Intech Investment Management LLC Sells 22,501 Shares of Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Intech Investment Management LLC cut its position in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 18.6% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 98,411 shares of the coffee company’s stock after selling 22,501 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $8,287,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in SBUX. Capital Research Global Investors raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 11.4% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 85,460,350 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $7,229,968,000 after buying an additional 8,774,198 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 146.6% in the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,049,192 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $553,201,000 after buying an additional 3,596,014 shares during the period. Capital International Investors raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 22.5% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 14,691,772 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $1,243,104,000 after buying an additional 2,699,479 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 80.6% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 5,105,164 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $433,923,000 after buying an additional 2,277,792 shares during the period. Finally, Capital World Investors raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 1.9% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 77,720,137 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $6,575,430,000 after buying an additional 1,462,874 shares during the period. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Starbucks News

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks said afternoon traffic is rising after its strategy shift, with visits after 2 p.m. improving as the company pushes new products and efforts to bring customers back into stores. Starbucks says afternoon traffic is rising as turnaround starts to take hold
• Positive Sentiment: Another report echoed the improving traffic trend, suggesting Starbucks’ turnaround plan may be starting to lift demand during traditionally slower afternoon hours. Starbucks sees a lift in afternoon traffic after a strategy shift
• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks received a Zacks Strong Buy income-stock mention, which may help reinforce the bullish view that the stock remains attractive to some investors. Best Income Stocks to Buy for May 28th
• Neutral Sentiment: Alsea launched the first Starbucks Smart Lounge in Chile, expanding the brand’s footprint and adding a work-and-meeting format that could support future international growth. Alsea launches first Starbucks Smart Lounge in Chile
• Neutral Sentiment: Starbucks’ presentation at Bernstein’s Strategic Decisions Conference likely kept investors focused on management’s turnaround messaging, but it did not introduce a clearly new catalyst. Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) Presents at Bernstein 42nd Annual Strategic Decisions Conference Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that Starbucks quietly retired an AI inventory agent after it miscounted stock and slowed baristas may raise questions about the effectiveness of some of its operational technology investments. Starbucks quietly retired its AI agent just months after deployment after it hallucinated coffee shop inventories and slowed down baristas
• Negative Sentiment: Separate coverage on South Korea highlighted a sales drop and backlash tied to a marketing controversy, underscoring ongoing brand and international execution risks. Starbucks Suffers Significant Drop in Sales in South Korea
• Negative Sentiment: Another article said Starbucks’ South Korea backlash is testing international growth and governance controls, which could keep pressure on sentiment if the issue spreads or worsens. Starbucks South Korea Backlash Tests International Growth And Governance Controls

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 2,229 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.81, for a total value of $233,621.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 81,559 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,548,198.79. This represents a 2.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed 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. Also, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total value of $242,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 59,609 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,789,226.08. The trade was a 4.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 11,187 shares of company stock valued at $1,111,085. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Starbucks Stock Down 1.6%

Starbucks stock opened at $99.16 on Friday. Starbucks Corporation has a 52 week low of $77.99 and a 52 week high of $108.88. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $99.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $93.77. The stock has a market cap of $113.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 75.12, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.01.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The coffee company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.06. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 29.24% and a net margin of 3.89%.The business had revenue of $9.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.17 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.41 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.250-2.450 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Starbucks Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 29th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 15th. Starbucks’s payout ratio is presently 187.88%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on SBUX shares. Stephens started coverage on Starbucks in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. They issued an “overweight” rating on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. BTIG Research cut Starbucks from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. Guggenheim reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $97.00 price target (up from $95.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on Starbucks in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. They issued an “underperform” rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $107.48.

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.