Top 3 Income Stocks to Buy for August 13th: National Grid, Ralph Lauren, Royal Gold

National Grid Transco, Ralph Lauren Corporation, and Royal Gold are three stocks with a buy rank and strong income characteristics. National Grid Transco has a dividend yield of 5.7%, Ralph Lauren Corporation has a dividend yield of 1.3%, and Royal Gold has a dividend yield of 1.1%. These stocks have witnessed an increase in Zacks Consensus Estimate for their current year earnings.

National Grid Transco, Ralph Lauren Corporation, and Royal Gold are three stocks that have garnered attention from investors due to their buy rank and strong income characteristics. Among these, Ralph Lauren Corporation stands out for its robust earnings and recent dividend increase.

Ralph Lauren Corporation's Q1 2026 Earnings

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) reported its fiscal 2026 Q1 earnings on August 7, 2025, with strong performance across its business segments. The company's total revenue of $1.72 billion for the quarter reflected a 13.7% year-over-year increase, driven by robust growth in its Retail and Wholesale segments [2]. The Retail segment generated $1.20 billion in revenue, while the Wholesale segment added $483.50 million to the top line. The Licensing segment also contributed $34.40 million to the quarter's revenue.

Earnings per share (EPS) surged 35.6% to $3.62, driven by a 30.7% increase in net income to $220.40 million. This marked a new record for Q1 net income and the highest in over two decades. The company’s profitability continues to strengthen, indicating solid execution across its business segments.

Dividend Increase

In addition to its strong earnings performance, Ralph Lauren Corporation recently increased its quarterly dividend. The company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.9125 per share, up from $0.83, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 1.3% [1]. This increase represents a $3.65 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 27th.

Analyst Ratings and Market Performance

Several institutional investors and analysts have expressed confidence in Ralph Lauren Corporation's prospects. Woodline Partners LP, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd., Focus Partners Wealth, and Empowered Funds LLC increased their holdings in Ralph Lauren shares during the first quarter [1]. Analysts from Evercore ISI, Cfra Research, Telsey Advisory Group, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Needham & Company LLC have given the stock a "buy" or "outperform" rating, with a consensus price target of $306.41 [1].

Despite a 3.86% stock decline during the latest trading day, historical buy-and-hold strategies have shown significant returns. A strategy of buying RL shares after a quarterly revenue miss and holding for 30 days proved effective, delivering a 190.17% return over three years [2].

Conclusion

Ralph Lauren Corporation's strong Q1 2026 earnings and dividend increase make it an attractive investment opportunity for income-focused investors. The company's robust performance across its business segments, coupled with analyst support and a strong dividend yield, positions Ralph Lauren Corporation as a solid choice for investors seeking steady income and growth potential.

References

[1] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/ralph-lauren-nyserl-posts-earnings-results-beats-estimates-by-027-eps-2025-08-09/

[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/ralph-lauren-2026-q1-earnings-strong-performance-net-income-surges-30-7-2508/