New York, Jan 26, 2026, 21:05 EST — The market has closed.
Starbucks Corp’s shares dipped roughly 1.3% in light after-hours trading Monday, last seen at $96.33, down from the regular session close of $97.61.
U.S. markets remain closed until Tuesday, but investors won’t have long to wait for Starbucks updates: the company’s fiscal first-quarter earnings call is set for Jan. 28, followed by an investor day on Jan. 29.
Why it matters now is straightforward: the company needs to show its turnaround is gaining momentum, and these events are where management must back that up with hard data. CEO Brian Niccol has claimed the “Back to Starbucks” plan is “taking hold,” highlighting a rebound in global comparable sales growth. Starbucks Investor Relations
UBS analysts forecast revenue climbing about 2.5% year-over-year to $9.63 billion, despite a drop in earnings per share to $0.57 from $0.69. They also predict U.S. same-store sales — tracking outlets open at least a year — will rise 3% to 4%, beating the 1.9% consensus referenced in their report.
Mizuho analyst Nick Setyan bumped his price target on Starbucks to $95 from $86 but maintained a Neutral rating ahead of the earnings report. He noted “little risk” to Starbucks’ fiscal 2026 same-store sales growth forecasts, though he cautioned that consensus operating margin estimates seem overly optimistic; operating margin measures profit as a percentage of sales. TipRanks
Jefferies remained cautious, sticking with an Underperform rating and a $75 price target. The firm cited several downside risks: margin pressure from labor reinvestment, the launch of an assistant store manager program, and rising coffee costs. It also highlighted Second Measure card-spending data that showed a sequential drop in first-quarter sales.
After the bell, a proxy filing revealed Starbucks plans its annual meeting for March 25. Shareholders will vote on directors, executive “say-on-pay” compensation, and several shareholder proposals. The agenda covers everything from voting-rule adjustments to board structure changes and reports on other policies, the filing noted. StreetInsider.com
Bernstein SocGen Group kept its Outperform rating and $100 price target intact, but warned gains might stall without a clear strategy from management to speed up margin recovery. The firm anticipates a sequential boost in same-store sales and a bounce back to positive comps after six straight quarters in the red.
The downside is straightforward. If the sales boost mainly comes from easier comparisons and fewer stores—not from real traffic growth—and costs remain stubborn, guidance could deteriorate fast, sending the stock tumbling.
Starbucks will address investors Wednesday morning, followed by a full investor day the next day. Traders see those targets as the key benchmark for the year ahead.
