Better Stock to Buy Right Now: Dutch Bros vs. Starbucks
Yahoo Finance·2026-03-15 18:41

Industry Overview - Approximately 66% of Americans drink coffee daily, with over 80% of that group consuming two or more cups, indicating a robust market that has exceeded $100 billion in the U.S. coffee industry [1] Company Analysis: Dutch Bros - Dutch Bros is a rapidly growing drive-thru coffee chain, which increased its revenue by 27.9% year over year in fiscal year 2025 and opened 154 new shops across 22 states [3] - The company's adjusted EBITDA rose by 31.4% compared to the previous year, showcasing strong operational performance [3] - Dutch Bros is developing a hot food menu to enhance customer attraction and retention, positioning itself to compete directly with established brands like Starbucks and Dunkin' [5] - Despite a nearly 15% decline in stock value over the past 12 months, Goldman Sachs upgraded Dutch Bros from neutral to buy, indicating renewed investor confidence [5] Company Analysis: Starbucks - Starbucks faced challenges in the previous fiscal year, with global comparable-store sales declining by 1%, although consolidated net revenues increased by 3% [6] - The company closed over 400 stores in North America, which contributed to a significant drop in operating margin [6] - Starbucks is implementing a "Back to Starbucks" restructuring plan aimed at reestablishing the brand as a welcoming coffee shop, with expectations of 3% or more growth in comparable-store sales and slight margin improvement in 2026 [7] - The company plans to open between 600 and 650 new coffeehouses globally this year, and its stock has risen by 19% thus far in 2026, although it may be slightly overvalued with a forward P/E ratio of 43 [8]