The K-shaped economy has winning stocks on both ends of the K. The upper arm of the K includes the high-end, luxury consumer companies that appeal to the wealthy. This segment of the consumer sector has benefited as the stock market has risen and home values have increased over the past five years. The lower leg of the K also has produced winners. The mass consumers, supported by a low unemployment rate, continue to prove their resilience despite the challenges of inflation and affordability. Even so, all consumers are watching wallets closely and choosing wisely how to direct their spending. For this week's list, we look at BUY-rated stocks that we see as winners of the K-shaped economy. The price performance noted is year to date.

The first-quarter earnings season has been sensational. Many companies knocked it out of the park when delivering earnings and revenue numbers that well beyond expectations. With reports now in from about 96% of S&P 500 companies, earnings have climbed a staggering 29% from last quarter. Information Technology, up 56%, and Communication Services, up 51%, have led the pack. At the bottom are Healthcare, down 3%, and Energy, down 1%. With earnings season essentially over, we have had a chance to look at trends. In particular, we watch for companies that raised guidance as we view that action as a likely catalyst for market-beating returns in the quarters ahead. It's even harder for companies to raise guidance during uncertain economic times, as vision is murky. The following is a partial list of companies in Argus' Fundamental Universe of Coverage where management raised its outlook during the 1Q26 reporting season.

Tapestry is a leading designer and marketer of handbags and accessories. It was established in 1941 as Coach and changed its name to Coach Inc. after its IPO in 2000. The company rebranded as Tapestry following the acquisitions of Stuart Weitzman (2015) and Kate Spade (2017). It divested Stuart Weitzman in August 2025 to focus on its two primary brands. The company has 18,000 employees.

This week features an earnings report form discount giant Costco and some new inflation data. Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2%, the S&P 500 gained 1%, and the Nasdaq was flat. Year to date, the DJIA is up 5%, the S&P is higher by 9%, and the Nasdaq has popped 13%. Drilling down on the earnings calendar, AutoZone reports on Tuesday; Marvell Technology, Salesforce, Snowflake, HP, and Dick's Sporting Goods on Wednesday; and Costco Wholesale, Dell, MongoDB, Best Buy, and Dollar Tree on Thursday. Some 94% of S&P 500 companies have reported so far, and overall earnings are up 29% over last quarter. Information Technology, up 55%, and Communication Services, up 51%, are leading the pack. At the bottom are Healthcare, down 3%, and Energy, down 1%, according to LSEG I/B/E/S. On the economic calendar, the Case-Shiller Home Price Index is due out on Tuesday; Durable Goods and New Home Sales will be reported on Thursday; and the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index (an inflation indicator) will hit the tape on Friday. Gas prices remain elevated though prices dropped a penny last week and are now at an average of $4.49 per gallon for regular gas. The Atlanta Fed GDPNow forecasts 4.3% growth in GDP for 2Q. That's a big jump from 2% in 1Q. The Cleveland Fed Inflation Nowcast calls for CPI of 4.2% in May. That a step-up from the 3.8% print for April and 3.3% in March. Mortgage rates jumped 15 basis points last week, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now at 6.51%, according to FreddieMac. The next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is on June 17, and will be the first under the chairmanship of Kevin Warsh. Odds are at 3% for a rate hike at that meeting, a reversal from previous odds that called for a rate cut. Taking a deeper dive into performance so far in 2026, a leading industrialized global stock market index, the ETF EFA, is up 8% year to date, while the leading emerging market ETF (EEM) is up 20%. U.S. growth stocks are up 5% year to date as per the ETF IWF, while value stocks (IWD) are up 12%. Crude oil prices continue to be volatile. On Friday, oil was at $97 per barrel, up 67% for the year to date. In other asset classes for the year to date, AGG bonds are down 2%, gold is up 3%, and Bitcoin is down 13%. The U.S. dollar is up 1%, tracking DXY. The VIX Volatility Index was about 17 on Friday, below its historical average of 20. Turning to sector performance, the list from first as of May 15, is Energy (+32%), Information Technology (+17%), Communication Services (+11%), Consumer Staples (+11%), Industrials (+10%), Materials (+10%), Real Estate (+8%), Utilities (+3%), Consumer Discretionary (flat), Financials (-7%), and Healthcare (-7%).