Starbucks Upgraded to Strong Buy as Global Comparable Sales Rise 7.9%

Key Facts

1Starbucks received a Strong Buy rating upgrade driven by operational improvements and margin expansion.

2Starbucks' global comparable store sales increased by 7.9% in the third quarter.

3The company is shifting toward a licensing-heavy international model to boost non-domestic operating margins toward 20%.

Starbucks received a Strong Buy rating upgrade from Seeking Alpha following operational improvements and margin expansion. The company reported a 7.9% increase in global comparable store sales for the third quarter, driven by strategic restructuring and store refurbishments.

The company is shifting toward a licensing-heavy international model to boost non-domestic operating margins toward 20%. SBUX closed at $93.65 on September 24, 2026, as the coffee giant continues to streamline operations and implement a capital-light strategy to improve profitability in key markets like China.