.ss.fields {
-		c := br.getColumnByName(field)
-		f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
-		if !math.IsNaN(f) {
-			if math.IsNaN(ssp.sum) {
-				ssp.sum = f
-			} else {
-				ssp.sum += f
+	} else {
+		// Sum only the given fields for the given row
+		for _, field := range ssp.ss.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
+			f := c.getFloatValueAtRow(rowIdx)
+			if !math.IsNaN(f) {
+				if math.IsNaN(ssp.sum) {
+					ssp.sum = f
+				} else {
+					ssp.sum += f
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -107,13 +104,10 @@ func (ssp *statsSumProcessor) finalizeStats() string {
 }
 
 func parseStatsSum(lex *lexer) (*statsSum, error) {
-	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex, "sum")
+	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex, "sum")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if len(fields) == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("'sum' must contain at least one arg")
-	}
 	ss := &statsSum{
 		fields:       fields,
 		containsStar: slices.Contains(fields, "*"),
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq.go b/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq.go
index 36700b8c5..448696c8c 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func (sup *statsUniqProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
 	m := sup.m
 
 	stateSizeIncrease := 0
-	if len(fields) == 0 || sup.su.containsStar {
+	if sup.su.containsStar {
 		// Count unique rows
 		columns := br.getColumns()
 		keyBuf := sup.keyBuf[:0]
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ func (sup *statsUniqProcessor) updateStatsForRow(br *blockResult, rowIdx int) in
 	m := sup.m
 
 	stateSizeIncrease := 0
-	if len(fields) == 0 || sup.su.containsStar {
+	if sup.su.containsStar {
 		// Count unique rows
 		allEmptyValues := true
 		keyBuf := sup.keyBuf[:0]
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func (sup *statsUniqProcessor) finalizeStats() string {
 }
 
 func parseStatsUniq(lex *lexer) (*statsUniq, error) {
-	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex, "uniq")
+	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex, "uniq")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq_array.go b/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq_array.go
index 5b07c5706..7b4423572 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq_array.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/stats_uniq_array.go
@@ -39,16 +39,14 @@ type statsUniqArrayProcessor struct {
 }
 
 func (sup *statsUniqArrayProcessor) updateStatsForAllRows(br *blockResult) int {
-	fields := sup.su.fields
-
 	stateSizeIncrease := 0
-	if len(fields) == 0 || sup.su.containsStar {
+	if sup.su.containsStar {
 		columns := br.getColumns()
 		for i := range columns {
 			stateSizeIncrease += sup.updateStatsForAllRowsColumn(&columns[i], br)
 		}
 	} else {
-		for _, field := range fields {
+		for _, field := range sup.su.fields {
 			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
 			stateSizeIncrease += sup.updateStatsForAllRowsColumn(&c, br)
 		}
@@ -110,16 +108,14 @@ func (sup *statsUniqArrayProcessor) updateStatsForAllRowsColumn(c *blockResultCo
 }
 
 func (sup *statsUniqArrayProcessor) updateStatsForRow(br *blockResult, rowIdx int) int {
-	fields := sup.su.fields
-
 	stateSizeIncrease := 0
-	if len(fields) == 0 || sup.su.containsStar {
+	if sup.su.containsStar {
 		columns := br.getColumns()
 		for i := range columns {
 			stateSizeIncrease += sup.updateStatsForRowColumn(&columns[i], br, rowIdx)
 		}
 	} else {
-		for _, field := range fields {
+		for _, field := range sup.su.fields {
 			c := br.getColumnByName(field)
 			stateSizeIncrease += sup.updateStatsForRowColumn(&c, br, rowIdx)
 		}
@@ -219,7 +215,7 @@ func (sup *statsUniqArrayProcessor) finalizeStats() string {
 }
 
 func parseStatsUniqArray(lex *lexer) (*statsUniqArray, error) {
-	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForFunc(lex, "uniq_array")
+	fields, err := parseFieldNamesForStatsFunc(lex, "uniq_array")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}