Gordon Haskett ‘starting to field questions’ about Starbucks activist potential

Gordon Haskett head of event-driven research Don Bilson notes that Starbucks was yesterday’s best performing stock in the Consumer Discretionary SPDR and that the firm is “starting to field questions from clients who are wondering when/if an activist might make a move.” While Bilson says the firm has not “caught wind of something like that happening,” the firm adds that “with a gun to our head, we’d circle next Wednesday on the calendar,” which is when Pershing Square is scheduled to host its Q1 investor call. The firm adds that “for the time being, Schultz is the most important ‘activist’ figure in the picture” at Starbucks, but also notes that Pershing acquired a position in late 2018 and sold it in early 2021.