Wall Street sees Starbucks comeback taking hold, even after another lackluster quarter

Core Insights - Wall Street is observing early signs of a turnaround for Starbucks, despite a quarterly earnings miss and a sixth consecutive quarter of declining same-store sales [1][2] Financial Performance - Starbucks reported weaker-than-expected earnings for its fiscal third quarter, with same-store sales decreasing for the sixth straight quarter [2] - The company's shares fell more than 1% in morning trading after initially rising 5% in extended trading, with a current market cap of approximately $104 billion [6] Traffic and Customer Engagement - Executives indicated that traffic improved sequentially every month during the quarter, suggesting potential recovery [2] - There was notable traffic growth from non-Starbucks Rewards members, a group that had previously been declining and contributing to sluggish sales [3] Strategic Initiatives - CEO Brian Niccol mentioned that the turnaround is ahead of schedule, supported by the accelerated rollout of the "Green Apron Service" labor program and mobile app enhancements [4] - Starbucks is planning to introduce new menu items in fiscal 2026, including protein cold foam and improved food options, which analysts believe will enhance same-store sales [5] Analyst Perspectives - Analysts are generally optimistic about Starbucks' recovery, with some expressing increased confidence in the company's innovation agenda [5] - However, there are mixed sentiments among investors regarding the effectiveness of Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" strategy, as the recovery is taking longer than expected [5]