WD-40 Tops Income and Growth Stock Lists for July 15

WD-40 Company (WDFC) earns a Zacks Strong Buy rank on July 15, 2026, after a blowout fiscal third quarter lifted earnings 50% and prompted a raised full-year outlook.

Lead

What Happened

Adjusted net income soared 50% to $31.5 million. Reported net income came in at $30.22 million, compared with $20.92 million in the year-ago period. Diluted earnings per share reached $2.33, exceeding the Wall Street consensus of $1.59 by 47%. Operating income expanded 47%, a reflection of operating leverage as fixed costs were spread across a substantially larger revenue base.

Management responded by raising full-year fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $675 million to $690 million and lifting the non-GAAP EPS target to $6.05–$6.35. The board simultaneously authorized a $100 million share repurchase program, adding a capital-return dimension to a story that had previously been dominated by organic growth.

WD-40 Stock Buy Rank and Income Appeal

On July 15, WDFC's WD-40 stock buy rank was confirmed at Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), the top tier of the firm's quantitative five-point scale. The ranking incorporates upward earnings-estimate revisions — the consensus for the current fiscal year has moved 2% higher over the past 60 days — alongside earnings surprise momentum and broker coverage trends.

Income-oriented screens flagged WDFC simultaneously because of its 1.6% dividend yield, a figure that stands in sharp contrast to the broader specialty chemicals and household products industry average of 0.0%. On June 15, the board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.02 per share, payable July 31, 2026, to stockholders of record as of July 17. At current earnings run rates, the payout remains well covered, and the new buyback program signals that management views the stock as undervalued even after its recent appreciation.

The dual recognition — as both a leading growth stock investment and a reliable income name — is unusual. Companies that score on both screens tend to combine strong free-cash-flow generation with a demonstrated ability to reinvest at above-average rates of return. WD-40's global distribution network, brand pricing power, and asset-light manufacturing model position it in that category.

Strategic Context

The company has been methodically expanding its product line beyond the original multi-use formula into specialist applications — WD-40 Specialist and WD-40 BIKE — which carry higher price points and target professional-user segments. Revenue from these lines has grown faster than the core product in recent quarters, improving the mix profile and supporting margin expansion.

The $100 million buyback authorization — significant relative to a market capitalization that sat near the $3 billion range before the post-earnings rally — adds a third return-of-capital lever alongside the dividend and organic earnings growth. Together, these elements reinforce the stock's position on best income stocks July 15 rankings.

Elsa ACE Market Debut: A Parallel Growth Story

In a separate market event that broadened the week's growth stock investment narrative, Elsa Berhad made a notable Elsa ACE Market debut on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market on June 16, 2026. The integrated oil and gas services and equipment provider priced its IPO at 23 sen per share; the stock opened at 25 sen, a gain of 8.7%, and closed the day at 27.5 sen — nearly 20% above the offer price — after touching an intraday high of 28.5 sen. The Malaysian public tranche of the IPO was oversubscribed 27 times, a signal of strong retail demand for emerging-market industrial technology plays.

Outlook

Analysis }}