Valued at $111.6 billion by market cap, Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) is the world’s largest coffeehouse company, operating a global network of retail stores that sell coffee, beverages, food, and related products. Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Seattle, Starbucks has built a premium brand centered not just on coffee, but on a consistent “coffeehouse experience” that emphasizes quality, convenience, and customer engagement.
The coffee chain powerhouse is expected to announce its fiscal first-quarter earnings for 2026 in the near future. Ahead of the event, analysts expect SBUX to report a profit of $0.42 per share on a diluted basis, up 2.4% from $0.41 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company failed to beat the consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters.
More Top Stocks Daily: Go behind Wall Street’s hottest headlines with Barchart’s Active Investor newsletter.
For the current year, analysts expect SBUX to report EPS of $2.31, up 8.5% from $2.13 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, its EPS is expected to rise 27.3% year over year to $2.94 in fiscal 2027.
www.barchart.comOver the past year, SBUX stock has gained 15.2%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 28.9% gains and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLY) 22.4% gains over the same time frame.
www.barchart.comOn Apr. 2, Starbucks took a decisive step to supercharge its China ambitions, finalizing a strategic joint venture with Boyu Capital. The deal hands Boyu a 60% stake in Starbucks’ China retail business, while Starbucks retains 40% ownership and full control of its brand and intellectual property, striking a balance between local agility and global consistency.
By blending Starbucks’ premium brand power with Boyu’s deep local expertise, the venture is positioned to unlock faster, more disciplined growth and a sharper customer experience across China. Investors welcomed the move, sending SBUX shares up 4.9% in the following trading session.
Analysts’ consensus opinion on SBUX stock is reasonably bullish, with a “Moderate Buy” rating overall. Out of 37 analysts covering the stock, 15 advise a “Strong Buy” rating, one suggests a “Moderate Buy,” 16 give a “Hold,” two advocate a “Moderate Sell,” and three recommend a “Strong Sell.” SBUX’s average analyst price target is $98.59, indicating a marginal premium from the current price levels.
On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
More news from Barchart
This Merck (MRK) Stock Bullish Diagonal Trade Targets a Price of $130 by June 18 S&P Futures Muted After Rally, U.S. Economic Data and Earnings in Focus Should You Chase the Rally in Oracle Stock? A Brown-Forman Acquisition Could Be Brewing. Does That Mean You Should Buy the Dividend Stock Here?