The company gave guidance for the fiscal 2015 full year. Revenue growth is expected to be 16% to 18% and global comparable store sales growth is expected to be in the mid-single digits. Operating margin is expected to be flat to slightly up over the prior year.
In the fiscal first quarter of the previous year, global comparable store sales increased by 5%, with a 2% increase in traffic. Comparable sales in the Americas mirrored global comparable sales, while Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) comparable sales grew 4%, driven by a 3% increase in traffic. China and Asia Pacific (CAP) reported a sales increase of 8%, which was driven entirely by increased traffic.
Operating margin increased to 19.5%, up 80 basis points from the same period in the previous year.
The company reported comparable store customer transactions increased by almost 9 million in the United States and by about 12 million globally, year-over-year. In the first quarter the coffee giant opened 512 net new stores.
Scott Maw, CFO of Starbucks, commented on the fiscal first quarter:
Starbucks results in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 were very strong, with notable growth across the globe. All segments contributed to our record results in the quarter, with improved traffic growth in the US, record profitability in EMEA and 8% comps in CAP. Our continued ability to drive growth through innovation, operational excellence and our unique customer connection, along with our sharp focus on financial discipline, give us confidence in reaffirming our growth targets for fiscal 2015.
Morgan Stanley weighed in on Starbucks in the first half of January, maintaining an Overweight rating and raising its price target to $97 from $88. This implies upside of 19% from Wednesday’s close. The highest listed analyst price target is $100.
Shares of Starbucks closed Thursday up 1.8% at $82.74. After earnings were released, shares were up 4% at $85.96 in post-market trading. The company’s stock has a consensus analyst price target of $91.14 and a 52-week trading range of $67.93 to $84.20.
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