Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) Now Covered by Wolfe Research

Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) in a research report released on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued a peer perform rating on the coffee company’s stock.

SBUX has been the subject of several other reports. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $103.00 target price (up from $100.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Bank of America set a $114.00 price target on shares of Starbucks in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $86.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $89.00 price objective (up from $84.00) on shares of Starbucks in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $113.00 price target on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $104.22.

Starbucks Stock Up 0.8%

Shares of SBUX opened at $99.77 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $94.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $87.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $113.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 82.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.93. Starbucks has a 12-month low of $75.50 and a 12-month high of $106.00.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.59 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $9.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.62 billion. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 28.66% and a net margin of 3.63%.Starbucks’s revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.69 EPS. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.150-2.400 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Starbucks will post 2.99 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total value of $242,800.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 59,609 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,789,226.08. The trade was a 4.03% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total transaction of $159,373.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 86,605 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,411,077.60. The trade was a 1.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Starbucks

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Transce3nd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 270.3% during the second quarter. Transce3nd LLC now owns 274 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Collier Financial bought a new stake in Starbucks in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Finally, Phillip James Consulting Co. bought a new position in shares of Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Starbucks

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New Nashville supply‑chain hub — Management’s opening of a supply‑chain and corporate hub in Nashville (with some Seattle staff relocation and local hiring) could lower distribution costs, improve store inventory flow and support new product rollouts, boosting margins over time. Starbucks’ New Nashville Supply Chain Hub Could Be A Game Changer For Starbucks (SBUX)
• Positive Sentiment: U.S. transactions rising — Zacks notes U.S. transactions increased for the first time in eight quarters, lifting comps and signaling improving customer traffic, which supports revenue recovery risk/reward. The Zacks Analyst Blog Starbucks, McDonald’s and Dutch Bros
• Neutral Sentiment: New coverage from DA Davidson — Additional analyst coverage can increase liquidity and attention but doesn’t signal a directional view by itself. Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) Research Coverage Started at DA Davidson
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation/price context — Recent commentary on whether the current share price is “fair” highlights mixed short‑term performance and that investors are reassessing long‑term growth vs. elevated multiples. Is Starbucks (SBUX) Pricing Fair After Recent Mixed Share Price Performance?
• Negative Sentiment: Wolfe Research downgrade — Wolfe Research cut SBUX to Peer Perform (from Outperform), warning Starbucks is early in a multi‑year turnaround and faces high execution risk; analyst skepticism can pressure sentiment and cap multiple expansion. Starbucks downgraded at Wolfe Research as execution risk remains high
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive/sector criticism — Commentary urging investors to buy a different coffee stock and coverage pieces highlighting competition add downward pressure on conviction for SBUX as a growth play. Don’t Buy Starbucks Stock (SBUX), Says Wolfe Research. Buy This Coffee Company Instead
• Negative Sentiment: Brand backlash risk — A government health official’s public criticism about sugar in seasonal drinks could dent brand perception and invite regulatory or PR headwinds around product formulation and marketing. Starbucks Balances Nashville Supply Chain Push With Sugar Backlash Questions

About Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation is a global coffeehouse chain and roaster that operates, licenses and franchises coffee shops and related retail businesses. Founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker, the company grew from a single store focused on whole-bean coffee and equipment into a broad consumer-facing brand. Howard Schultz, who joined the company later and served in senior leadership roles, is widely credited with transforming Starbucks into a mass-market specialty coffee retailer and expanding its footprint internationally.

Starbucks’ core activities center on the retail sale of hot and cold specialty beverages, whole-bean and packaged coffees, teas and ready-to-drink products, along with complementary food items and merchandise such as mugs and brewing equipment.