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Starbucks (SBUX)
NASDAQ:SBUX

Starbucks (SBUX) AI Stock Analysis

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Starbucks

(NASDAQ:SBUX)

64Neutral
Starbucks' strong revenue growth and cash flow generation are key strengths, but high financial leverage and declining profitability margins present risks. The stock's technical indicators suggest a bearish trend, and its high valuation may limit upside potential. While strategic initiatives are promising, financial recovery is still in early stages, reflected in the earnings call. Overall, Starbucks presents a moderate investment opportunity with both potential and risks to consider.
Positive Factors
International performance
China and international markets showed a positive performance, with several key markets producing flat or positive same-store sales.
Operational improvements
Early indicators of a successful turnaround include 25% of stores exiting the quarter with positive transaction comparisons, and 75% of wait times being under four minutes in test stores.
Stock valuation
The stock is now trading at a valuation that has been at or close to a bottom in past challenging periods, suggesting potential stabilization.
Negative Factors
Earnings visibility
The recent stock price underperformance is due to lack of visibility on earnings, consumer uncertainty, and inflation potential of tariffs.
Financial performance
Margins and earnings per share missed expectations, leading to a cut in earnings estimates for future years.
Turnaround strategy
The fundamental turnaround will take longer than the market generally believes, with near-term complexities adding to risks.

Starbucks (SBUX) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Starbucks Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionStarbucks Corporation, established in 1971 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, operates as a premier roaster, marketer, and retailer of specialty coffee worldwide. The company operates in multiple sectors, primarily through its retail stores, but also includes licensed stores, consumer packaged goods, and foodservice. Its core products include coffee beverages, handcrafted drinks, merchandise, and fresh food items, alongside a variety of premium teas and other beverages under its diverse brand portfolio.
How the Company Makes MoneyStarbucks makes money predominantly through the sale of beverages and food items in its company-operated stores, which account for a significant portion of its revenue. The company also generates revenue through licensed stores, where it receives a percentage of sales as royalty fees, and sells coffee products and other branded items through retail channels and foodservice accounts. Additionally, partnerships with other companies, like Nestlé for the global distribution of Starbucks branded products, contribute to its earnings by expanding its reach in the consumer packaged goods sector. Starbucks' loyalty program, Starbucks Rewards, also plays a crucial role in driving repeat business and customer engagement, further enhancing its revenue potential.

Starbucks Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Store Count
Store Count
Indicates the number of Starbucks locations globally, reflecting expansion strategy, market penetration, and potential for revenue growth.
Chart InsightsStarbucks has consistently expanded its store count, reaching over 40,000 by late 2024. Despite this growth, recent earnings highlight challenges with flat revenue and declining comparable store sales. The 'Back to Starbucks' initiative aims to address these issues through strategic investments and operational improvements. The company sees significant expansion potential in the U.S., planning to leverage smaller store formats. This strategy could help counteract current sales declines and margin pressures, positioning Starbucks for long-term growth if successfully executed.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Starbucks Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Starbucks exhibits robust revenue growth and effective cash flow generation, supporting its operational and strategic initiatives. However, high leverage and declining net margins highlight potential financial risks. The company must focus on improving profitability and reducing financial leverage to enhance long-term stability. Overall, Starbucks remains a strong performer in the restaurant industry, with key areas for improvement in financial management.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Starbucks demonstrates strong revenue growth with a 12.7% increase in total revenue from 2022 to TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The gross profit margin is robust at 36.5% for the TTM, indicating efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin has slightly decreased to 8.6% in TTM, reflecting potential challenges in controlling non-operating expenses. The EBIT margin is solid at 12.5%, but slightly down from previous periods, suggesting a need to enhance operational efficiency. Overall, the income statement shows a healthy top-line growth but slight pressure on profitability margins.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
Starbucks’ balance sheet reflects high leverage with a negative stockholders' equity of $7.6 billion in TTM, indicating a debt-heavy capital structure. The debt-to-equity ratio is not calculable due to negative equity, emphasizing the financial risk. Despite this, the company maintains a stable asset base of $31.6 billion, demonstrating resilience. The equity ratio is negative, highlighting potential vulnerability. While Starbucks manages its assets well, the high leverage poses a significant risk to financial stability.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Starbucks shows strong cash flow generation with operating cash flow of $5.28 billion in TTM and a healthy free cash flow of $3.06 billion. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high, indicating efficient cash conversion. However, a decline in operating cash flow compared to the previous year suggests the need for improved cash management. Despite minor fluctuations, the company's cash flow remains strong, supporting its operational needs and capital expenditure.
Breakdown
Sep 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Sep 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
36.18B35.98B32.25B29.06B23.52B
Gross Profit
9.71B9.85B8.37B8.39B5.06B
EBIT
5.41B5.87B4.62B4.87B1.56B
EBITDA
7.12B7.40B6.24B7.35B3.10B
Net Income Common Stockholders
3.76B4.12B3.28B4.20B928.30M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
3.54B3.95B3.18B6.62B4.63B
Total Assets
31.34B29.45B27.98B31.39B29.37B
Total Debt
25.80B24.60B23.80B23.61B25.26B
Net Debt
22.52B21.05B20.99B17.15B20.91B
Total Liabilities
38.78B37.43B36.68B36.71B37.17B
Stockholders Equity
-7.45B-7.99B-8.71B-5.32B-7.81B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
3.32B3.68B2.56B4.52B114.20M
Operating Cash Flow
6.10B6.01B4.40B5.99B1.60B
Investing Cash Flow
-2.70B-2.27B-2.15B-319.50M-1.71B
Financing Cash Flow
-3.72B-2.99B-5.64B-3.65B1.71B

