Flputnam Investment Management Co. Acquires Shares of 64,260 Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Flputnam Investment Management Co. bought a new stake in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm bought 64,260 shares of the coffee company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,567,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of SBUX. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG raised its stake in Starbucks by 36.4% in the 4th quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG now owns 88,374 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $7,442,000 after purchasing an additional 23,589 shares during the last quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Starbucks by 94.5% during the 4th quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 94,260 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $7,938,000 after purchasing an additional 45,794 shares during the last quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 20.4% during the fourth quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 518,405 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $43,655,000 after buying an additional 87,926 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth $1,232,650,000. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in shares of Starbucks by 86.5% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 176,722 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $16,126,000 after buying an additional 81,952 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 2,229 shares of Starbucks 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 sale, the chief executive officer owned 75,135 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,963,558.65. The trade was a 2.88% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders have sold 6,687 shares of company stock worth $681,663. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Starbucks Stock Up 3.0%

NASDAQ SBUX opened at $107.08 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $104.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $100.36. The firm has a market cap of $122.07 billion, a PE ratio of 61.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.97. Starbucks Corporation has a 52 week low of $77.99 and a 52 week high of $110.51.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The coffee company reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.17 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.50 earnings per share. Starbucks’s revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.550-2.650 EPS. Research analysts expect that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.64 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Starbucks’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 142.53%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Compass Point initiated coverage on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Needham & Company LLC set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Starbucks in a report on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus set a $117.00 target price on shares of Starbucks and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut Starbucks from an “overweight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Nineteen research 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’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $110.30.

More Starbucks News

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.

Starbucks 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.