Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is included among the 13 Best NASDAQ Dividend Stocks to Buy Now. Citi Sees Continued Uncertainty around Starbucks (SBUX) Recovery, Cuts Target On February 1, Citi analyst Jon Tower lowered his price recommendation on Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) to $92 from $94. The analyst reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm said questions still remain after the company’s recent earnings report and investor event, leaving some uncertainty around the pace of its ...

Core Insights - Starbucks Corporation reported financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 28, 2025, indicating that the "Back to Starbucks" strategy is yielding positive results with increased customer engagement and sales momentum [3][6]. Q1 Fiscal Year 2026 Highlights - Net revenues for the North America segment increased by 3% year-over-year to $7.3 billion, driven by a 4% increase in comparable store sales, which included a 3% rise in transactions and a 1% increase in average ticket [6][9]. - Operating income for the North America segment decreased to $867 million, with an operating margin of 11.9%, down from 16.7% in the prior year, primarily due to labor investments and inflationary pressures [7][9]. - The International segment saw net revenues rise by 10% to $2.1 billion, supported by a 5% increase in comparable store sales and a 19% increase in operating income to $282.7 million [11][12]. - The Channel Development segment reported a 20% increase in net revenues to $522.7 million, attributed to growth in the Global Coffee Alliance and ready-to-drink business [13][14]. Company Update - Starbucks announced a joint venture with Boyu Capital to operate its retail in China, with Boyu acquiring up to a 60% interest, while Starbucks retains a 40% interest [20]. - The company appointed Anand Varadarajan as chief technology officer effective January 19, 2026 [20]. - A cash dividend of $0.62 per share was declared, reflecting the company's commitment to consistent value creation for shareholders [20]. Fiscal Year 2026 Guidance - The company anticipates global and U.S. comparable store sales growth of 3% or greater, with consolidated net revenues growing at a similar rate [20]. - Non-GAAP consolidated operating margin is expected to slightly improve year-over-year, with earnings per share projected in the range of $2.15 to $2.40 [20].

Core Viewpoint - Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. is viewed as a potentially safe investment despite recent stock declines, with a yield of 3.3% indicating value for investors [1] Company Overview - Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. produces and distributes a variety of beverages, including soft drinks, specialty coffee, tea, and ready-to-drink beverages [1] Strategic Decisions - The company is recognized for making strategic changes, including the decision to break up its business, which is seen as a positive move as the combination of a coffee machine company with a soda company lacked real benefits [1] - Wall Street prefers companies that are simpler and easier to understand, suggesting that the breakup could enhance investor appeal [1]

Core Insights - Dutch Bros has signed a lease for a new build-to-suit location in Folsom, California, expected to open in Q2 2026 [1] - The new facility will feature dual drive-thru lanes and walk-up service windows to accommodate high traffic [2] - The expansion in Folsom is part of Dutch Bros' growth strategy in the Sacramento area, building on its existing presence in Northern California [4] Company Overview - Dutch Bros is recognized as one of the fastest-growing quick-service beverage brands in the U.S., recently surpassing 1,000 stores across 18 states [5] - The company is known for its energetic culture, community involvement, high-quality drinks, personalized service, and a secret menu [5] Development Details - The new Folsom location will be 986 square feet and is designed to handle up to 20 vehicles in the drive-thru lanes [2] - LRE & Co will manage all construction aspects, with architecture and engineering contracts currently being finalized [3]

