Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items. The company also licenses its trademarks through licensed stores, and grocery and foodservice accounts. The company offers its products under the Starbucks Coffee, Teavana, Seattle's Best Coffee, Ethos, Starbucks Reserve, and Princi brands. Starbucks Corporation was founded in 1971 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Starbucks Corporation демонстрирует смешанную картину с точки зрения фундаментальных метрик. С одной стороны, компания имеет высокие значения P/E и P/S, значительно превышающие медианные значения по отрасли, что указывает на возможную переоцененность акций. С другой стороны, показатели ROA и ROI находятся выше медианных значений, что свидетельствует о высокой эффективной деятельности. Однако, низкие значения текущего и быстрого коэффициентов, а также растущая долговая нагрузка вызывают опасения относительно ликвидности и финансовой устойчивости компании. Дивидендная доходность также снизилась, что может негативно сказаться на привлекательности акций для инвесторов. Вместе с тем, выручка и прибыль компании значительно превышают медианные значения, что поддерживает положительное восприятие. В целом, несмотря на сильные стороны, такие как высокие доходы и эффективность, есть значительные риски, связанные с переоцененностью и ухудшением финансовых показателей, что требует корректировки целевого прогноза.

Starbucks Corporation

Key Points
Dutch Bros is expanding its footprint and hot food menu to compete with Starbucks.
Starbucks anticipates its "Back to Starbucks" strategy will yield greater growth in 2026 and beyond.
Approximately 66% of Americans drink coffee daily. Of that percentage, more than 80% drink two or more cups. Coffee is a big business, to say the least. Over the past couple of years, the U.S. coffee market exceeded $100 billion.
The coffee industry is fiercely competitive as it clamors for our love of caffeine. Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is a global franchise working to return to its status as a beloved "third place" in society -- a distinct social space, separate from home and work. Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS) is a fast-growing drive-thru chain aggressively expanding its market share.
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Which stock is the better buy right now?
Dutch Bros is expanding its footprint and treats
Dutch Bros is a Pacific Northwest-based drive-thru coffee company that is rapidly growing. In fiscal year 2025, Dutch Bros increased its revenue 27.9% year over year. The company opened 154 new shops across 22 states. Lastly, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased 31.4% compared to the previous year.
Dutch Bros is now developing a hot food menu to attract and retain even more customers. This addition will allow the chain to directly compete with breakfast and coffee staples such as Starbucks and Dunkin'.
The stock hasn't fared well over the past 12 months, though, declining nearly 15%. However, Goldman Sachs just upgraded Dutch Bros from neutral to buy.
Starbucks misses you
Last year was not easy for Starbucks. For the 2025 fiscal year, global comparable-store sales declined by 1%. Consolidated net revenues increased 3%, but operating margin fell precipitously amid the closing of more than 400 stores in North America.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol wants his "Back to Starbucks" restructuring plan to reestablish the brand as a pleasant coffee shop where you are welcome to sit and stay. Through menu simplification and in-store remodels, Starbucks has been busy implementing this strategy since late 2024.
The strategy's anticipated effectiveness is reflected in the company's 2026 guidance. Starbucks expects comparable-store sales growth of 3% or more, along with a slight improvement in margins.
Starbucks is also opening between 600 and 650 new coffeehouses globally this year. The stock rose 19% thus far in 2026. Its forward P/E ratio of 43 means Starbucks could be slightly overvalued.
What's the tea? Starbucks or Dutch Bros?
Ultimately, both stocks are showing bullish signs, but for different reasons. The winner depends on whether you are primarily a growth investor or a value investor.
For the growth investor, Dutch Bros is quickly opening new stores, and its financials are improving. With the stock down over 15% year to date, its price is becoming more attractive to long-term investors.
Starbucks is better suited to value investors, as it's already a large global company that pays a dividend. It's also likely to grow only modestly in the coming years. Starbucks' turnaround strategy should keep the company relevant and strong for years to come.
Depending on your goals, both stocks are solid choices.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Better Stock to Buy Right Now: Dutch Bros vs. Starbucks

In the latest close session, Starbucks (SBUX) was down 1.01% at $99.17. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.61%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.26%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 0.93%.
