Starbucks (SBUX) News Today

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) shares edged lower as investors balanced strategic initiatives—like health-and-wellness product launches and a potential China business stake sale—against multiple earnings estimate cuts from analysts.

Key developments include:

• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks is making an aggressive push into the wellness market, rolling out matcha-based drinks and expanding tests of coconut-water beverages in hundreds more stores to capture health-conscious consumers. Starbucks Is Making a Play for the Wellness Market. Will it Work?
• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks has asked shortlisted bidders to submit non‐binding offers for up to a 10% stake in its China business—potentially valuing the unit at about $10 billion and unlocking value in its largest international market. Starbucks expects non-binding bids for China business within two weeks, sources say
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst firm William Blair raised its FY2026 EPS forecast slightly to $2.37, signaling confidence in Starbucks’ ability to sustain earnings growth next year.
• Neutral Sentiment: William Blair also projected FY2027 EPS of $2.94, roughly in line with Street consensus. William Blair Predicts Starbucks FY2027 Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: A MarketBeat feature cited Starbucks among three fast-casual stocks defying sector headwinds through menu innovation. 3 Fast Food Stocks Defying the Odds (SBUX)
• Neutral Sentiment: Fortune reported that Starbucks’ CEO replaced merit-based raises with a flat 2% salary increase for all salaried staff to manage costs during its turnaround. Starbucks’ CEO is ditching a merit system and giving all salaried staff a flat 2% pay raise instead
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors can review a Yahoo Finance analysis on whether SBUX’s current valuation is supported by its intrinsic value and long-term growth prospects. Is Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) Expensive For A Reason? A Look At Its Intrinsic Value
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research cut multiple upcoming EPS estimates—from Q4 2025 down to $0.61 (versus prior $0.72) and FY2026 to $2.72 (from $3.06), with further reductions for Q1–Q3 2026 and FY2027—raising concerns about near-term profit momentum.
• Negative Sentiment: TipRanks noted SBUX fell nearly 1.5% after the initial coconut-water beverage launches underperformed investor expectations. “Health and Wellness at Starbucks Isn’t a Trend” Starbucks Stock (NASDAQ:SBUX) Down Nearly 1.5% With New Coconut Water Beverages
• Negative Sentiment: Traditional Japanese tea-ceremony experts remain skeptical of Starbucks’ matcha push, questioning whether the mainstream market will sustain such wellness trends. Matcha madness leaves Japan's tea ceremony pros skeptical