30th October 2026 – (San Francisco) Starbucks reported that fourth‑quarter revenue fell 4.5 per cent year on year to 9.14 billion US dollars for the 13‑week period ended 27th September 2026, even as net income attributable to the company jumped 408.8 per cent to 677.2 million US dollars. The surge in profitability partly reflected a marked reduction in restructuring and impairment charges. Diluted earnings per share rose to 0.59 dollars from 0.12 dollars, and non‑GAAP adjusted earnings per share increased 53.8 per cent to 0.80 dollars.
Operating performance strengthened, with operating income up 256.5 per cent to 991.8 million US dollars and operating margin expanding to 10.8 per cent from 2.9 per cent a year earlier. Management said the top‑line decline primarily stemmed from converting its China retail operations to a licensed joint venture model.
Global comparable coffeehouse sales advanced 7.2 per cent, supported by a 5.2 per cent rise in average ticket and a 1.8 per cent increase in comparable transactions. In North America, comparable sales climbed 7.9 per cent, including a 7.7 per cent gain in the United States, with regional revenue up 6 per cent to 7.33 billion US dollars. The international segment’s revenue fell 37 per cent to 1.31 billion US dollars, largely reflecting the China transition, while international comparable sales edged up 0.9 per cent.
Starbucks added a net 303 new coffeehouses during the quarter, bringing its global store base to 41,607 at the end of September. For the full fiscal year 2026, revenue rose 2 per cent to 37.91 billion US dollars, net income attributable to Starbucks increased 36.1 per cent to 2.53 billion US dollars, and diluted earnings per share improved to 2.21 dollars from 1.63 dollars.
Looking to fiscal 2027, the company expects revenue to decline by around 1 per cent, again reflecting the licensing shift in China. Starbucks projects approximately 4 per cent growth in North American comparable sales and plans to open a net 1,200 new coffeehouses worldwide.
