US stock futures steady after Wall St gains on rate cut bets; PPI inflation on tap
Investing.com - Citi has raised its price target on Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) to $100 from $95 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the coffee chain’s stock. Currently trading at $94.94, the company commands a market capitalization of $107.89 billion and trades at a P/E ratio of 34.57, indicating a premium valuation according to InvestingPro data.
The research firm expects Starbucks to meet or slightly exceed expectations for U.S. same-store sales in its upcoming earnings report.
Citi analyst comments suggest management will likely report positive same-store sales results from the early Green Apron store implementations.
With the Green Apron rollout scheduled for completion by the end of summer, investors will be able to assess its sales impact during the fourth fiscal quarter and first fiscal quarter, which represent the company’s easiest year-over-year traffic and same-store sales comparisons.
Citi believes this outlook is sufficient for near-term bulls to control the market narrative, while noting that longer-term factors such as margin and profit targets remain wildcards for the upcoming earnings report.
In other recent news, Starbucks has been actively exploring the sale of a stake in its China operations, with potential valuations reaching up to $10 billion. The company is reportedly in discussions with several investment firms, including Centurium Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG), and KKR & Co., to potentially sell a controlling stake in its Chinese business. This move is part of Starbucks’ strategy to strengthen its market presence in China, a key international market for the company. Stifel has maintained its Buy rating on Starbucks, raising the price target to $105, reflecting optimism about the company’s potential partnerships in China. The investment firm emphasizes that securing a strategic partner in China could bolster Starbucks’ market share in the region. Meanwhile, Starbucks is also focusing on a brand revamp in the U.S., planning to remove canola oil from its food menu to cater to health-conscious consumers. This initiative aligns with efforts to reverse declining sales and includes the introduction of new products like egg bites made with avocado oil. Starbucks continues to evaluate proposals for its China business, with the review process still in its early stages.
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