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Starbucks (SBUX) Q4 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

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Starbucks (SBUX - Free Report) reported $9.57 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.5%. EPS of $0.52 for the same period compares to $0.80 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.33 billion, representing a surprise of +2.61%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -5.46%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.55.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Starbucks performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Total Stores: 40,990 versus the seven-analyst average estimate of 41,142.
  • Comparable Store Sales - International - Sales Growth: 3% versus 1.7% estimated by seven analysts on average.
  • Comparable Store Sales - North America - Sales Growth: 0% versus the seven-analyst average estimate of -0.7%.
  • Comparable store sales - YoY change: 1% versus the seven-analyst average estimate of -0.1%.
  • Net Revenues- Company-operated stores- North America: $6.28 billion versus $6.14 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +4.3% change.
  • Net Revenues- Other- North America: $1.7 million compared to the $1 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +240% year over year.
  • Net Revenues- Licensed stores- North America: $622 million versus $666.39 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -7.6% change.
  • Net Revenues- International: $2.07 billion versus $2.04 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +9.4% change.
  • Net Revenues- Company-operated stores: $7.86 billion versus the seven-analyst average estimate of $7.67 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5.6%.
  • Net Revenues- Licensed stores: $1.09 billion versus $1.13 billion estimated by seven analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -3.2% change.
  • Net Revenues- Other: $614 million versus $525.77 million estimated by seven analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +22.2% change.
  • Net Revenues- Channel Development: $542.6 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $477.66 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +16.6%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Starbucks here>>>

Shares of Starbucks have returned +1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

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