Riverbridge Partners LLC Has $38.02 Million Stake in Starbucks Corporation $SBUX

Riverbridge Partners LLC lowered its holdings in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 4.7% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 451,477 shares of the coffee company’s stock after selling 22,075 shares during the quarter. Riverbridge Partners LLC’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $38,019,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Transce3nd LLC boosted its stake in shares of Starbucks by 270.3% during the 2nd quarter. Transce3nd LLC now owns 274 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the third quarter valued at about $26,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Starbucks during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors bought a new stake in Starbucks during the third quarter worth about $27,000. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Starbucks Price Performance

SBUX stock opened at $91.22 on Friday. Starbucks Corporation has a one year low of $75.50 and a one year high of $104.82. The stock has a market cap of $103.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 75.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $96.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $88.71.

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). The company had revenue of $9.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.62 billion. Starbucks had a net margin of 3.63% and a negative return on equity of 28.66%. Starbucks’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.69 earnings per share. Starbucks has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.150-2.400 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Starbucks Corporation will post 2.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Key Starbucks News

Here are the key news stories impacting Starbucks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Starbucks is piloting additional ordering methods and technology in high‑traffic and licensed locations to increase access and throughput—efforts aimed at reducing lines and raising sales per location. Starbucks tests additional ordering methods in high-traffic locations
• Positive Sentiment: CEO Brian Niccol says the turnaround is progressing: investments in barista staffing and a push to open ~1,000 new “for‑here” coffeehouses this fiscal year (part of a longer-term 5,000 target) aim to rebuild traffic and the brand experience. Starbucks Has Its Shine Back, CEO Brian Niccol Says
• Positive Sentiment: The company is targeting $2 billion in cost savings over two years to help offset ongoing investments and support margin recovery—this is a direct levers-for-profitability story investors typically like if execution follows. Can Starbucks’ $2B Cost-Savings Plan Reignite Margin Expansion?
• Positive Sentiment: Operational efficiency pilots (including queue/time reductions at airports) and new service models are being tested to improve throughput and unit economics in premium, high-volume locations. Efficiency Not Out at Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) as it Looks to Shorten Airport Lines
• Neutral Sentiment: Real‑estate moves such as a large lease (WSJ opinion on Nashville) highlight continued expansion but have mixed near‑term financial impact depending on unit economics. Opinion | Starbucks to Nashville?
• Negative Sentiment: Governance and labor concerns rose after Starbucks dissolved its labor relations committee; activists are pushing director votes and union contract talks (with higher starting wage proposals) resume—this raises potential cost and execution risk. Starbucks Labor Governance Shakeup Puts Investor Focus On Costs And Risks
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple commentaries note the rally has stalled amid persistent operational issues; a recent earnings miss and critical analysis (Seeking Alpha) fuel skepticism about how quickly margins will recover. Starbucks: Full Price For A Half-Brewed Turnaround
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst commentary and press pieces warn the CEO’s prior “magic” may not be fully repeatable here; operational depth of problems has kept some investors cautious. Starbucks’ US$100 million CEO can’t repeat Chipotle stock magic
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage noting the stock “slides” despite product interest (e.g., demand for protein/functional coffee additions) highlights investor focus on near‑term execution over product momentum. “Functional Fuel”: Starbucks Stock (NASDAQ:SBUX) Slides Despite Growing Demand for Protein in Coffee

Insider Activity

In other Starbucks news, CEO Brady Brewer sold 1,641 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.12, for a total value of $159,373.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 86,605 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,411,077.60. This represents a 1.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available 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 sale, the executive vice president owned 59,609 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,789,226.08. This trade represents a 4.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders sold 4,729 shares of company stock worth $460,974. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on SBUX shares. Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded Starbucks from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and set a $105.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. William Blair upgraded shares of Starbucks from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $103.81.

Starbucks Profile

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.