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

Shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-eight analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $103.8077.

SBUX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays set a $116.00 target price on shares of Starbucks and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research upgraded Starbucks from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Dbs Bank upgraded Starbucks from a “strong sell” rating to a “moderate sell” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Finally, Bank of America set a $114.00 target price on Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st.

Key Starbucks News

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 Stock Down 1.6%

Shares of SBUX opened at $91.22 on Friday. Starbucks has a 52-week low of $75.50 and a 52-week high of $104.82. The company has a market capitalization of $103.93 billion, a PE ratio of 75.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $96.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $88.71.

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,411,077.60. This trade represents a 1.86% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total transaction of $242,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 59,609 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,789,226.08. This trade represents a 4.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 4,729 shares of company stock valued at $460,974. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Starbucks

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in SBUX. Transce3nd LLC increased its holdings in Starbucks by 270.3% in the 2nd quarter. Transce3nd LLC now owns 274 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Collier Financial purchased a new stake in Starbucks in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Finally, Phillip James Consulting Co. purchased a new position in shares of Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.