Shares of the coffee chain have appreciated by 3.53% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector's loss of 2.49%, and the S&P 500's loss of 2.25%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Starbucks in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $0.42, reflecting a 2.44% increase from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $9.1 billion, up 3.83% from the prior-year quarter.
SBUX's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $2.31 per share and revenue of $38.37 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +8.45% and +3.19%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Starbucks. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.27% lower. Right now, Starbucks possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, Starbucks is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 43.45. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 20.27.
Also, we should mention that SBUX has a PEG ratio of 2.23. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. By the end of yesterday's trading, the Retail - Restaurants industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.88.
The Retail - Restaurants industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 164, putting it in the bottom 34% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
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Starbucks (SBUX) Dips More Than Broader Market: What You Should Know

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for McDonald's (MCD). Shares have lost about 2.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is McDonald's due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
McDonald's Q4 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Rise Y/Y
McDonald's reported fourth-quarter 2025 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The top and bottom lines increased on a year-over-year basis.
McDonald’s results reflected solid systemwide momentum, supported by comparable-sales growth, accelerated restaurant expansion and strong engagement across markets.
Management emphasized that value leadership, impactful marketing and menu innovation remained central to performance, with initiatives like McValue, global campaigns and new product launches driving customer engagement.
MCD’s Q4 Earnings & Revenue Discussion
In fourth-quarter 2025, McDonald's reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.12, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.05. It reported an adjusted EPS of $2.83 in the prior-year quarter.
Quarterly net revenues of $7 billion beat the consensus mark of $6.85 billion. Additionally, the top line rose 10% year over year.
At company-operated restaurants, sales were $2.54 billion, up 10% year over year. Sales at franchise-operated restaurants amounted to $4.31 billion, which increased 9% year over year.
Moreover, Other revenues rose 35% year over year to $162 million. Our model predicted sales by company-operated restaurants to rise 10.5%, while franchise-operated restaurants were expected to increase 3.4% from the prior-year levels.
McDonald's Comps Details
In the quarter under discussion, global comps rose 5.7% compared with the 0.4% rise reported in the prior-year quarter. Our estimate was a 3.7% increase year over year.
Comps Across MCD’s Segments
The United States: In the fourth quarter, segmental comps rose 6.8% against a 1.4% decline registered in the prior-year quarter. The company's comparable sales for the quarter were aided by positive check growth. Our model estimated the U.S. comps to increase 2.9%.
International Operated Markets: Segmental comps jumped 5.2% compared with the 0.1% increase reported in the year-ago quarter. The rise was driven by positive comparable sales across the U.K., Germany and Australia. We anticipated an increase of 4.7% from the year-ago levels.
International Developmental Licensed Segment: Segmental comparable sales registered a 4.5% increase compared with a 4.1% increase reported in the prior-year quarter. Japan led the growth in positive comparable sales, with all geographic regions also reporting increases.
Operating Highlights & Expenses of McDonald's
In the fourth quarter, McDonald’s total operating costs and expenses were $3.85 billion, up 9% year over year.
Operating income rose 10% year over year to $3.15 billion. Net income totaled $2.16 billion, up 7% year over year.
MCD’s 2025 Highlights
Total revenues in 2025 amounted to $26.9 billion compared with $25.9 billion in 2024.
Net income in 2025 came in at $8.6 billion compared with $8.2 billion reported in 2024.
In 2025, diluted EPS came in at $12.20 compared with $11.72 reported in the previous year.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.
The consensus estimate has shifted -5.02% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
Currently, McDonald's has a subpar Growth Score of D, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with an F. Following the exact same course, the stock has a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, McDonald's has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry Player
McDonald's belongs to the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry. Another stock from the same industry, Starbucks (SBUX), has gained 3.5% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended December 2025.
Starbucks reported revenues of $9.92 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.5%. EPS of $0.56 for the same period compares with $0.69 a year ago.
For the current quarter, Starbucks is expected to post earnings of $0.42 per share, indicating a change of +2.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.1% over the last 30 days.
Starbucks has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of C.
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Why Is McDonald's (MCD) Down 2.5% Since Last Earnings Report?

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. CMG is intensifying its focus on menu innovation and marketing initiatives as it looks to strengthen customer engagement and support transaction growth. Management noted that evolving consumer preferences — particularly demand for value, clean ingredients and protein-rich meals — are shaping the company’s strategic priorities. In response, Chipotle is expanding its product innovation pipeline while refining brand messaging to reinforce its value proposition.
