Franklin Resources Inc. Grows Stock Position in Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Key Points

• Franklin Resources raised its stake in Starbucks by 6.8% in Q3 to 3,361,809 shares (about $284.4 million), representing roughly 0.30% of the company.
• Insider selling has picked up recently: CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares and EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares on March 5, and insiders have disposed of 4,729 shares worth $460,974 in the past 90 days (insiders now own ~0.03%).
• Starbucks missed EPS estimates with $0.56 for the reported quarter while topping revenue forecasts at $9.92 billion, set FY2026 EPS guidance of 2.15–2.40, and currently trades at a high valuation (market cap ~$114.1B; P/E ~82.8) with an average analyst price target near $104.22.

Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report) by 6.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 3,361,809 shares of the coffee company's stock after acquiring an additional 213,401 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.30% of Starbucks worth $284,409,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Transce3nd LLC lifted its stake in shares of Starbucks by 270.3% in the 2nd quarter. Transce3nd LLC now owns 274 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd purchased a new stake in Starbucks in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. MTM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Starbucks in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, PFS Partners LLC lifted its position in Starbucks by 457.4% in the third quarter. PFS Partners LLC now owns 340 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Starbucks news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares of Starbucks stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total transaction of $159,373.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 86,605 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,411,077.60. The trade was a 1.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total value of $242,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 59,609 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,789,226.08. This represents a 4.03% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 4,729 shares of company stock worth $460,974 in the last 90 days. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Starbucks Price Performance

NASDAQ SBUX opened at $100.18 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $94.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of $88.21. The company has a market capitalization of $114.14 billion, a PE ratio of 82.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.93. Starbucks Corporation has a 1 year low of $75.50 and a 1 year high of $104.82.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.59 by ($0.03). Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 28.66% and a net margin of 3.63%.The firm had revenue of $9.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.62 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.69 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.150-2.400 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on SBUX. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Starbucks from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, November 22nd. Evercore restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Starbucks in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $103.00 price objective (up from $100.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $113.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Wolfe Research began coverage on Starbucks in a research report on Monday. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $104.22.

More Starbucks News

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: High‑profile endorsement: CNBC reports that market commentator Josh Brown added Starbucks to his "Best Stocks" list, reinforcing momentum narrative and investor confidence in the turnaround. Starbucks makes it into Josh Brown's Best Stocks list as turnaround gains steam
• Positive Sentiment: Customer retention lift: TheStreet reports Starbucks has made its rewards program more generous, which management says is helping demand and could lift same‑store sales if retention trends continue. Starbucks makes its rewards program more generous for customers
• Positive Sentiment: Short interest down: Recent data showed a material fall in short interest (February), reducing a near‑term bearish overhang and potential for short squeezes to unwind — supportive for the tape. (No link)
• Neutral Sentiment: Shareholder forum scheduled: Starbucks will webcast its 2026 annual meeting on March 25; a governance update opportunity but unlikely to move fundamentals immediately. Starbucks to Webcast 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
• Neutral Sentiment: Insider activity: CEO Brady Brewer sold a small number of shares (~588), a minor reduction that is being treated by the market as routine rather than a signal of deteriorating prospects. SEC Form 4
• Negative Sentiment: Sell-side and media skepticism: A Yahoo Finance/MSN "3 Reasons to Sell SBUX" piece argues valuation and execution risks remain despite the rally, which can pressure sentiment among rotational or value‑focused investors. 3 Reasons to Sell SBUX and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst caution: Wolfe Research initiated coverage and moved SBUX to Peer Perform (from Outperform), signaling more guarded views on competitive pressures and limiting upside from fresh buy‑side interest. Wolfe Research Turns Neutral on Starbucks (SBUX) amid Competitive Coffee Market
• Negative Sentiment: Store footprint changes & PR noise: Coverage of additional store closures/strategy shifts and founder Howard Schultz's move to Miami (amid a state tax story) create execution and reputational headlines that can weigh on sentiment short term. Starbucks announces more store closures as strategy shifts Starbucks Founder Leaves Washington State With Millionaire Tax

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.

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