Principle Wealth Partners LLC Takes $871,000 Position in Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Principle Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 8,522 shares of the coffee company’s stock, valued at approximately $871,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Starbucks in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Phillip James Consulting Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Entrust Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. 72.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SBUX has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $124.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Raymond James Financial lowered shares of Starbucks to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Stephens started coverage on shares of Starbucks in a report on Thursday, May 14th. They set an “overweight” rating on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered Starbucks from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Nineteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $110.30.

Starbucks News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks is eliminating more than 200 corporate positions as part of a broader restructuring and approximately $2 billion cost-reduction effort. Lower overhead could support profitability if the company maintains service levels and directs more resources toward its stores. The reductions do not involve cafe closures. Starbucks trims corporate ranks as coffeehouse investments deliver
• Positive Sentiment: Recent market commentary highlights Starbucks’ roughly 25% 2026 gain and suggests investors are rewarding its operational reset and investments in the cafe experience. The rally follows the company’s latest quarterly earnings beat, with adjusted EPS of $0.85 versus a $0.66 consensus estimate and revenue above expectations.
• Neutral Sentiment: The restructuring is relocating some corporate operations to a new, approximately $100 million Nashville office. Around 120 Seattle employees reportedly declined the move, while another 104 roles in store design and construction are being eliminated. Management characterizes the actions as part of the restructuring winding down, but the savings and impact on execution remain to be demonstrated. Starbucks cuts another 224 Seattle jobs
• Negative Sentiment: Starbucks continues to face challenges in China, where domestic competitors, shifting consumer preferences and geopolitical tensions are eroding the position of major U.S. brands. China weakness could limit international growth and pressure comparable sales. Why some of America’s biggest brands are losing ground in China
• Negative Sentiment: The stock’s strong performance has also produced a demanding valuation, with the supplied data showing a P/E ratio above 60. Investors may require sustained earnings growth from the turnaround to justify the premium, leaving SBUX vulnerable to disappointment.

Insider Transactions at Starbucks

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

Starbucks Stock Performance

NASDAQ:SBUX opened at $107.08 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $122.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 61.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.97. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $104.45 and its 200 day moving average price is $100.36. Starbucks Corporation has a 52 week low of $77.99 and a 52 week high of $110.51.

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

Starbucks Announces Dividend

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

About Starbucks

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.