A key component of this strategy is a higher cadence of limited-time offerings (LTOs). Chipotle plans to introduce four LTOs in 2026 to stimulate demand and encourage repeat visits. Management indicated that customers who purchase LTO items tend to visit more frequently and deliver higher lifetime value compared with typical guests. The upcoming return of Chicken al Pastor — one of the brand’s most requested items — highlights the company’s approach of combining popular menu favorites with new product introductions to sustain consumer interest.
The company is also leaning into the growing consumer focus on protein-forward meals. Its recently launched high-protein menu platform features options such as a single taco with roughly 15 grams of protein and a protein cup designed for customers seeking smaller, protein-dense portions. Management noted that early results have been encouraging, with protein add-ons increasing 35% following the launch and promotions tied to the initiative delivering a record digital sales day.
Alongside menu innovation, Chipotle continues to expand its digital engagement efforts. The company plans to relaunch its rewards program with enhanced personalization capabilities powered by data and artificial intelligence. Management highlighted that the loyalty platform already accounts for a meaningful share of sales, suggesting further potential to deepen customer engagement and drive repeat visits as the program evolves.
These initiatives form part of Chipotle’s broader “Recipe for Growth” strategy, which also includes investments in operational technology, international expansion and talent development. As the company ramps up innovation, marketing and digital engagement, investors will likely watch closely to see whether these efforts translate into stronger traffic and transaction trends in the coming quarters.
How Are Chipotle’s Competitors Faring?
Among Chipotle’s competitors in the quick-service and fast-casual space are Starbucks Corporation SBUX and McDonald's Corporation MCD, both of which are leaning on menu innovation, marketing and loyalty ecosystems to support traffic growth.
Starbucks is advancing its “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan, which prioritizes menu innovation, marketing and improvements in the in-store experience to rebuild customer engagement. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, global comparable store sales grew 4%, driven primarily by transaction gains. The company also reported a record 35.5 million 90-day active Starbucks Rewards members, underscoring the role of personalization and digital engagement in driving customer visits.
McDonald’s is executing a “three-for-three” strategy centered on compelling value, breakthrough marketing and menu innovation. The company highlighted that initiatives such as the McValue platform, major marketing campaigns and product launches across beef, beverage and chicken categories supported strong fourth-quarter comparable sales growth. McDonald’s also continues to expand its digital ecosystem, reporting nearly 210 million 90-day active users across its loyalty platform in 2025, reinforcing the link between digital engagement and visit frequency.
Against this backdrop, Chipotle’s focus on menu innovation and loyalty expansion mirrors broader industry efforts to drive customer traffic through product launches, marketing activations and digital engagement.
CMG’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Chipotle have declined 32.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s fall of 0.1%.
CMG One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Chipotle trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.34, above the industry’s average of 3.70.
CMG’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMG’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year decline of 2.6%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of CMG Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CMG’s Zacks Rank
Chipotle stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
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Chipotle Bets on Menu Innovation and Loyalty: Can It Drive Traffic?

Key Points
On March 3, Target reported fairly weak results and fiscal 2026 guidance.
Target is ramping up its spending even amid weak consumer spending.
Even though growth has slowed, Target is still a cash cow that can easily afford its high-yield dividend.
Target (NYSE: TGT) has rocketed 31% higher over the last three months, compared to a 1.9% decline in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC).
The retail giant is winning investor approval amid hopes that the worst of its sales slowdown is in the rearview mirror and optimism for newly appointed CEO Michael Fiddelke.
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But even when factoring in Target's recent run-up, the dividend stock remains down more than 25% in the last three years and over 50% from its all-time high.
Here's how investors should approach the red-hot stock, and if it's a good buy in March.
A prolonged slowdown for Target
Target had badly underperformed the broader market in recent years for good reasons. The company's sales have been declining, and its operating margins have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Target badly overestimated consumer demand during the pandemic, poorly managed its supply chain, and struggled to adapt to pullbacks in consumer spending. Since Target can't compete with Walmart or Costco Wholesale on price and value, it relies on a more discretionary product mix and foot traffic.
When Target is at its best, it provides a relatively affordable and enjoyable in-store shopping experience -- such as grabbing an in-store Starbucks beverage and taking advantage of exclusive partnerships that shoppers can't find at value-first outlets. But when consumer budgets are strained, cheap thrills can lose their appeal.
