Starbucks Stock Rises as U.S. Comparable Sales Climb 7.7%

What happened

Starbucks reported fourth-quarter non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.80, above the $0.72 consensus, on revenue of $9.14 billion. Revenue fell 4% mainly because Starbucks converted its China retail operations to a licensed joint venture. Shares rose 1.14% in premarket.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

Profit per sale widened as the company closed about 250 weak North American coffeehouses, and U.S. comparable sales rose 7.7% on more visits and larger orders. That combination shows the turnaround plan is lifting sales and profit even while reported revenue shrinks from the China change.

Analyst inference

The stock gained despite revenue missing estimates, suggesting investors focused on strong U.S. store sales and wider profit per sale. For fiscal 2027, a 53-week year, Starbucks expects earnings per share of $3.15 to $3.25, about 4% North American comparable sales growth, and revenue down about 1% as the China transition continues.

Analyst inference

What to watch

1. Starbucks plans about 1,200 net new coffeehouses and intends to resume share buybacks, which return cash to shareholders and can support the stock price. Confirmed
2. Watch whether U.S. comparable sales keep growing through more customer visits and larger average tickets, since those drove the 7.7% gain and support profit per sale. Analyst inference
3. Watch international comparable sales, which rose only 0.9% as transactions fell 2.8%, and whether the China licensed joint venture keeps pulling reported revenue lower. Analyst inference

Evidence

• gurufocus.com