STARBUCKS CORP quarterly report, Q2 FY2006

Starbucks Corporation 10-Q Summary

Business Context and Reporting Period

This Form 10-Q covers the quarterly period ended April 2, 2006 (13 weeks) and the year-to-date period ended April 2, 2006 (26 weeks). Starbucks Corporation operates company-operated retail stores and specialty businesses (licensing, foodservice) globally. The company reported strong financial performance driven by new store openings and comparable store sales growth.

Key Financial Metrics

Metric 13 Weeks Ended
Apr 2, 2006
13 Weeks Ended
Apr 3, 2005
26 Weeks Ended
Apr 2, 2006
26 Weeks Ended
Apr 3, 2005
Total Net Revenues $1,885.8 million $1,518.7 million $3,819.9 million $3,108.3 million
Operating Income $201.9 million $157.3 million $481.7 million $384.4 million
Net Earnings $127.3 million $100.5 million $301.5 million $245.1 million
Diluted EPS $0.16 $0.12 $0.38 $0.30
Operating Margin 10.7% 10.4% 12.6% 12.4%
Cash & Equivalents $202.7 million $173.8 million (Oct 2005) N/A
Short-term Borrowings $95.0 million $277.0 million (Oct 2005) N/A
Net Cash from Operations (26 wks) N/A $762.0 million $577.5 million

Material Changes vs. Prior Period

  • Revenue Growth: Total net revenues increased 24% for the quarter and 23% year-to-date, driven by the opening of 984 new stores in the first half of fiscal 2006 and comparable store sales growth of 10% (quarter) and 8% (YTD).
  • Profitability: Net earnings rose 27% for the quarter and 23% YTD. Operating margins improved due to lower cost of sales as a percentage of revenue, partially offset by higher general and administrative expenses.
  • Accounting Change: The company adopted SFAS 123(R) effective October 3, 2005, recognizing stock-based compensation expense. This resulted in $27.8 million in expense for the quarter and $50.6 million YTD, which was not present in the prior year's reported results.
  • Acquisitions: In January 2006, Starbucks increased its equity ownership to 100% in its Hawaii and Puerto Rico operations, reclassifying them from licensed to company-operated.
  • Liquidity: Short-term borrowings decreased significantly from $277 million to $95 million as the company repaid $182 million net under its revolving credit facility.

Guidance, Outlook, and Risks

  • Store Openings: Management expects to open at least 1,800 new stores globally in fiscal 2006.
  • Comparable Store Sales: Expected to grow in the range of 3% to 7% for the remainder of fiscal 2006.
  • Capital Expenditures: Expected to be in the range of $750 million to $775 million for fiscal 2006.
  • Effective Tax Rate: Estimated to approximate 38% for fiscal 2006.
  • Risks: Key risks include fluctuations in coffee and dairy commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, and the impact of legal proceedings regarding employee classification (FLSA lawsuits).
  • Share Repurchases: The company repurchased 6.1 million shares for $178 million during the 26-week period. Approximately 16.0 million shares remain authorized for repurchase.

Investor Verification Checklist

  • Stock-Based Compensation Impact: Verify the specific impact of the new SFAS 123(R) adoption on future earnings, as this is a new recurring expense not present in prior year comparisons.
  • Commodity Hedging: Review the effectiveness of hedging strategies against rising green coffee costs, which offset some margin improvements.
  • Legal Contingencies: Monitor the status of the FLSA class-action lawsuits regarding store manager and assistant manager overtime classification, as potential liabilities are currently unquantified.
  • International Expansion Costs: Assess the sustainability of operating margins in the International segment, where infrastructure investments are currently higher relative to revenue.
  • Capital Allocation: Confirm the balance between capital expenditures for new stores and share repurchases given the remaining $16 million share authorization.