Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) may have won over some new investors with its dividend announcement last month, but so far it looks to be winning over people with earnings despite a 150% gain from trough to peak in the last bull market cycle. The company beat earnings and raised guidance, and shares are so far responding.
Its non-GAAP operating margins came in at 17.8%, a considerable improvement from 10.4% a year ago. The turnaround is working. Lower store costs, better sales leverage, higher productivity (more work from fewer hands) and closing underperforming stores all contributed.
Starbucks reported $0.29 EPS vs. $0.25 EPS expected; revenues rose over 8% to $2.53 billion vs. $2.41 billion expected. For 2010, it now sees earnings of $1.19 to 1.22 EPS, up from its previous $1.05 to $1.08 range and above the Thomson Reuters $1.12 EPS consensus estimate.
Starbucks closed up 0.5% at $25.39 today, and the 52-week range is $11.20 to $26.00. We have shares up 1% at $25.66 in the after-hours session. Valuation may still be a concern going forward, but either way it impossible not to expect analysts to raise their earnings expectations for 2010 and 2011 tomorrow.
JON C. OGG
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