Starbucks Stock Pops as Turnaround Efforts Lead to Earnings Beat: What to Know
Starbucks stock is higher Wednesday after the coffee chain beat expectations for its fiscal first quarter as its "Back to Starbucks" efforts take shape.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
Starbucks (SBUX) stock is moving higher out of the gate Wednesday after the world's largest coffee chain beat top- and bottom-line expectations for its fiscal 2025 first quarter.
In the three months ending December 31, Starbucks said its revenue decreased 0.3% year over year to $9.4 billion, driven by a 4% decline in global comparable-store sales. This marked its fourth consecutive quarter of falling same-store sales.
The company's earnings per share (EPS) fell 23.3% from the year-ago period to 69 cents.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
"While we're only one quarter into our turnaround, we're moving quickly to act on the 'Back to Starbucks' efforts and we've seen a positive response," said CEO Brian Niccol in a statement.
"We believe this is the fundamental change in strategy needed to solve our underlying issues, restore confidence in our brand and return the business to sustainable, long-term growth," Niccol added.
The results topped analysts' expectations. Wall Street was anticipating revenue of $9.3 billion and earnings of 67 cents per share, according to CNBC.
Starbucks did not provide guidance for its second quarter or the rest of the fiscal year. In October, the month after Niccol took over as CEO, the company suspended its guidance for 2025 to "allow ample opportunity to complete an assessment of the business and solidify key strategies, while stabilizing and positioning the business for long-term growth."
Is Starbucks stock a buy, sell or hold?
Heading into Wednesday's session, Starbucks shares had generated a 12-month total return (price change plus dividends) of 11%, lagging the S&P 500's 26% gain. And Wall Street has remained on the sidelines when it comes to the consumer discretionary stock.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for SBUX is $105.54, representing an upside of just over 5% to the large-cap stock's January 28 close. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is Hold.
Financial services firm Wedbush is one of those with a Neutral rating (equivalent to a Hold) on SBUX stock, along with a $100 price target.
"We believe SBUX's current valuation appropriately reflects limited near-term top- and bottom-line visibility, offset by some level of confidence in management's ability to deliver longer-term annual operating margin expansion and EPS growth in line with the brand's equity," says Wedbush analyst Nick Seytan.
Related Content
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
Nasdaq Leads a Rocky Risk-On Rally: Stock Market TodayAnother worrying bout of late-session weakness couldn't take down the main equity indexes on Wednesday.
-
Quiz: Do You Know How to Avoid the "Medigap Trap?"Quiz Test your basic knowledge of the "Medigap Trap" in our quick quiz.
-
5 Top Tax-Efficient Mutual Funds for Smarter InvestingMutual funds are many things, but "tax-friendly" usually isn't one of them. These are the exceptions.
-
Nasdaq Leads a Rocky Risk-On Rally: Stock Market TodayAnother worrying bout of late-session weakness couldn't take down the main equity indexes on Wednesday.
-
5 Top Tax-Efficient Mutual Funds for Smarter InvestingMutual funds are many things, but "tax-friendly" usually isn't one of them. These are the exceptions.
-
Why Invest In Mutual Funds When ETFs Exist?Exchange-traded funds are cheaper, more tax-efficient and more flexible. But don't put mutual funds out to pasture quite yet.
-
Social Security Break-Even Math Is Helpful, But Don't Let It Dictate When You'll FileYour Social Security break-even age tells you how long you'd need to live for delaying to pay off, but shouldn't be the sole basis for deciding when to claim.
-
I'm an Opportunity Zone Pro: This Is How to Deliver Roth-Like Tax-Free Growth (Without Contribution Limits)Investors who combine Roth IRAs, the gold standard of tax-free savings, with qualified opportunity funds could enjoy decades of tax-free growth.
-
One of the Most Powerful Wealth-Building Moves a Woman Can Make: A Midcareer PivotIf it feels like you can't sustain what you're doing for the next 20 years, it's time for an honest look at what's draining you and what energizes you.
-
Stocks Make More Big Up and Down Moves: Stock Market TodayThe impact of revolutionary technology has replaced world-changing trade policy as the major variable for markets, with mixed results for sectors and stocks.
-
I'm a Wealth Adviser Obsessed With Mahjong: Here Are 8 Ways It Can Teach Us How to Manage Our MoneyThis increasingly popular Chinese game can teach us not only how to help manage our money but also how important it is to connect with other people.