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. Reuters
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
