Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-eight ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $103.8077.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on SBUX. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $113.00 price target on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Starbucks from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Piper Sandler reiterated 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. Barclays set a $116.00 target price on shares of Starbucks and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Starbucks from $94.00 to $92.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 86,605 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,411,077.60. The trade was a 1.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 59,609 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,789,226.08. This represents a 4.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 4,729 shares of company stock valued at $460,974 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Starbucks

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SBUX. Transce3nd LLC grew its stake in Starbucks by 270.3% during the 2nd quarter. Transce3nd LLC now owns 274 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Collier Financial purchased a new position in Starbucks in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Phillip James Consulting Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Starbucks Trading Down 1.6%

NASDAQ SBUX opened at $91.22 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $103.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 75.39, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $96.10 and a 200 day moving average of $88.71. Starbucks has a twelve month low of $75.50 and a twelve month high of $104.82.

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

Key Stories Impacting Starbucks

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks is piloting additional ordering methods and technology in high‑traffic and licensed locations to increase access and throughput—efforts aimed at reducing lines and raising sales per location. Starbucks tests additional ordering methods in high-traffic locations
• Positive Sentiment: CEO Brian Niccol says the turnaround is progressing: investments in barista staffing and a push to open ~1,000 new “for‑here” coffeehouses this fiscal year (part of a longer-term 5,000 target) aim to rebuild traffic and the brand experience. Starbucks Has Its Shine Back, CEO Brian Niccol Says
• Positive Sentiment: The company is targeting $2 billion in cost savings over two years to help offset ongoing investments and support margin recovery—this is a direct levers-for-profitability story investors typically like if execution follows. Can Starbucks’ $2B Cost-Savings Plan Reignite Margin Expansion?
• Positive Sentiment: Operational efficiency pilots (including queue/time reductions at airports) and new service models are being tested to improve throughput and unit economics in premium, high-volume locations. Efficiency Not Out at Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) as it Looks to Shorten Airport Lines
• Neutral Sentiment: Real‑estate moves such as a large lease (WSJ opinion on Nashville) highlight continued expansion but have mixed near‑term financial impact depending on unit economics. Opinion | Starbucks to Nashville?
• Negative Sentiment: Governance and labor concerns rose after Starbucks dissolved its labor relations committee; activists are pushing director votes and union contract talks (with higher starting wage proposals) resume—this raises potential cost and execution risk. Starbucks Labor Governance Shakeup Puts Investor Focus On Costs And Risks
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple commentaries note the rally has stalled amid persistent operational issues; a recent earnings miss and critical analysis (Seeking Alpha) fuel skepticism about how quickly margins will recover. Starbucks: Full Price For A Half-Brewed Turnaround
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst commentary and press pieces warn the CEO’s prior “magic” may not be fully repeatable here; operational depth of problems has kept some investors cautious. Starbucks’ US$100 million CEO can’t repeat Chipotle stock magic
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage noting the stock “slides” despite product interest (e.g., demand for protein/functional coffee additions) highlights investor focus on near‑term execution over product momentum. “Functional Fuel”: Starbucks Stock (NASDAQ:SBUX) Slides Despite Growing Demand for Protein in Coffee

Starbucks Company Profile

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.