Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the twenty-seven research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $98.72.

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Starbucks from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $103.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Guggenheim cut their price target on shares of Starbucks from $95.00 to $83.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Robert W. Baird restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $85.00 price objective (down previously from $114.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Monday, April 7th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Starbucks from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Starbucks from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th.

Starbucks Stock Down 0.6 %

SBUX traded down $0.52 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $82.19. The stock had a trading volume of 8,755,614 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,220,029. The stock has a market cap of $93.40 billion, a PE ratio of 26.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.99. Starbucks has a 1 year low of $71.55 and a 1 year high of $117.46. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $91.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $97.10.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The coffee company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.10). Starbucks had a net margin of 9.73% and a negative return on equity of 44.97%. The business had revenue of $8.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $8.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Starbucks will post 2.99 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be given a $0.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 16th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.97%. Starbucks's payout ratio is presently 88.41%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Starbucks

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of SBUX. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. acquired a new position in shares of Starbucks in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Graney & King LLC purchased a new position in shares of Starbucks during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Collier Financial purchased a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Institutional investors own 72.29% of the company's stock.

About Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items.