In brief
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Starbucks revenue fell 4.5 % YoY to $9.14 billion, while net income jumped 408.8 % to $677.2 million. The drop was largely attributed to the shift of China operations to a licensed joint‑venture model, while global comparable coffeehouse sales rose 7.2 %. Starbucks projects a ~1 % revenue decline for fiscal 2027. Unverified reports from other outlets have not confirmed these figures.
Starbucks reported on Thursday that its fourth‑quarter revenue fell 4.5 percent year‑on‑year to $9.14 billion, while net income surged 408.8 percent to $677.2 million, according to Xinhua.
Financial results for the 13‑week quarter ended Sept. 27 showed net income attributable to Starbucks rising from $133.1 million a year earlier to $677.2 million, with diluted earnings per share climbing from $0.12 to $0.59. Operating income increased 256.5 percent to $991.8 million, and the operating margin expanded to 10.8 percent from 2.9 percent. The revenue decline was mainly attributed to the conversion of China retail operations into a licensed joint‑venture model, while global comparable sales rose 7.2 percent, driven by a 5.2 percent lift in average ticket and a 1.8 percent rise in comparable transactions.
Financial Highlights
In North America, comparable sales grew 7.9 percent, including a 7.7 percent increase in the United States. Revenue from the North American segment grew 6 percent to $7.33 billion. The international segment saw a 37 percent decline in revenue, falling to $1.31 billion, largely reflecting China restructuring. International comparable sales increased 0.9 percent.
Starbucks opened a net 303 new coffeehouses during the quarter, bringing its global store count to 41,607 at the end of September.
Future Outlook
Starbucks expects revenue to decline approximately 1 percent in fiscal 2027, primarily reflecting the transition of its China operations to the licensed joint‑venture model. The company projects about 4 percent growth in North American comparable sales and plans to open a net 1,200 new coffeehouses worldwide.
Unverified reports from other outlets have not yet confirmed these figures; the Star’s 2026–10–30 article currently returns a 404 error, leaving the status of independent corroboration uncertain.