Target's bold plans to return to growth
Before stepping down as CEO, Brian Cornell, who led the company for more than a decade, was focused on store improvements, boosting foot traffic, and leaning into the "Tarzhay" spirit, which makes shopping fun rather than routine.
New CEO Michael Fiddelke is following in Cornell's footsteps by implementing an aggressive strategy to get Target's mojo back, with plans to open more than 30 stores this fiscal year, complete more than 130 full-store remodels, and spend 25% more on capital expenditures than in fiscal 2025.
Although Target's stores drove 97.6% of order fulfillment in fiscal 2025, digitally originated sales made up 20.6% of total sales. That's more than even the pandemic years of fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 -- showing that Target is winning with in-store pickup and drive-up, especially through mobile orders.
Target is investing in brand marketing, technology, and artificial intelligence through ongoing investments rather than one-time costs. Target also realized $200 million in savings due to headcount reductions at its headquarters and field team changes. So the company is clearly prioritizing a push toward efficiency and productivity.
Fiddelke also recognizes the importance of the Target Circle loyalty program, as Target Circle members spent three times more on average than non-members, and Target Circle 360 members who get unlimited same-day delivery spend seven times more. In addition to higher spending, these loyal customers help Target determine which promotions and exclusive partnerships to pursue.
A reliable value stock with a high yield
Target's strategy may take some time to pay off. The company is guiding for just 2% year-over-year net sales growth and $7.50 to $8.50 in adjusted earnings per share compared to $7.57 in fiscal 2025, $8.86 in fiscal 2024, and $8.94 in fiscal 2023. So while fiscal 2025 could end up being the worst of Target's multiyear turnaround, the company is still a long way away from returning to its pre-pandemic growth rate.
With fairly weak guidance and a still unproven turnaround, investors may be wondering why Target is up so much in a few months. The answer likely has to do with expectations.
The market hates uncertainty. And with a new CEO and a clear game plan for returning to growth (albeit slowly), some investors may be willing to pay a higher price for Target.
Target is trading at 15.1 times the midpoint of its fiscal 2026 guidance -- which is right around its 10-year median P/E of 15.3. Whereas before its recent run-up, Target was extremely discounted.
Last June, Target announced its 54th consecutive annual dividend increase -- boosting the quarterly dividend to $1.14 per share or $4.56 per year. Target is one of just 57 companies that have increased their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years -- known as Dividend Kings. Based on earnings guidance for $7.50 to $8.50 per share, Target can easily support its dividend from its operations rather than relying on debt. And with a yield of 3.8%, Target has a considerably higher yield than many other Dividend Kings.
Target remains a reasonable buy
Heading into 2026, Target was so beaten down that mediocre results and guidance were enough to spark a rally. Target is still a decent buy, but it's more fairly valued now.
Lower interest rates tend to boost consumer spending and economic growth, but the labor market is showing signs of weakness. Throw in the inflationary effects of higher oil prices, and the economic backdrop isn't exactly great for retailers in 2026.
Still, the stock could be a good buy for long-term income investors, but only those who believe Target's in-store shopping experience is a significant differentiator compared to other retailers.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Up 31% in 3 Months, Is This High-Yield Dividend King Stock Still a Buy in March?

McDonald’s Corporation MCD continues to position its expanding digital ecosystem as a key lever to strengthen customer engagement and increase visit frequency. During the fourth quarter of 2025, management highlighted the rapid growth of its loyalty platform and the increasing role digital channels play in connecting with customers. The company reported nearly 210 million 90-day active loyalty users across 70 markets, putting it on track to achieve its previously stated target of 250 million active users by the end of 2027. Management emphasized active loyalty membership as a critical digital metric that supports deeper customer relationships and traffic growth.
The company also shared data demonstrating the impact of loyalty participation on customer behavior. In the United States, the average customer visited McDonald’s 10.5 times in the 12 months prior to joining the loyalty program, while visits increased to 26 times in the 12 months following enrollment. This more than 2.5-fold increase in visit frequency illustrates the role of targeted offers, promotions and digital engagement in encouraging repeat visits. Management also noted that loyalty members typically spend more over time, highlighting the platform’s importance in supporting sales growth.
