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Starbucks shares target trimmed as Barclays says new CEO’s strategy still percolating

EditorEmilio Ghigini
Published 10/31/2024, 05:58 PM
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On Thursday, Barclays has adjusted its price target for Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), revising it down to $108 from the previous $110 while maintaining an Overweight rating on the company's stock. The revision follows a detailed review of Starbucks' recent strategic initiatives announced by the company's CEO, who has been in his role for over 50 days.

The company's leadership outlined several short and long-term plans aimed at revitalizing the brand and reaffirming its position as a leading coffeehouse. The analyst noted that while the initiatives are straightforward and draw on the CEO's lifelong experience as a customer, they will require time to fully implement. There was no specific guidance provided for fiscal year 2025, but the follow-up call with the CFO offered directional insights into the company's future plans.

Starbucks plans to moderate its historical spending on new unit growth and renovations in fiscal year 2025 as these new strategies begin to take effect. The analyst emphasized that this shift in investment strategy should not be interpreted as a sign that Starbucks is stepping back from its long-term growth ambitions.

The company's approach includes a focus on returning to its core strengths and enhancing the customer experience, which may involve a recalibration of investment priorities in the near term. Despite the lowered price target, the Overweight rating suggests that Barclays continues to see the stock as a potentially strong performer relative to its peers.

In other recent news, Starbucks Corporation reported a 7% drop in global comparable sales for the fourth quarter, with a significant 14% decrease in China, its second-largest market. The company's net income also saw a reduction to $909.3 million, or 80 cents per share, down from $1.22 billion, or $1.06 per share, in the same quarter of the previous year. Amid these challenges, the newly appointed CEO, Brian Niccol, is focused on simplifying the menu and enhancing cafe operations.

CFRA has adjusted its price target for Starbucks to $104, maintaining a Buy rating despite the company's reported 3% decline in revenues to $9.10 billion and a 25% decrease in GAAP EPS to $0.80. TD Cowen also affirmed its Buy rating on Starbucks, expressing confidence in the company's revitalization efforts under CEO Brian Niccol. Meanwhile, UBS raised the price target for Starbucks shares to $95.00 from $85.00, maintaining a Neutral rating.

These adjustments follow Starbucks' recent announcement of strategic plans dubbed "Back to Starbucks," which are expected to address the company's current challenges and stimulate growth. Despite the near-term transaction pressure, the company has increased its quarterly dividend by 7% and is expanding its global coffee research efforts with the addition of two new coffee innovation farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica. These are recent developments in Starbucks' efforts to navigate its current challenges and stimulate growth in the future.

InvestingPro Insights

To complement Barclays' analysis of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), recent data from InvestingPro offers additional context for investors. As of the last twelve months ending Q3 2024, Starbucks reported a revenue of $36.48 billion, with a modest growth of 4.17%. The company's operating income margin stands at 15.12%, indicating a solid profitability level despite the challenges mentioned in the article.

InvestingPro Tips highlight Starbucks' commitment to shareholder returns, noting that the company "has raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years." This consistent dividend growth, coupled with a current dividend yield of 2.51%, may appeal to income-focused investors even as the company recalibrates its investment strategy.

Another relevant InvestingPro Tip points out that Starbucks is "trading at a high P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth," with a current P/E ratio of 27.18. This valuation metric aligns with the article's discussion of the company's future growth prospects and the time needed to implement new initiatives.

For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 7 additional tips that could provide further insights into Starbucks' financial health and market position.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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