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Starbucks Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Global comparable sales turned positive: Global comparable store sales grew for the first time in seven quarters, with comparable transactions as the main driver, the company reported. Source
  • Fourth-quarter GAAP EPS fell: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.12, down 85% from $0.80 a year earlier. Source
  • North America margin fell to 4.5%: North America operating income fell to $308.5 million from $1.3 billion a year earlier, and operating margin contracted to 4.5%. Source
  • 627 stores closed under restructuring: The restructuring plan closed 627 stores in the quarter, and over 90% of them were in North America. Source
  • GAAP operating margin fell to 2.9%: The company attributed the drop to restructuring costs, inflation, labor investments and deleverage. Non-GAAP operating margin was 9.4%, down 500 basis points. Source
  • Restructuring charges of $755.0 million: Restructuring and impairment charges were $755.0 million in the quarter and $892.0 million for the fiscal year. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell for the year: Net cash provided by operating activities was $4,747.5 million in fiscal 2025, compared with $6,095.6 million in fiscal 2024. Source

“Our return to global comp growth and the momentum we’re building give me confidence we’re on the right path to deliver the very best of Starbucks for our customers, partners and shareholders”

Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A restructuring plan announced September 25, 2025 involves closing coffeehouses and further transforming the support organization. Source
  • New: Non-GAAP results now also exclude litigation settlements and transaction costs. The third-quarter release excluded only restructuring. Source
  • New: Pilar Ramos was named executive vice president and chief legal officer, effective early November 2025. Source
  • New: Starbucks was named official coffee partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Global comparable sales turned positive: Global comparable store sales grew for the first time in seven quarters, with comparable transactions as the main driver, the company reported. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose: Net revenues rose in North America, International and Channel Development in the quarter, on a reported and constant currency basis. Source
  • Fourth-quarter GAAP EPS fell: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.12, down 85% from $0.80 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year revenue rose: Full-year consolidated net revenues rose to $37.2 billion, and rose 2.9% on a constant currency basis. Source
  • Full-year non-GAAP EPS fell: Full-year non-GAAP EPS was $2.13, down 36% from the prior year, and GAAP diluted EPS was $1.63. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America revenue rose on new stores: North America revenue grew to $6.9 billion, mainly from net new company-operated stores over the prior 12 months, before the late-quarter closures. Source
  • North America margin fell to 4.5%: North America operating income fell to $308.5 million from $1.3 billion a year earlier, and operating margin contracted to 4.5%. Source
  • International revenue rose 9%: International net revenues reached $2.1 billion, helped by net new company-operated stores, comparable sales growth and a U.K. licensed partner acquisition. Source
  • International margin fell on closure costs: International operating margin was 10.8%, down from 14.9%. The company tied the drop to coffeehouse closure and support organization costs and higher promotional activity. Source
  • Channel Development revenue rose 17%: Channel Development revenue rose to $542.6 million, driven by growth in the Global Coffee Alliance. Source
  • Channel margin lower on joint venture income: Channel Development operating margin was 48.9%, down from 56.9%, due to lower North American Coffee Partnership joint venture income and mix, partly offset by favorable global product costs. Source

“Q4 was a milestone quarter in getting ‘Back to Starbucks’, having delivered global comp growth for the first time in seven quarters”

Cathy Smith, chief financial officer

Store portfolio and restructuring

  • 627 stores closed under restructuring: The restructuring plan closed 627 stores in the quarter, and over 90% of them were in North America. Source
  • Closures targeted non-viable coffeehouses: Closures targeted coffeehouses that did not meet the company's criteria for a viable path under the Back to Starbucks strategy. Source
  • Net closures left 40,990 stores: The company had 107 net store closures in the fourth quarter, ending with 40,990 stores. That net figure includes the restructuring closures. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • GAAP operating margin fell to 2.9%: The company attributed the drop to restructuring costs, inflation, labor investments and deleverage. Non-GAAP operating margin was 9.4%, down 500 basis points. Source
  • Restructuring charges of $755.0 million: Restructuring and impairment charges were $755.0 million in the quarter and $892.0 million for the fiscal year. Source
  • Store operating costs rose as share of sales: Store operating expenses equaled 55.1% of company-operated store revenues, against 52.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Labor hours and inflation weighed on margin: Investments supporting Back to Starbucks, largely in labor hours, and inflation were named among the drivers of the margin decline. Source
  • Tax rate fell to 18.8%: The effective tax rate was 18.8% against 23.8%. The company said the change reflected lower pre-tax earnings, permanent differences and discrete items. Source

“We know this continues to be a multi-year turnaround.”

Cathy Smith, chief financial officer

Demand, traffic and pricing mix

  • North America traffic fell, ticket rose: For the full year, North America and U.S. comparable sales declined on fewer comparable transactions, partly offset by higher average ticket. Source
  • International transactions up, ticket down: In the fourth quarter, International comparable transactions rose while average ticket fell. Source
  • China ticket fell for the year: China comparable sales declined for the full year on lower average ticket, partly offset by more comparable transactions. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell for the year: Net cash provided by operating activities was $4,747.5 million in fiscal 2025, compared with $6,095.6 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Capital spending fell: Additions to property, plant and equipment were $2,305.5 million, against $2,777.5 million a year earlier. Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $177.1 million. Source
  • No share repurchases in fiscal 2025: The company repurchased no common stock in fiscal 2025, against $1,266.7 million a year earlier, and paid $2,771.4 million in cash dividends. Source
  • Dividends declared rose: Cash dividends declared were $2.45 per share for fiscal 2025, against $2.32 a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and long-term debt at year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $3,219.8 million at fiscal year-end. Long-term debt was $14,575.9 million. Source

Strategy, investment and partnerships

  • Back to Starbucks turnaround one year in: Management said its Back to Starbucks strategy has run a year and that the turnaround is taking hold. Source
  • Store portfolio assessed before closures: Before the closures, the company assessed its existing store portfolio for each coffeehouse's viable path to the brand's physical environment and to financial performance. Source
  • Spain flagship opened at Real Madrid: In September, the company opened its first Spain flagship store inside Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Source

Non-GAAP reconciliation and currency

  • Non-GAAP operating income of $896.2 million: Non-GAAP operating income excluded restructuring and impairment charges, a $145.2 million litigation settlement received in cash, and $8.2 million of transaction costs. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS of $0.52: After adjustments, non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.52, against $0.80 a year earlier, a decline of 35%. Source
  • Currency reduced reported growth slightly: Foreign currency reduced reported revenue growth by 0.2 points in the quarter. In constant currency, net revenues rose 5.3%. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2025

  • Dividend payable November 28: The Board declared a $0.62 per share cash dividend, payable November 28, 2025 to holders of record on November 14, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global comparable store sales (Q4) Source+1%; comparable transactions +1%
Global comparable store sales (fiscal 2025) Source-1%; transactions -2%; ticket +1%
U.S. comparable store sales (Q4) Source0% comp; transactions -1%; ticket +1%
International comparable store sales (Q4) Source+3% comp; transactions +6%; ticket -3%
China comparable store sales (Q4) Source+2% comp; transactions +9%; ticket -7%
Store count Source40,990 stores at Sep 28, 2025; net closures 107 in Q4
Inventories Source$2,185.6 million at Sep 28, 2025, vs $1,777.3 million at Sep 29, 2024

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said the turnaround continues over several years, so the restructuring and strategy work extends beyond this quarter. Source
  • Demand: The licensed store business declined and partly offset North America revenue growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management cites 62 consecutive quarters of dividend payouts, with a compound growth rate of 18% over that period. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it remains focused on driving the topline and managing the costs within its control. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.