Merit Financial Group LLC Increases Stake in Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Merit Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 10.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 93,867 shares of the coffee company’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,518 shares during the quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $9,592,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. White Pine Investment CO purchased a new position in shares of Starbucks in the second quarter worth about $216,000. PCB Capital LLC grew its stake in Starbucks by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. PCB Capital LLC now owns 3,292 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $336,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. grew its stake in Starbucks by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 144,591 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $14,776,000 after acquiring an additional 2,107 shares in the last quarter. Royal Fund Management LLC raised its holdings in Starbucks by 9.1% in the 2nd quarter. Royal Fund Management LLC now owns 67,628 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $6,911,000 after acquiring an additional 5,661 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Starbucks by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,538 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $1,690,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares in the last quarter. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Starbucks Trading Up 1.7%

NASDAQ SBUX opened at $108.49 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $123.68 billion, a PE ratio of 62.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.97. Starbucks Corporation has a twelve month low of $77.99 and a twelve month high of $109.23. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $103.24 and a 200-day simple moving average of $99.84.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The coffee company reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.19. Starbucks had a net margin of 5.17% and a negative return on equity of 34.10%. The firm had revenue of $9.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.17 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.50 EPS. Starbucks’s revenue was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.550-2.650 EPS. Research analysts predict that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.64 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be issued a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. Starbucks’s dividend payout ratio is currently 142.53%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on SBUX. UBS Group boosted their target price on Starbucks from $105.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $110.00 price objective on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered Starbucks from an “overweight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Scotiabank downgraded Starbucks from a “market perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, Guggenheim started coverage on Starbucks in a report on Monday, August 3rd. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Nineteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Starbucks currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $109.92.

Insider Activity at Starbucks

In related news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 2,229 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.99, for a total transaction of $236,251.71. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 75,135 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,963,558.65. This trade represents a 2.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 6,687 shares of company stock valued at $681,663. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Key Starbucks News

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Fresh 52-week high: Starbucks reached $108.49, signaling strong momentum and renewed investor demand. The stock is approaching the upper end of its multiyear trading range, where a decisive breakout could attract additional technical buyers. Starbucks Reaches $108.49, a Fresh 52-Week High Starbucks Technical Breakout Analysis
• Positive Sentiment: Profitability focus: Coverage of Starbucks’ latest earnings call suggests management is emphasizing profits and operational performance over pursuing growth at any cost. That focus could support margins and investor confidence, particularly after the company exceeded quarterly earnings expectations in the supplied background information. Starbucks Earnings Call Signals Profits Over Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Energy-drink opportunity: Starbucks is among restaurant chains expanding into energy drinks, potentially broadening afternoon traffic, average sales and appeal to younger consumers. The strategy could create incremental growth, though its financial contribution is not yet clear. Fast-Food Chains Expand Into Energy Drinks
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports about Starbucks’ Canadian depository receipt and comparisons with other stocks provide market information but no new company-specific catalyst. Starbucks Canadian Depository Receipt Quote
• Neutral Sentiment: Starbucks’ inclusion in broader dividend-stock commentary does not materially change the company’s current outlook. S&P 500 Dividend Stock Commentary
• Negative Sentiment: At a market capitalization above $120 billion and a high earnings multiple, SBUX has limited room for disappointment. The technical rally could also encounter resistance near the top of its multiyear range.

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.