McDonald’s loyalty strategy is closely integrated with broader marketing and operational initiatives. Executives pointed to engagement tools such as multi-visit bonus games and app-exclusive partnerships tied to menu launches and promotional campaigns. At the same time, operational features like “Ready on Arrival” connect mobile ordering with restaurant operations, helping reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction. These initiatives allow the company to combine digital engagement with in-restaurant execution across its global system.
Supporting this ecosystem is a continued investment in technology infrastructure. McDonald’s is transitioning toward a standardized global technology backbone built around three core platforms: consumer systems, restaurant systems and company systems. Management noted that the shift from fragmented legacy systems toward a unified technology stack is expected to enable more consistent digital deployment across markets as the transformation progresses.
As McDonald’s expands its digital capabilities, loyalty remains central to its long-term engagement strategy. By integrating loyalty participation with marketing, technology and restaurant operations, the company aims to deepen customer connections and encourage more frequent visits across its global restaurant network.
Peer Comparisons
Other restaurant operators are also leveraging digital platforms and loyalty ecosystems to strengthen customer engagement and drive transaction growth.
Starbucks Corporation SBUX continues to rely on its rewards ecosystem as a core engagement driver. During the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company reported that its 90-day active Starbucks Rewards membership reached 35.5 million in the United States, representing a 3% year-over-year increase. Management noted that rewards member transactions returned to year-over-year growth during the quarter, while non-rewards transactions increased at an even faster pace. Executives highlighted personalization through the rewards platform as an important factor in encouraging repeat visits and strengthening customer relationships.
Dutch Bros Inc. BROS is expanding its loyalty-driven engagement strategy. The company reported that Dutch Rewards surpassed 15 million members at the end of 2025, with approximately 72% of system transactions attributed to the program, representing a four-percentage-point increase from the prior year. Management also noted that the Order Ahead program, which accounted for roughly 14% of sales mix in the fourth quarter, has helped drive greater convenience while increasing loyalty participation and customer engagement.
Compared with these peers, McDonald’s operates one of the largest global loyalty ecosystems in the restaurant industry. With nearly 210 million 90-day active users, the company is leveraging its scale to combine digital engagement, targeted promotions and operational features to encourage repeat visits and strengthen customer connections across markets.
MCD’s Stock Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of McDonald's have gained 6.9% in the past year against the industry’s fall of 0.6%.
MCD One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, MCD trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 8.02, above the industry’s average of 3.72.
MCD’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCD’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 8.5% and 9.1%, respectively. EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have declined in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of MCD Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MCD’s Zacks Rank
MCD stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Can MCD's Digital Ecosystem Turn Loyalty Into Higher Visit Frequency?

Last Friday, all three Wall Street benchmark stock indexes registered weekly losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.89%, the S&P 500 declined 1.75% and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.59%.
The downturn was largely due to a sharp surge in crude oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which heightened concerns about inflation and global economic growth. Rising energy costs weighed on several sectors, particularly materials, industrials and consumer staples, while investors also remained cautious ahead of key U.S. economic data that could influence the Fed’s interest-rate outlook. The combination of geopolitical uncertainty and inflation worries triggered broad market volatility and risk-off sentiment among investors.
Regardless of market conditions, we, here at Zacks, provide investors with unbiased guidance on how to beat the market.
As usual, Zacks Research guided investors over the past three months with its time-tested methodologies. Given the prevailing market uncertainty, you may want to look at our feats to prepare better for your next action.
Here are some of our key achievements:
Allogene Therapeutics and Moog Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. ALLO have gained 70.4% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.6% decrease) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on January 5.
Another stock, Moog Inc. MOG.A, which was also upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 on January 5, has returned 26.8% since then.
An equal-weight portfolio of Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy) stocks outperformed the equal-weight S&P 500 index by 7 percentage points (+17.81% for the Zacks Rank #1 stocks vs. +10.85% for the index).
This hypothetical equal-weight portfolio returned +22.4% in 2024 vs. +13.7% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. Over the preceding 10-year period (2016 through 2025), this portfolio of qual-weight Zacks Rank #1 stocks has outperformed the equal-weight S&P 500 index by more than 7 percentage points (+18.55% vs. +11.65%).
