National Pension Service Has $227.11 Million Stake in Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Key Points

• National Pension Service increased its Starbucks stake by 4.9% in the fourth quarter, ending with 2.7 million shares valued at about $227.1 million. Institutional investors remain heavily involved, owning 72.29% of the stock.
• Starbucks reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $0.50 versus $0.44 expected and revenue of $9.53 billion versus $9.17 billion expected. The company also raised optimism with FY2026 EPS guidance of 2.25 to 2.45.
• Recent news around the stock is mixed: executives sold shares in pre-arranged transactions, while analysts remain broadly positive with a consensus Moderate Buy rating and average target price of $107.48. Starbucks also paid a quarterly dividend of $0.62 per share, equal to a 2.5% annualized yield.

National Pension Service lifted its stake in shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report) by 4.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,696,899 shares of the coffee company's stock after purchasing an additional 125,412 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned approximately 0.24% of Starbucks worth $227,106,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of SBUX. Collier Financial acquired a new position in Starbucks in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Rachor Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd acquired a new position in Starbucks in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Finally, Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Starbucks

In other news, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $210,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 57,653 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,053,565. This trade represents a 3.35% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Brady Brewer sold 2,229 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.81, for a total transaction of $233,621.49. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 81,559 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,548,198.79. This represents a 2.66% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 11,187 shares of company stock valued at $1,111,085. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Starbucks Price Performance

Shares of SBUX stock opened at $99.16 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $113.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 75.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $99.03 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $93.77. Starbucks Corporation has a one year low of $77.99 and a one year high of $108.88.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The coffee company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $9.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $9.17 billion. Starbucks had a net margin of 3.89% and a negative return on equity of 29.24%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.41 earnings per share. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.250-2.450 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th were paid a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 15th. Starbucks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 187.88%.

Key Headlines Impacting Starbucks

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

SBUX has been the topic of several analyst reports. Evercore increased their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Starbucks from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $106.00 to $120.00 in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $115.00 price objective (up from $110.00) on shares of Starbucks in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Starbucks from $99.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Scotiabank lowered shares of Starbucks from a "market perform" rating to an "underperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SBUX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.