Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)

Starbucks' stock has experienced fluctuations in the past six months. As of July 18, 2025, the share price was $93.80, a 22.53% increase from July 22, 2024, but a -5.43% decrease over the last six months as of July 2, 2025. Starbucks reported EPS of $0.69 on January 28, 2025, slightly above estimates but down from $0.90 a year prior. Revenue was approximately $9.4 billion, slightly surpassing estimates. Global comparable store sales declined 4%, with comparable transactions down 6%, and U.S. comparable transaction volume down 8%. In Q4 fiscal year 2024, global comparable store sales declined 7%, driven by an 8% decline in comparable transactions, and consolidated net revenues declined 3% to $9.1 billion. The company also announced a quarterly cash dividend on July 16, 2025.

Starbucks experiences demand seasonality, with the summer period (July to November) historically being the most favorable for growth. The company introduces 12-15 seasonal beverages annually, such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte, which generates over $110 million in sales each fall. Seasonal offerings drive increased consumer traffic and sales. The company's cash flow can also indicate seasonality, with some quarters showing cash burn.

Starbucks Corporation is a global leader in the premium coffee market, focusing on roasting, marketing, and retailing specialty coffee. The company operates in the consumer discretionary sector, specifically the restaurants and coffee shop industry. Starbucks purchases and roasts high-quality coffees, selling them alongside handcrafted beverages and fresh food items. It also licenses its trademarks through various channels under brands like Starbucks Coffee, Teavana, Ethos, and Starbucks Reserve.

Starbucks has a global presence with over 40,000 locations worldwide as of 2024, across 87 countries. As of Q4 2023, the company had 40,199 stores, with 52% company-operated and 48% licensed. The United States and China account for 61% of Starbucks' global portfolio, with 16,941 and 7,596 stores, respectively. Starbucks sources coffee from approximately 400,000 farmers across 30 countries, maintaining direct trade relationships in 16 key coffee-producing regions.

Starbucks' brand reputation has faced challenges, declining from 71.5 points in 2021 to 57.7 points in January 2025, according to RepTrak. While strong in products/services and financial performance, it has lost public goodwill in workplace, conduct, citizenship, and leadership. Starbucks dropped in Interbrand's top 100 global brand ranking from 48 to 52 and plunged from 15 to 45 in the Brand Finance report. This decline is attributed to weakening store patronage and decreased comparable store sales. In September 2024, Brian Niccol became the new CEO, introducing a "Back to Starbucks" turnaround strategy.

Starbucks is a publicly traded company with ownership distributed among individual and institutional investors. Institutional investors hold approximately 76% of its outstanding shares. The largest institutional shareholders include The Vanguard Group, BlackRock Inc., and State Street Corporation. Top individual shareholders include Mellody Hobson, Michael Aaron Conway, and Rachel Ruggeri. Howard Schultz, the former CEO, was also a notable individual investor.