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Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Yankuang Energy and FormFactor
Shares of Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited YZCAY and FormFactor, Inc. FORM have surged 31.7% and 16.3% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.3% fall), respectively, since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on January 13.
While the Zacks Rank is our short-term rating system that is most effective over the one- to three-month holding horizon, the Zacks Recommendation aims to predict performance over the next 6 to 12 months. However, just like the Zacks Rank, the foundation for the Zacks Recommendation is trends in earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Recommendation classifies stocks into three groups — Outperform, Neutral and Underperform. While these recommendations are determined quantitatively, our analysts have the flexibility to override them for the 1100+ stocks they closely follow based on their better judgment of factors such as valuation, industry conditions and management effectiveness than the quantitative model.
To access our research reports with Zacks Recommendations for the 1100+ stocks we cover, click here>>>
Zacks Focus List Stocks Micron, Intellia Shoot Up
Shares of Micron Technology, Inc. MU, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 46.7% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on December 27, 2016. Another Focus-List holding, Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. NTLA, which was added to the portfolio on March 7, 2023, has returned 44.5% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has declined 1.6% over this period.
The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +5.22% in January 2026 vs. +1.45% for the S&P 500 index and +3.39% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The portfolio returned +22.1% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +18.41% in 2024 vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. The portfolio had returned +29.54% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +13.61% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. In 2022, the portfolio returned -15.2% vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
Through January 31st, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling one-year, three-years, five-years, ten-years and since 2004 has been +22.2% (vs. +16.35% for the S&P 500 index), +21.55% (vs. +21.12%), +15.13% (vs. +14.99%), +16.59% (vs. +15.57%) and +12.36% vs. (+10.74%), respectively.
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Zacks ECAP Stocks Hershey’s & Colgate-Palmolive Gain Significantly
The Hershey Company HSY, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 25.9% over the past 12 weeks. Colgate-Palmolive Company CL followed Hershey with 21.5% returns.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -2.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +2.7% gain (SPY ETF). For 2025 as a whole, the portfolio returned -1.67% vs. +17.9% gain for the S&P 500 index.
For the year 2024, the portfolio returned +16.26% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index (SPY ETF).
In 2023, the portfolio returned +12.17% vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index. The portfolio returned -4.7% in 2022 vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
With little to no turnover and annual rebalance periodicity, ECAP seeks to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies whose earnings streams exhibit a proven 20+ year track record of surviving recessionary periods with minimal impact on aggregate earnings growth relative to the overall S&P 500.
The ECAP and many other model portfolios are available as part of Zacks Advisor Tools, a cloud-based solution to access Zacks award-winning stock, mutual fund and ETF research. Click here to schedule a demo.
Zacks ECDP Stocks Starbucks and Amgen Outperform Peers
Starbucks Corporation SBUX, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 20.3% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Amgen Inc. AMGN, has climbed 17.7% over the same time frame. Of course, the inclination of investors toward quality dividend stocks to secure an income stream amid heightened market volatility contributed to this performance.
With an extremely low beta and a history of minimum earnings variability over the last 20+ years, this 25-stock portfolio helps significantly mitigate risk.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -2.1% in 2025 Q4 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +2.7% gain and the Dividend Aristocrats ETF’s (NOBL) +1.6% return. For 2025, the portfolio returned -0.6% vs. +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrat ETF.
For the full year 2024, the portfolio returned +6.95% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index and +6.72% for NOBL.
The portfolio returned -0.9% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +8.11% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -2.3% in 2022 vs. -17.96% for the S&P 500 index and -8.34% for NOBL.
Click here to access this portfolio on Zacks Advisor Tools.
Zacks Top 10 Stock VSE Corporation Delivers Solid Returns
VSE Corporation VSEC, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 15.5% since January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 1.6% decrease.
The Top 10 portfolio retuned +4.88% in January 2026 vs. +1.45% for the S&P 500 index and +3.39% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +22.6% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio had returned +25.15% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index.
Through the end of January 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,616.9% since 2012 vs. +578.2% for the S&P 500 index and +416.7% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +26.4% in the period 2012 through January 31st, 2026 vs. +14.8% for the S&P 500 index and +12.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Take the Zacks Approach to Beat the Markets: Starbucks, Amgen, Allogene in Focus

For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – March 9, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Starbucks Corp. SBUX, McDonald's Corp. MCD and Dutch Bros Inc. BROS.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Starbucks' Traffic Trends Improve: Is the Recovery Taking Shape?
