Core Insights - Starbucks reported a return to growth in quarterly same-store sales for the first time in nearly two years, indicating the success of its turnaround strategy [1] - Global same-store sales increased by 1%, driven by international markets, while U.S. same-store sales were flat but turned positive in September [1] - The company’s fiscal fourth-quarter net income was $133.1 million, or 12 cents per share, a significant decrease from $909.3 million, or 80 cents per share, a year earlier [2] Financial Performance - Excluding restructuring costs and other items, adjusted earnings per share were 52 cents, slightly below the expected 56 cents [6] - Net sales rose by 5% to $9.57 billion, surpassing the expected $9.35 billion [6] Strategic Initiatives - The company closed 627 locations and laid off approximately 900 nonretail employees as part of a restructuring plan [3] - Starbucks has been investing in labor by adding assistant store managers to many North American cafes, which impacted operating margins [3] - To enhance U.S. sales, the company focused on improving in-store customer experience and reducing service times to under four minutes per order [4] Market Performance - In China, same-store sales increased by 2%, supported by a 9% rise in traffic, despite competition from local rivals [5] - The company is considering selling a stake in its China business, which is valued at over $10 billion [5]