Dec 31, 2025 • MarketBeat
BEARISH
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) Downgraded to Strong Sell Rating by Zacks Research
Zacks Research has downgraded Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) from a "hold" to a "strong sell" rating. This follows similar downgrades from other brokerages and comes amidst mixed sentiment regarding Starbucks' strategic moves, including a partnership with MrBeast, AI investments, and store portfolio optimization, while the company missed analyst EPS estimates in its last quarterly earnings.
Dec 31, 2025 • Benzinga
SOMEWHAT-BULLISH
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol Points To Reddit Feedback As Proof Of Service Culture Revival
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol believes his "Back to Starbucks" plan is successfully reviving the company's service culture, citing a Reddit thread as evidence. The thread discussed job applicants being questioned on their views of customer service, indicating a renewed focus on this aspect. Despite challenges, Starbucks' Q4 revenue exceeded forecasts, and the stock is showing short-term upward momentum.
Dec 30, 2025 • 24/7 Wall St.
SOMEWHAT-BEARISH
Starbucks Winning Battle Against Labor
Starbucks has largely minimized the impact of unionization efforts by Starbucks Workers United over the past four years, with only a small fraction of its stores unionized. Recent strikes have not significantly disrupted operations or customer behavior, leaving the union with little leverage. The article argues that investor concerns about labor disputes are minor compared to Starbucks' current financial performance and stock decline.
Dec 30, 2025 • MarketBeat
NEUTRAL
Boston Trust Walden Corp Sells 44,871 Shares of Starbucks Corporation $SBUX
Boston Trust Walden Corp decreased its stake in Starbucks Corporation by 19.8% in the third quarter, selling 44,871 shares and leaving them with 181,702 shares valued at $15.37 million. This comes as other institutional investors have both bought and sold SBUX shares, with analysts offering a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating and a target price of $101.44. Additionally, a Starbucks director recently purchased 11,700 shares, increasing their ownership significantly.
Dec 30, 2025 • ts2.tech
NEUTRAL
McDonald’s stock slips into the close as year-end trading turns choppy — what investors watch next for MCD
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) stock closed down 0.7% at $308.53 amidst choppy, holiday-thinned year-end trading where U.S. stocks generally ended lower. Investors are now looking ahead to the Federal Reserve minutes and jobless claims, with McDonald's next quarterly results anticipated in early February, and market participants will be watching for updates on traffic, pricing, and cost pressures. Technically, traders are focusing on the $308 level as immediate support, with a move above $312 potentially signaling a return to recent highs.
Dec 29, 2025 • RTTNews
SOMEWHAT-BEARISH
Starbucks Pulls Back From Dense City Clusters, Closing Hundreds Of Urban Stores
Starbucks is closing approximately 400 underperforming urban stores in major U.S. cities like New York and Los Angeles as part of a $1 billion restructuring effort. The company is shifting its strategy to focus on suburban expansion, drive-through formats, and remodeling existing stores to restore its "third place" image, responding to intense competition and changes in urban demographics and work patterns. This move aims to redirect demand to better-equipped stores and address operational challenges, although the recovery has been slower than investors anticipated.