Starbucks Corp. reported a notable improvement in customer traffic during first-quarter fiscal 2026, signaling a potential turning point after several quarters of soft store visits.
Global comparable-store sales increased 4% year over year, supported primarily by higher transactions rather than pricing. In the United States — Starbucks’ largest market — comparable sales also rose 4%, driven by a 3% increase in transactions and a modest 1% rise in average ticket. Importantly, the quarter marked the first U.S. transaction growth in eight quarters, highlighting improving customer engagement following a prolonged traffic slowdown.
The company credited the improvement to operational initiatives tied to its “Back to Starbucks” strategy, which focuses on enhancing the in-store experience, improving service speed and strengthening execution at the store level. A central component of this strategy is the Green Apron Service model, designed to increase staffing efficiency and deliver faster service. Early stores adopting the Green Apron Service model are showing encouraging customer feedback and operational improvements.
Digital engagement also remained a critical driver of visits. Starbucks Rewards membership reached a record 35.5 million active members in the United States, reinforcing the loyalty ecosystem that accounts for a significant portion of transactions. Management noted that transactions from both rewards and non-rewards customers increased year over year, marking the first such improvement in several years.
International markets also supported the traffic rebound. The company’s international segment posted 5% comparable sales growth, driven by transaction gains across several regions. China — Starbucks’ second-largest market — delivered 7% comparable sales growth, benefiting from product innovation, marketing initiatives and steady demand in delivery channels.
While the company continues to navigate cost pressures and ongoing investments in store operations, the return of transaction growth suggests that Starbucks’ focus on service improvements and customer experience may be beginning to translate into measurable demand recovery.
How Starbucks’ Traffic Trends Compare with Peers
Customer traffic trends across the restaurant and beverage industry remain uneven, with companies relying on different levers to drive visits. Compared with peers, Starbucks is now beginning to show improving transaction momentum after a period of softer demand.
For example, McDonald's Corp. reported solid guest traffic performance in the fourth quarter of 2025. Global comparable sales increased 5.7%, supported by positive guest counts and higher average checks, with U.S. comparable sales rising 6.8%. Management attributed the strength to value-focused offerings, large-scale marketing campaigns and menu innovation, all of which helped drive steady customer visits despite a challenging consumer environment.
Meanwhile, Dutch Bros Inc., a fast-growing beverage chain, continues to deliver strong transaction-driven growth. The company reported 7.7% system same-shop sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, fueled by 5.4% transaction growth, reflecting strong demand for beverage innovation and increasing adoption of its Dutch Rewards loyalty program.
Against this backdrop, Starbucks’ return to positive transaction growth stands out because it follows eight consecutive quarters of declining U.S. transactions. While McDonald’s and Dutch Bros have maintained relatively steady traffic trends through value offerings, innovation and loyalty engagement, Starbucks’ recent improvement suggests its operational reset and service-focused initiatives may be starting to stabilize store visits.
SBUX’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Starbucks have declined 6.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s fall of 3.1%.
From a valuation standpoint, Starbucks trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.85, below the industry’s average of 3.76.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SBUX’s fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year uptick of 8.5%. The EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
Starbucks stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Previewreports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
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Zacks Investment Research
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Starbucks, McDonald's and Dutch Bros

Fintel reports that on March 6, 2026, DA Davidson initiated coverage of Starbucks (NasdaqGS:SBUX) with a Neutral recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 3.28% Upside
As of February 25, 2026, the average one-year price target for Starbucks is $102.24/share. The forecasts range from a low of $74.74 to a high of $126.00. The average price target represents an increase of 3.28% from its latest reported closing price of $98.99 / share.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for Starbucks is 46,667MM, an increase of 23.78%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 5.59.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 2,585 funds or institutions reporting positions in Starbucks. This is an decrease of 735 owner(s) or 22.14% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to SBUX is 0.23%, an increase of 16.90%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 14.59% to 981,686K shares. The put/call ratio of SBUX is 0.92, indicating a bullish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Capital World Investors holds 84,727K shares representing 7.44% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 77,720K shares , representing an increase of 8.27%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in SBUX by 8.03% over the last quarter.
