New York, January 27, 2026, 14:50 EST — During regular session
- SBUX dipped roughly 0.7% during afternoon trading, underperforming the stronger S&P 500
- Report highlights product shortages alongside problems with an AI inventory tool
- Earnings are set for Wednesday morning, with the investor day scheduled for Thursday
Shares of Starbucks Corporation dipped 0.7% to $95.62 on Tuesday following a Reuters report that highlighted ongoing product shortages and issues with an AI-driven inventory tool. The company maintains it is “modernizing systems with AI-ready platforms.” Douglas Kent, executive vice president at the Association for Supply Chain Management, noted that hitting “95% or more” on-time, complete deliveries remains the benchmark. 1
The coffee giant will unveil its fiscal first-quarter results at 7:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, with a conference call scheduled for 8:00 a.m., the company announced. Investors are focused on comparable sales—stores open at least a year—and are eager for signs of how quickly CEO Brian Niccol can tighten store operations. 2
Starbucks will hold its investor day tomorrow to outline its long-term growth plans. According to a company statement, the webcast kicks off around 8:00 a.m. ET and will run until midday. CEO Niccol and CFO Cathy Smith are set to speak. 3
U.S. stocks edged up on optimism around earnings, with the S&P 500 rising roughly 0.5% and the Nasdaq gaining ground, even as the Dow drifted lower. Investors are weighing a packed earnings calendar alongside anticipation for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy move. 4
Starbucks closed Monday at $96.33, up roughly 14% in 2026, according to Investopedia, pushing the stock close to a 10-month peak. This rally puts extra pressure on the company’s guidance and investor-day targets this week. 5
Separately, Starbucks has scrapped the $250,000 yearly limit on CEO Brian Niccol’s personal use of the company jet following a security review, Business Insider reported. This isn’t a financial strain, but the move comes as Starbucks pitches its turnaround to investors. 6
Traders are keeping an eye on store operations for signs of tightening—fewer outages, shorter wait times, and reduced waste—even if earnings don’t deliver a big surprise. But if product gaps persist during key dayparts, the turnaround story loses traction.
Bulls face the risk that fixes drag on longer than anticipated, or that management outlines a bigger investment plan cutting into short-term profits. A weaker consumer or just execution slips could weigh on a stock that’s already climbed.
Wednesday morning brings the latest results and outlook, followed by Thursday’s investor day. For SBUX, these two events will probably shape trading through February.
