Qualtix Stock Brief
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) stock analysis: business quality, valuation, and entry timing
Starbucks operates and licenses coffee shops worldwide, with the US and China as its largest markets. Store traffic, pricing power, and labor costs drive margins, which the model reads separately from how the stock is priced. Public Qualtix model snapshot from 2026-10-26 for SBUX: business quality 39/100, below the model's stronger-company threshold and valuation Expensive. Today's verdict and Entry Timing are shown after a free sign-in.
Qualtix evaluates SBUX with a rules-based model that separates business quality, valuation, entry timing, red flags, and data confidence. The model scores first; AI explanations and the full Clean Brief help explain the result afterward.
Coverage note: Qualtix can analyze supported US stocks when SEC/FMP filing data is available. The 1,000+ stock universe refers to the daily screener used for discovery, not the full analysis limit.
SBUX public evidence metrics from the latest validated Qualtix snapshot
| Metric | Value | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 3.1% | 3-year revenue CAGR | FMP, computed |
| FCF margin | 9.5% | Free cash flow divided by revenue | FMP, computed |
| Operating margin | 9.4% | Profitability margin | FMP, computed |
| Gross margin | 31.7% | Revenue retained after direct costs | FMP, computed |
| Return on capital (pre-tax) | 24.5% | Operating profit before tax, divided by equity plus debt | FMP, computed |
| Cash and debt | Cash and investments $3.6B / Debt $22.4B | Balance-sheet context | FMP, reported |
| TTM P/E | 59.2x | Price to trailing earnings | FMP, computed |
| Market cap | $117.1B | Company size context | FMP, reported |
Qualtix view
- Business quality: 39/100, below the model's stronger-company threshold.
- Valuation is currently labeled Expensive, so the stock needs stronger business evidence or a better price to improve the setup.
Today's verdict
- Today's model verdict and Entry Timing for SBUX update every market day and are shown after a free sign-in.
Data and snapshot dates
- Model snapshot date: 2026-10-26.
- Financial data through: 2026-06-28.
- Scored by the current Qualtix model.
- Data-confidence status: high.
What supports the current view
- Beta of 0.97 suggests lower market sensitivity than higher-beta alternatives.
What weakens the current view
- Business quality remains below the model's stronger-company threshold (39/100).
- Valuation is currently labeled Expensive, so price still matters.
What changed
- Business Quality was unchanged from the previous snapshot.
What to research next
- Start with the weaker Business Quality signal (39/100): review revenue durability, margins, cash generation, and balance-sheet pressure.
- Compare SBUX's Expensive valuation with sector peers and ask what growth or margin evidence would justify the premium.
- Compare SBUX with MCD and CMG to see whether the model edge is company-specific or sector-wide.
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Qualtix is for research and education only. It is not financial advice.