Huntington National Bank Sells 10,729 Shares of Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Key Points

• Huntington National Bank reduced its Starbucks stake by 16% in the fourth quarter, selling 10,729 shares and leaving it with 56,181 shares valued at about $4.73 million.
• Starbucks reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $0.50 versus $0.44 expected and revenue of $9.53 billion, while raising FY2026 EPS guidance to $2.25–$2.45.
• Despite some operational concerns, including a scrapped AI inventory tool and a sales drop in South Korea, analyst sentiment remains constructive, with a consensus Moderate Buy rating and a $107.48 price target.

Huntington National Bank cut its position in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report) by 16.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 56,181 shares of the coffee company's stock after selling 10,729 shares during the quarter. Huntington National Bank's holdings in Starbucks were worth $4,731,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SBUX. Collier Financial bought a new position in Starbucks in the third quarter worth about $25,000. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd bought a new position in Starbucks in the third quarter worth about $26,000. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Starbucks

In related news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 2,229 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.81, for a total value of $233,621.49. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 81,559 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,548,198.79. This represents a 2.66% decrease in their position. The sale 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. Also, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares of the 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 $242,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 59,609 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,789,226.08. This trade represents a 4.03% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 11,187 shares of company stock worth $1,111,085. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Starbucks

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks said afternoon customer traffic is rising as its turnaround efforts gain traction, a sign that demand may be improving in a key daypart for sales. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks named Starbucks to its Strong Buy income list, signaling continued analyst confidence in the stock despite recent volatility. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage this week highlighted Starbucks as a turnaround story, with some articles arguing the company’s recovery is getting a boost from consumer coffee habits and new products. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks presented at Bernstein’s strategic conference, keeping management’s turnaround narrative in front of investors. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts revisited why Starbucks has lagged since its last earnings report, but the piece mainly framed the move as a post-earnings performance check rather than a new catalyst. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Starbucks’ stock has also been getting attention from short-interest updates and broader investor commentary, but these did not point to a major new fundamental change. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Starbucks quietly retired its AI inventory tool after it reportedly miscounted stock and slowed baristas, raising concerns about execution risks in its technology strategy. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Separate reports said Starbucks suffered a significant sales decline in South Korea after a backlash tied to a marketing campaign, highlighting reputational and international growth risks. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary on the failed AI rollout also argued that Starbucks is stepping back from AI while other companies accelerate adoption, which could be read as a sign of weaker innovation momentum. Article Title

Starbucks Stock Performance

Starbucks stock opened at $100.75 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $98.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $93.73. Starbucks Corporation has a one year low of $77.99 and a one year high of $108.88. The stock has a market cap of $114.82 billion, a PE ratio of 76.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.01.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The coffee company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $9.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.17 billion. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 29.24% and a net margin of 3.89%.The company's revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.41 earnings per share. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.250-2.450 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. Starbucks's dividend payout ratio is 187.88%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SBUX has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Starbucks in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Tigress Financial initiated coverage on Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $122.00 price target for the company. TD Cowen upgraded Starbucks from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the company from $106.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Piper Sandler reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $110.00 price target on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Starbucks 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.

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