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Starbucks Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Global comparable sales rose 7.9%: Global comparable store sales rose 7.9%, from a 4.2% increase in comparable transactions and a 3.5% increase in average ticket. Growth was reported in both North America and International. Source
  • North America comparable sales up 8.1%: North America net revenues rose 7% to $7.4 billion, and operating margin rose to 13.6% from 13.3%. Operating income was $1,008.9 million, up 10%. Source
  • Tariff refunds offset earlier tariffs: Refunds received in the quarter were recorded in product and distribution costs and largely offset tariffs incurred in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Boyu China deal completed in April: The transaction with funds managed by Boyu Capital completed in April. Starbucks keeps a 40% stake in the joint venture and continues to own and license the brand. Source
  • Fourth-quarter comp target underpins guidance: The full-year U.S. and global comparable sales targets rest on a fourth-quarter U.S. comparable growth target of 6.5% or greater. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS guidance lifted: The GAAP projection excludes the $0.47 per-share divestiture gain, which is shown in the reconciliation for the full year. Source

“Our Back to Starbucks plan was built on the belief that an extraordinary cup of coffee, human connection and customer experience win the day, every day. Our third quarter results are proof they do,”

Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
U.S. comparable store sales SourceFourth quarter fiscal 20266.5% or greaterNew
U.S. comparable store sales SourceFull fiscal 2026slightly greater than 6.0%Raised from 5.0% or greater
Global comparable store sales SourceFull fiscal 2026nearing 6.0%Raised from 5.0% or greater
Consolidated net revenues SourceFull fiscal 2026, year over yearflat to slight growthRaised from roughly flat year over year
Non-GAAP consolidated operating margin SourceFull fiscal 2026greater than 11.0%New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull fiscal 2026$2.55 to $2.65Raised from $2.25 to $2.45
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull fiscal 2026 (projected)$2.14 - 2.24Raised from $1.73- 1.93
Net new coffeehouses SourceFull fiscal 2026600 to 650Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year U.S. comparable store sales growth target raised from 5.0% or greater to slightly greater than 6.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year global comparable store sales growth target raised from 5.0% or greater to nearing 6.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Consolidated net revenues target moved from roughly flat to flat to slight growth. Source
  • Guidance raised: Non-GAAP EPS range raised from $2.25 to $2.45 to $2.55 to $2.65. Source
  • Guidance raised: GAAP diluted EPS projection moved from $1.73 to $1.93 to $2.14 to $2.24. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter U.S. comparable store sales growth target of 6.5% or greater added. Source
  • New guidance: Non-GAAP operating margin target set at greater than 11.0%, replacing the prior guidance of a slight year-over-year improvement. Source
  • Guidance kept: Net new coffeehouse target remains 600 to 650 globally. Source
  • New: Tariff refunds on qualifying reciprocal tariffs were requested in Q3 and substantially all received, recorded in product and distribution costs. Source
  • New: China sale proceeds were used for tender offers on certain series of outstanding notes. Source
  • Ended: Company-operated China retail operations ended with the divestiture; 7,991 stores converted to licensed status. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Global comparable sales rose 7.9%: Global comparable store sales rose 7.9%, from a 4.2% increase in comparable transactions and a 3.5% increase in average ticket. Growth was reported in both North America and International. Source
  • Net revenues fell on China transfer: Consolidated net revenues were $9,322.7 million, down 1.4% as reported and 0.8% in constant currency. Company-operated store revenue fell 3.9% after China retail moved to a licensed joint venture. Source
  • GAAP and non-GAAP EPS both rose: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.91, up 85.7%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.85, up 70.0%. GAAP results include items excluded from non-GAAP results, including the divestiture net gain. Source
  • Operating margin widened on sales leverage: GAAP operating margin was 10.5%, up 60 basis points, and non-GAAP operating margin was 14.4%, up 430 basis points. GAAP operating income was $980.4 million, up 4.8%. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America comparable sales up 8.1%: North America net revenues rose 7% to $7.4 billion, and operating margin rose to 13.6% from 13.3%. Operating income was $1,008.9 million, up 10%. Source
  • International margin rose on China conversion: International net revenues fell 34% to $1.3 billion as China retail moved to a licensed joint venture. Operating margin rose to 19.1% from 13.6%, and operating income fell 7% to $252.8 million. Source
  • Channel Development revenue up 22%: Channel Development net revenues rose 22% to $587.9 million, mainly from the Global Coffee Alliance. Operating margin rose to 52.1%, with management citing tariff impacts including refunds. Source

“We have more work to do, but we're relentlessly focused on reclaiming the third place and becoming the world's greatest customer service company.”

Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Tariff refunds offset earlier tariffs: Refunds received in the quarter were recorded in product and distribution costs and largely offset tariffs incurred in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose to $302.6 million: Restructuring and impairments were $302.6 million against $20.8 million a year earlier. Management said higher restructuring costs and labor investments partly offset North America margin gains. Source
  • Store operating cost ratio ticked up: Store operating expenses were 55.9% of company-operated store revenues, against 55.6% a year earlier, while the dollar amount fell 3.4%. Source
  • Tax rate fell on prior-year item: GAAP effective tax rate was 26.4% against 31.8%, mainly from lapping a prior-year discrete item. Non-GAAP effective tax rate was 21.8%, down 960 basis points. Source

China retail divestiture

  • Boyu China deal completed in April: The transaction with funds managed by Boyu Capital completed in April. Starbucks keeps a 40% stake in the joint venture and continues to own and license the brand. Source
  • Divestiture gain excluded from non-GAAP: The net gain from the divestiture is excluded from non-GAAP results, and is shown in the reconciliation as a $0.47 per-share item. Source
  • China shift to licensed revenue: Lower company-operated China store revenue was offset in part by higher product sales to and royalty revenue from licensees, per management. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect the growing durability of our performance across both the top and bottom line, giving us confidence in the trajectory of our business,”

Cathy Smith, chief financial officer

Customers, traffic and ticket

  • Average ticket rose on delivery, food attach: North America average ticket rose 3.5%, management attributing it to higher delivery sales and food attach and beverage modifications. Source
  • International comps led by ticket: International comparable sales rose 5.7%, mainly on a 3.1% ticket increase, with comparable transactions up 2.6%. Source
  • U.S. transactions up 4.2%: U.S. comparable store sales rose 7.9%, with comparable transactions up 4.2% and average ticket up 3.6%. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance update

  • Fourth-quarter comp target underpins guidance: The full-year U.S. and global comparable sales targets rest on a fourth-quarter U.S. comparable growth target of 6.5% or greater. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS guidance lifted: The GAAP projection excludes the $0.47 per-share divestiture gain, which is shown in the reconciliation for the full year. Source
  • China treated differently across halves: Guidance treats Starbucks China retail as company-operated in the first half of fiscal 2026 and as a joint venture licensee in the second half. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $3.6 billion: Nine-month operating cash flow was $3,604.1 million, up from $3,365.7 million. Additions to property, plant and equipment fell to $887.8 million from $1,849.5 million. Source
  • Cash and equivalents rose to $3.4 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $3,449.8 million at June 28, 2026, against $3,219.8 million at fiscal year-end 2025. Source
  • Dividends declared per share rose: Nine-month cash dividends declared were $1.86 per share, against $1.83 a year earlier. Source

Strategy, partners and people

  • Dividend streak reached 65 quarters: Management said the company has paid dividends for 65 consecutive quarters, with a 17% compound annual growth rate over that period. Source
  • Partner degree plan nearly 20,000 graduates: Nearly 20,000 partners have graduated through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan to date, with 100 percent upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor's degree. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Dividend payable August 28: The $0.62 per share dividend is payable August 28, 2026, to holders of record on August 14, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global comparable store sales Source7.9%
Comparable transactions (global) Source4.2%
Average ticket (global) Source3.5%
U.S. comparable store sales Source7.9%
Inventories Source$2,208.9 million at June 28, 2026
Net new stores in Q3 Source175
Store count, end of quarter Source41,304

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said it is focused on what it can control in a dynamic operating environment. Source
  • Operational: Channel Development margin growth was partly offset by product mix shifts and lower income from the North American Coffee Partnership joint venture. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management describes the Back to Starbucks plan as built on customer experience, and does not state progress against a specific target. Source
  • Met: Management states the previously announced China retail transaction with funds managed by Boyu Capital was completed in April. 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.