Wolfe says buy these three quality stocks into post-earnings strength

July has dealt Wall Street a turbulent hand. US stocks have drifted lower this month, hampered by persistent geopolitical risks, rising crude oil prices, and mounting anxiety over rising AI capex.

As tech heavyweights like Alphabet and Tesla Inc stumble under heavy AI spending commitments, market participants are pivoting toward fundamentally resilient names.

To navigate these choppy waters, Chris Senyek – a senior Wolfe Research analyst – recommends anchoring portfolios in high-quality companies that consistently beat earnings estimates.

In particular, he’s bullish on the following three for the back half of 2026.

BlackRock Inc (BLK)

The first name on Senyek’s radar is the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock Inc., which recently posted strong earnings for its fiscal Q2.

BLK’s record net inflows and expanding margins even drew an upgrade from JPMorgan last week.

“We see BlackRock as a best-in-class asset manager with execution against various growth drivers across different business lines,” analyst Michael Cho wrote.

JPM cited organic revenue growth and operating leverage for its bullish view on BLK shares. The firm also expects inflows to remain strong moving forward.

Additionally, BlackRock stock currently pays a healthy dividend yield of 2.09% as well – which makes it even more attractive as a long-term holding in the second half of 2026.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

UnitedHealth shares have also inched higher in recent sessions on the back of better-than-expected Q2 earnings on July 16th.

The release also made Goldman Sachs analysts maintain their Overweight rating on the healthcare giant, saying the second-quarter numbers “reinforce that turnaround in insurance and care delivery remains firmly on track.”

The investment firm expects UNH stock to extend gains in the months ahead as improved medical cost trends and Optum Health strength continue to boost overall profitability.  

Wolfe recommends owning UnitedHealth for its lucrative dividend yield of 2.16% as well.

Philip Morris International (PM)

Consumer staple giant Philip Morris completes Wolfe’s trio as its multi-year shift toward reduced-risk alternatives gains major momentum.

CEO Jacek Olczak expressed optimism in the recent earnings release, noting he was “very pleased with what has happened beyond the numbers this quarter,” as smoke-free products continue to gain market traction.

And Wall Street has taken notice as well: BTIG initiated coverage on PM shares with a Buy rating and a $216 price target, implying a 10% upside from their previous close.

Analyst Owen Bennett praised management’s execution of smoke-free product transition, noting “combustibles remain robust, a global leading RRP premium positioning has been established, and critically from a valuation perspective, this transition continues at levels way beyond most peers”.

Much like the other names on Wolfe’s list, Philips Morris International also currently pays a solid dividend yield of 2.94%, which makes it even more attractive for income-focused investors.