Starbucks Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price84.69
Price Trends
50DMA
95.02
Negative
100DMA
97.11
Negative
200DMA
94.38
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-3.14
Negative
RSI
45.56
Neutral
STOCH
65.92
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SBUX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 84.69 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 83.02, below the 50-day MA of 95.02, and below the 200-day MA of 94.38, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -3.14 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 45.56 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 65.92 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for SBUX.

Starbucks Risk Analysis

Starbucks disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Starbucks reported the most risks in the “Production” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Starbucks Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$10.64B24.7534.69%1.46%16.01%42.54%
MCMCD
76
Outperform
$223.07B27.39-216.57%2.21%-0.22%
76
Outperform
$16.51B18.4715.73%1.63%2.79%19.36%
71
Outperform
$9.97B177.987.82%32.64%943.64%
YUYUM
68
Neutral
$40.38B27.81-19.43%1.82%10.09%-11.50%
64
Neutral
$97.04B27.61-47.07%2.79%-0.50%-24.28%
61
Neutral
$6.65B11.713.09%3.98%2.65%-20.82%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SBUX
Starbucks
84.69
13.60
19.13%
MCD
McDonald's
311.96
49.05
18.66%
TXRH
Texas Roadhouse
171.79
6.45
3.90%
YUM
Yum! Brands
149.14
15.58
11.67%
YUMC
Yum China Holdings
44.04
7.00
18.90%
BROS
Dutch Bros Inc
61.10
32.76
115.60%

Starbucks Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 29, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -0.19%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted significant improvements in employee engagement and customer experience, particularly in North America, and a positive recovery in international markets. However, the financial performance was disappointing, with declines in sales and margins, indicating that while strategic changes are taking hold, the financial recovery is still in its early stages.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Positive Indicators in North America
Partner engagement is up, turnover has dropped to under 50%, and customer experience continues to improve. Canadian business has returned to positive comps with positive transaction growth.
Labor and Algorithm Pilot Success
The combination of staffing, deployment, and technology has improved speed of service and connection while growing transactions, with in-cafe wait times reduced by two minutes.
Engagement and Brand Sentiment Improvement
Non-Starbucks Rewards member traffic is stabilizing, market share and brand sentiment are improving, and customer contact regarding wait times is decreasing.
International Market Recovery
Eight of the top 10 international markets returned to flat comp or comp growth, with notable improvements in the UK, Middle East, and Japan.
Negative Updates
Disappointing Financial Results
Total company revenue was $8.8 billion with a global comparable store sales decline of 1%, a global operating margin of 8.2%, and overall earnings per share of $0.41, down 38% from the prior year.
US Comparable Store Sales Decline
US comparable store sales declined by 2%, with transaction decline improving to negative 4%.
Margin Compression
Q2 consolidated operating margin was 8.2%, contracting 450 basis points from the prior year, primarily due to deleverage and additional labor in support of the Back to Starbucks strategy.
Company Guidance
During the Starbucks Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Conference Call, the company provided guidance reflecting both challenges and strategic initiatives. Starbucks reported total revenue of $8.8 billion, a global net new store growth of 213 coffeehouses, and a global operating margin of 8.2%, with earnings per share (EPS) at $0.41. These figures were noted as being below expectations, largely attributed to a 1% global comparable store sales decline, including a 2% decline in the U.S. The company emphasized its "Back to Starbucks" strategy, focusing on enhancing customer experience, investing in labor rather than equipment, and simplifying the menu to improve operational efficiency. Starbucks also highlighted early signs of recovery in North America, with partner engagement up and turnover dropping to a recorded low of under 50%. Internationally, eight of the top ten markets returned to flat or positive comps, with significant progress in Canada and Japan. As part of its strategic pivots, Starbucks plans to slow its unit growth temporarily to focus on optimizing store economics and build costs, while reinforcing its brand through targeted marketing efforts and innovation in product offerings.

Starbucks Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Starbucks Appoints Cathy Smith as New CFO
Neutral
Mar 4, 2025

On March 4, 2025, Starbucks announced the appointment of Cathy R. Smith as the new executive vice president and chief financial officer, succeeding Rachel Ruggeri, who will be leaving the company. Cathy Smith, with extensive experience in retail and global operations from her previous roles at Nordstrom, Target, and Walmart International, is expected to contribute significantly to Starbucks’ strategic initiatives, including the ‘Back to Starbucks’ plan. Her compensation package includes a base salary, cash incentives, and equity awards to align her with the company’s long-term goals.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.