Rep. Kevin Hern Unloads Shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Key Points

• Rep. Kevin Hern sold $15,001–$50,000 of Starbucks shares from his family trust on September 23, alongside sales of several other stocks.
• Starbucks reported quarterly earnings of $0.85 per share, beating estimates, while revenue reached $9.32 billion but declined 1.4% year over year. The stock opened at $93.25, below its 50- and 200-day moving averages.
• Starbucks raised its quarterly dividend to $0.63 per share, a 1.6% increase, though analysts’ consensus rating remains “Hold” with a target price of $110.80.

Representative Kevin Hern (Republican-Oklahoma) recently sold shares of Starbucks Corporation NASDAQ: SBUX. In a filing disclosed on October 13th, the Representative disclosed that they had sold between $15,001 and $50,000 in Starbucks stock on September 23rd. The trade occurred in the Representative's "HERN FAMILY REVOCABLE TRUST" account.

Representative Kevin Hern also recently made the following trade(s):

• Sold $15,001 - $50,000 in shares of NextEra Energy NYSE: NEE on 10/2/2026.
• Sold $15,001 - $50,000 in shares of Lockheed Martin NYSE: LMT on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $50,001 - $100,000 in shares of Devon Energy NYSE: DVN on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 - $50,000 in shares of Devon Energy NYSE: DVN on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $50,001 - $100,000 in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies NYSE: MRSH on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $1,001 - $15,000 in shares of Home Depot NYSE: HD on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 - $50,000 in shares of UnitedHealth Group NYSE: UNH on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 - $50,000 in shares of Chevron NYSE: CVX on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $1,001 - $15,000 in shares of Chubb NYSE: CB on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 - $50,000 in shares of Lockheed Martin NYSE: LMT on 9/17/2026.

Starbucks Stock Up 1.4%

NASDAQ:SBUX opened at $93.25 on Thursday. The business's 50-day moving average price is $100.51 and its 200 day moving average price is $100.97. The firm has a market cap of $106.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.86, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.98. Starbucks Corporation has a 52-week low of $77.99 and a 52-week high of $110.51.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The coffee company reported $0.85 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $9.17 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.50 earnings per share. Starbucks's revenue for the quarter was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.550-2.650 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.59 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 27th. Investors of record on Friday, November 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.63 per share. This is an increase from Starbucks's previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 13th. Starbucks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 142.53%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. William Blair reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Starbucks in a report on Thursday, October 8th. BTIG Research restated a "buy" rating on shares of Starbucks in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a "buy" rating and issued a $126.00 price target (up from $120.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Argus lifted their price target on shares of Starbucks from $112.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Starbucks in a report on Monday, September 21st. Twenty-three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $110.80.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Starbucks

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SBUX. Vertrix Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Starbucks by 27.6% in the third quarter. Vertrix Wealth Management LLC now owns 32,404 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $3,045,000 after buying an additional 7,017 shares in the last quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 2.8% during the third quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,714 shares of the coffee company's stock worth $1,007,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 3.4% in the third quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 23,341 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $2,193,000 after acquiring an additional 771 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 10.5% in the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 159,617 shares of the coffee company's stock worth $16,311,000 after acquiring an additional 15,211 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 49,260,268 shares of the coffee company's stock worth $5,033,907,000 after acquiring an additional 1,530,497 shares in the last quarter. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Starbucks news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, October 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.76, for a total value of $155,501.16. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 71,508 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,776,098.08. The trade was a 2.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 6,099 shares of company stock worth $627,135. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Starbucks

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks raised its quarterly dividend approximately 1.6% to $0.63 per share. The increase, combined with 7.9% global comparable-sales growth in the previous quarter, provides some support for the investment case ahead of earnings. Starbucks Just Hiked Its Dividend by 1.6%
• Positive Sentiment: The company is emphasizing its “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan rather than pursuing an acquisition, which could reassure investors that management remains focused on improving the core coffee business. Starbucks Refocuses on Its Turnaround Plan
• Positive Sentiment: A limited-time Target-exclusive collection featuring themed drinkware and cake pops could generate incremental traffic and strengthen Starbucks’ retail partnership, although the financial impact is likely modest. Starbucks Unveils Limited-Time Collection Exclusive to Target
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports said Starbucks explored acquiring Chipotle Mexican Grill, but discussions never reached a formal offer and Starbucks has since confirmed it will not pursue the deal. The episode highlights potential strategic ambition but is not an immediate earnings catalyst. Starbucks Shuts Down Deal Rumors
• Negative Sentiment: Over the past six months, Starbucks has lost roughly 6.7%, substantially trailing the S&P 500’s 12% gain. Analysts and commentators question whether the turnaround is strong enough to justify the stock’s valuation. Three Reasons to Avoid SBUX
• Negative Sentiment: Recent performance has been weak, with reported declines over the past week and month, reinforcing investor concern that operational improvements have not yet produced sustained share-price momentum. Starbucks Refocuses on Its Turnaround Plan

About Representative Hern

Kevin Hern (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. He assumed office on November 13, 2018. His current term ends on January 3, 2027. Hern (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election. Kevin Hern went into business as a McDonald's franchisee in 1999. He acquired 10 McDonald's franchises by 2012. He served on the McDonald's National Leadership Team for 13 years, including the tax policy team, the insurance corporation, and as chairman of the economics team. From 2011 to 2015, he was chairman of the finance committee of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

About Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation is a global specialty coffee company that operates coffeehouses and sells coffee, tea and other beverages, along with food products and merchandise. Its menu includes brewed coffee, espresso-based drinks, cold beverages, teas, bakery items and ready-to-eat food. Starbucks also markets packaged coffee, ready-to-drink beverages and related products through retail and grocery channels, often through licensing and other business partnerships.

Founded in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks expanded from a local coffee retailer into an international brand.

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