Core Insights - U.S. restaurant spending increased by 3.7% year-over-year in August, up from 2.5% in July, indicating a recovery in the sector as consumers returned to both chain and independent restaurants [1] Group 1: Restaurant Performance - Chain restaurants reduced their decline to 0.9% from a 2.9% drop in July, while independent eateries saw growth rise to 5.3% from 4.3% [2] - Quick-service restaurants, excluding pizza, experienced a decline of 1.3%, though this was an improvement from July's 2.9% contraction [3] - Pizza restaurants improved their performance, with spending down 2.8% compared to a 4.8% decline in the previous month [4] - Fast-casual dining establishments nearly returned to growth, with declines slowing to 0.6% from 2.6% [4] - Casual dining chains rebounded with a 2.4% increase after a 1.1% contraction [5] - Specialty coffee chains surged by 16.7%, following a 14.3% gain in July [5] Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Spending Trends - Brick-and-mortar spending increased by 2.5% year-over-year, up from 1.0% in July, indicating rising foot traffic [6] - Online orders showed slight deceleration, growing at 8.6% compared to 8.7% in July, but remain significantly ahead of in-person sales [6] Group 3: Income and Regional Analysis - Households earning $50,000–$125,000 led spending growth at 7.4%, followed by high-income consumers over $125,000 at 5.8%, and lower-income households under $50,000 at 4.2% [7] - Online spending was particularly strong among middle- and lower-income groups, growing over 11% compared to 8.5% for higher earners [7] - Cleveland experienced the highest growth at 8.3%, while Denver lagged at 2.9%, highlighting the impact of local economic conditions [8]

Core Insights - Reborn Coffee Inc. has signed a $1 million exclusive licensing agreement with Reborn Korea Co., Ltd. to develop and operate retail locations in South Korea [1][2] - The partnership aims to introduce Reborn Coffee's specialty offerings, including cold brew and café menu, while adapting to local consumer preferences [2][4] - South Korea is the third-largest coffee-consuming country per capita, making it a strategic market for Reborn Coffee's premium products [4] Company Expansion - The flagship store will be located in the Seoul Metropolitan center, enhancing brand visibility and access to high foot traffic [5] - Reborn Korea plans to open additional stores in Gwangjin, Nami Island, and Bundang, with further expansion into major provincial cities within the year [7] - This agreement is part of Reborn Coffee's broader global expansion strategy, following successful licensing deals in various regions including the Middle East and China [8] New Headquarters - Reborn Coffee's new three-story headquarters will open in front of Gwanghwamun, featuring a café, roasting lab, education center, and office space [6] - The flagship store will offer a unique experience with a café and bakery on the first floor, a roasting research lab on the second, and training rooms on the third [6][7] - The location is designed to become a landmark for premium coffee and bakery experiences in Seoul [7] Market Position - Reborn Coffee is focused on delivering high-quality, handcrafted coffee experiences and is redefining the coffeehouse model through innovation [9] - The company's expansion into South Korea aligns with its strategy to build a high-quality coffee experience in key international markets [4][8]

Core Insights - Reborn Coffee Inc. has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Otonomus Hotel to innovate hospitality and retail coffee service through AI technology [1][2] - The partnership aims to develop an autonomous drive-thru coffee experience and premium in-suite coffee offerings for hotel guests [2][3] Partnership Details - The collaboration will integrate Reborn Coffee's specialty coffee expertise with Otonomus Hotel's AI-driven hospitality vision [2] - An autonomous drive-thru will be located at the front of the Otonomus Hotel, accessible to both guests and the public [2] - In-room offerings will include cold brew cans, single-serve coffee capsules, and smart coffee machines, enhancing guest experience [3] Innovation and Technology - The partnership will explore features such as loyalty perks and room charge capabilities for seamless transactions [4] - In-room QR codes will allow guests to reorder or subscribe to Reborn products easily, with additional sales opportunities at the hotel's gift shop [4] Strategic Vision - The MOU is seen as a step towards shaping the future of hospitality, focusing on guest satisfaction and operational excellence [5] - The agreement is non-binding and will last for an initial term of six months while operational and revenue-sharing details are finalized [5] Company Background - Otonomus Hotel is a next-generation hospitality brand that emphasizes AI integration and autonomous services [6] - Reborn Coffee, Inc. is a California-based specialty coffee retailer known for high-quality, handcrafted coffee experiences and innovative initiatives [7]