Capital Research Global Investors holds 82,182K shares representing 7.21% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 85,460K shares , representing a decrease of 3.99%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in SBUX by 5.83% over the last quarter.
Geode Capital Management holds 26,373K shares representing 2.31% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 26,148K shares , representing an increase of 0.85%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in SBUX by 48.22% over the last quarter.
Wells Fargo holds 17,811K shares representing 1.56% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 19,721K shares , representing a decrease of 10.73%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in SBUX by 13.88% over the last quarter.
AMRMX - AMERICAN MUTUAL FUND holds 17,447K shares representing 1.53% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 8,765K shares , representing an increase of 49.76%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in SBUX by 103.87% over the last quarter.
Fintel is one of the most comprehensive investing research platforms available to individual investors, traders, financial advisors, and small hedge funds.
Our data covers the world, and includes fundamentals, analyst reports, ownership data and fund sentiment, options sentiment, insider trading, options flow, unusual options trades, and much more. Additionally, our exclusive stock picks are powered by advanced, backtested quantitative models for improved profits.
This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

DA Davidson Initiates Coverage of Starbucks (SBUX) with Neutral Recommendation

Starbucks Corporation SBUX reported a notable improvement in customer traffic during first-quarter fiscal 2026, signaling a potential turning point after several quarters of soft store visits.
Global comparable-store sales increased 4% year over year, supported primarily by higher transactions rather than pricing. In the United States — Starbucks’ largest market — comparable sales also rose 4%, driven by a 3% increase in transactions and a modest 1% rise in average ticket. Importantly, the quarter marked the first U.S. transaction growth in eight quarters, highlighting improving customer engagement following a prolonged traffic slowdown.
The company credited the improvement to operational initiatives tied to its “Back to Starbucks” strategy, which focuses on enhancing the in-store experience, improving service speed and strengthening execution at the store level. A central component of this strategy is the Green Apron Service model, designed to increase staffing efficiency and deliver faster service. Early stores adopting the Green Apron Service model are showing encouraging customer feedback and operational improvements.
Digital engagement also remained a critical driver of visits. Starbucks Rewards membership reached a record 35.5 million active members in the United States, reinforcing the loyalty ecosystem that accounts for a significant portion of transactions. Management noted that transactions from both rewards and non-rewards customers increased year over year, marking the first such improvement in several years.
International markets also supported the traffic rebound. The company’s international segment posted 5% comparable sales growth, driven by transaction gains across several regions. China — Starbucks’ second-largest market — delivered 7% comparable sales growth, benefiting from product innovation, marketing initiatives and steady demand in delivery channels.
While the company continues to navigate cost pressures and ongoing investments in store operations, the return of transaction growth suggests that Starbucks’ focus on service improvements and customer experience may be beginning to translate into measurable demand recovery.
How Starbucks’ Traffic Trends Compare With Peers
Customer traffic trends across the restaurant and beverage industry remain uneven, with companies relying on different levers to drive visits. Compared with peers, Starbucks is now beginning to show improving transaction momentum after a period of softer demand.
For example, McDonald's Corporation MCD reported solid guest traffic performance in the fourth quarter of 2025. Global comparable sales increased 5.7%, supported by positive guest counts and higher average checks, with U.S. comparable sales rising 6.8%. Management attributed the strength to value-focused offerings, large-scale marketing campaigns and menu innovation, all of which helped drive steady customer visits despite a challenging consumer environment.
Meanwhile, Dutch Bros Inc. BROS, a fast-growing beverage chain, continues to deliver strong transaction-driven growth. The company reported 7.7% system same-shop sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, fueled by 5.4% transaction growth, reflecting strong demand for beverage innovation and increasing adoption of its Dutch Rewards loyalty program.
Against this backdrop, Starbucks’ return to positive transaction growth stands out because it follows eight consecutive quarters of declining U.S. transactions. While McDonald’s and Dutch Bros have maintained relatively steady traffic trends through value offerings, innovation and loyalty engagement, Starbucks’ recent improvement suggests its operational reset and service-focused initiatives may be starting to stabilize store visits.
SBUX’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Starbucks have declined 6.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s fall of 3.1%.
SBUX Stock’s One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Starbucks trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.85, below the industry’s average of 3.76.
SBUX’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SBUX’s fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year uptick of 8.5%. The EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of SBUX Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Starbucks stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Starbucks Corporation

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