Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) wrapped up Christmas Eve trading on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, a shortened U.S. session that ended early at 1:00 p.m. ET ahead of the Christmas Day holiday. [1]
Where Starbucks stock closed — and what happened after hours
In the regular session, SBUX closed at $84.57, up about 0.85% on the day, with the session’s range roughly $83.47 to $84.60 and volume near 3.46 million shares—typical of a thin, holiday-shortened tape. [2]
After the bell, trading was modest: quotes showed SBUX slipping slightly to around $84.45 in late after-hours prints. [3]
Big picture: the broader market mood was upbeat into the holiday, with major U.S. indexes pushing higher in a “Santa rally” atmosphere—helpful context for why even “quiet” single-stock moves can look amplified when liquidity is light. [4]
Why the “tomorrow” open is actually Friday, Dec. 26
Because U.S. markets are closed on Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec. 25), the next open is Friday, Dec. 26 (normal hours). Christmas Eve’s early close also matters for interpreting “after the bell” activity—news can hit when fewer participants are at their desks. [5]
The main stories shaping Starbucks sentiment right now
1) Labor headlines are back in focus
Starbucks’ labor situation continues to generate headlines, with union activity and public demonstrations making news on Dec. 24 and earlier in December. While these events don’t always move the stock immediately, they can influence investor perception around operating risk, staffing stability, and brand sentiment. [6]
Also in the background: Starbucks recently agreed to a large NYC settlement related to scheduling rules, which adds another data point investors may weigh when thinking about labor-related costs and compliance. [7]
What to watch into Dec. 26: any signs of strike escalation/de-escalation, new local/regional actions, and whether management comments shift expectations around labor expense.
2) China strategy remains a key narrative
Investors are still digesting Starbucks’ evolving China approach and deal-making discussions from late 2025. Reports and analysis have kept attention on how Western brands are reshaping China exposure, and Starbucks’ China direction remains one of the most important medium-term drivers for the story. [8]
What to watch into Dec. 26: any fresh deal details, commentary on store economics/competitive pressure, or new guidance-like statements that could affect forward expectations.
3) Leadership and “turnaround execution” signals
Starbucks continues to frame its operational improvements and store execution as central to its recovery. A notable recent development: Reuters reported Starbucks hired Anand Varadarajan (ex-Amazon) as Chief Technology Officer, effective Jan. 19, 2026, underscoring the push to improve technology and labor efficiency. [9]
What to watch: investor reaction to any further leadership hires, cost initiatives, or store-ops metrics that suggest the strategy is (or isn’t) translating into traffic and ticket.
Forecasts and analyst expectations investors are watching
Near-term earnings setup (late January)
Starbucks’ next major scheduled catalyst is its upcoming earnings report for the quarter that includes fiscal period ending Dec. 2025, typically reported in late January. Nasdaq’s earnings page showed a consensus EPS forecast around $0.60 for that fiscal quarter. [10]
On the Street, aggregated analyst pages continue to show investors tracking:
- Revenue/EPS estimates for the next quarters [11]
- 12-month price targets and ratings dispersion (often “moderate buy/hold”-type mixes for mega-cap consumer names, varying by source) [12]
How to read this into Dec. 26: after a holiday session, small price moves can look meaningful, but the market often “re-anchors” quickly to the next hard catalyst—earnings and any guidance updates.
Technical levels traders are flagging heading into Dec. 26
Even long-term investors tend to pay attention when a mega-cap consumer stock drifts below widely watched moving averages. Multiple technical dashboards recently pegged SBUX as pressured versus key trend lines, with RSI in the high-30s on at least one read—often interpreted as weak momentum (and sometimes “getting closer to oversold,” depending on the framework). [13]
One options-focused analysis published Dec. 24 highlighted bearish positioning ideas and noted SBUX had been trading below short/intermediate moving averages—reflecting cautious sentiment among some tactical traders. [14]
Practical takeaway for Friday: if SBUX opens strongly, watch whether it can reclaim nearby resistance levels; if it opens weak, watch for buyers stepping in around recent lows from the past week.
A “before the open” checklist for Dec. 26
Here’s what to scan before the bell on Friday:
- Any overnight Starbucks headlines (labor actions, legal updates, leadership, China deal chatter). [15]
- Broader market tone after the holiday—thin sessions can exaggerate moves that unwind quickly. [16]
- Pre-market trading vs. holiday close: compare pre-market prints to $84.57 (Dec. 24 close) rather than older reference points. [17]
- Rates/consumer read-through: any macro news that shifts expectations for discretionary spending or input costs can matter for restaurant/retail names.
Bottom line
Starbucks stock ended Christmas Eve higher in a shortened session and traded only slightly lower after hours—classic holiday behavior. The bigger forces for SBUX into the Dec. 26 reopen are labor developments, China strategy follow-through, execution signals under CEO Brian Niccol’s playbook, and the market’s focus on late-January earnings expectations. [18]
References
1. www.barrons.com, 2. finance.yahoo.com, 3. finance.yahoo.com, 4. www.theguardian.com, 5. www.barrons.com, 6. ny1.com, 7. apnews.com, 8. finance.yahoo.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.nasdaq.com, 11. finance.yahoo.com, 12. www.marketbeat.com, 13. www.investing.com, 14. www.investors.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.theguardian.com, 17. finance.yahoo.com, 18. www.reuters.com
