Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) Sees Significant Decrease in Short Interest

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 41,238,097 shares, a decrease of 14.8% from the February 12th total of 48,403,877 shares. Currently, 3.6% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,448,806 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.4 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,448,806 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.4 days. Currently, 3.6% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Starbucks Price Performance

NASDAQ:SBUX opened at $97.82 on Tuesday. Starbucks has a one year low of $75.50 and a one year high of $104.82. The company has a market cap of $111.45 billion, a PE ratio of 80.84, a PEG ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.93. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $95.50 and a 200-day moving average of $88.39.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.59 by ($0.03). Starbucks had a net margin of 3.63% and a negative return on equity of 28.66%. The company had revenue of $9.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.62 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.69 earnings per share. Starbucks’s revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.150-2.400 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Starbucks will post 2.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on SBUX. William Blair raised Starbucks from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Starbucks from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $103.00 target price (up from $100.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Bank of America set a $114.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Starbucks from $94.00 to $92.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $104.22.

Insider Transactions at Starbucks

In other Starbucks news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total transaction of $159,373.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 86,605 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,411,077.60. This represents a 1.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Sara Kelly sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 59,609 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,789,226.08. The trade was a 4.03% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 4,729 shares of company stock valued at $460,974 over the last 90 days. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Starbucks by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 114,410,675 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $9,634,523,000 after purchasing an additional 971,773 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 11.4% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 85,460,350 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $7,229,968,000 after acquiring an additional 8,774,198 shares during the period. Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 9.0% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 84,727,405 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $7,135,228,000 after acquiring an additional 7,007,268 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Starbucks by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 47,869,056 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $4,031,053,000 after purchasing an additional 327,161 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 26,373,084 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $2,212,153,000 after purchasing an additional 225,168 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Starbucks

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Comparable-store sales accelerated in the most recent quarter and management’s “Back to Starbucks” strategy is cited as supporting stronger near-term growth versus peers, which underpins buy-side arguments. Starbucks vs. Nike: Which Dividend Stock Is a Better Buy?
• Positive Sentiment: Technical momentum surged (Benzinga Edge score jumped), aided by political pushback defending coffee chains against a high-profile sugar-safety probe — this can attract short-term technical buyers. Starbucks’ Momentum Score Spikes As Massachusetts Governor Defends Coffee Chains Against RFK Jr.’s Sugar Safety Probe
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentators are mentioning Starbucks in Nasdaq retail-index conversations, which could raise institutional visibility and passive-flow interest. Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) Emerges In Nasdaq Index Retail Conversations
• Neutral Sentiment: Guggenheim kept a Neutral rating but nudged its price target higher to $95 while trimming FY26–FY27 forecasts — a mixed signal that tempers upside until growth visibility improves. Guggenheim Maintains Neutral Rating on Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) Despite Updated Projections
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry roundups list restaurant Q4 winners/losers including major chains; these context pieces aren’t a direct catalyst but inform competitive positioning. Q4 2025’s restaurant winners and loses
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles about limited-time offers and retail traffic note the role of seasonal Starbucks products (e.g., PSL) in driving visits — useful for same-store-sales seasonality but not an immediate stock mover. Coca-Cola brings exclusive new soda to Walmart
• Negative Sentiment: Shareholders are pushing to remove board members over stalled union talks, signaling heightened governance and labor risk that could disrupt operations and investor confidence if escalated. Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talks
• Negative Sentiment: A data breach was reported from several weeks ago; although initial reports say shoppers were largely unaffected, breaches carry regulatory, remediation and reputational risks that can pressure the stock. Data Breach Hits Starbucks, Leaves Shoppers Untouched: Starbucks Stock (NASDAQ:SBUX) Notches Down

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.