Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) Shares Acquired by Howard Capital Management Inc.

Howard Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 33,263 shares of the coffee company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,033 shares during the quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $3,035,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of SBUX. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Starbucks in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, DT Investment Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Starbucks by 39.4% in the 3rd quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 428 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Starbucks Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of SBUX stock opened at $111.75 on Friday. Starbucks Co. has a 12 month low of $71.55 and a 12 month high of $114.68. The business’s 50 day moving average is $99.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $97.30. The company has a market cap of $126.94 billion, a PE ratio of 36.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 1.00.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.01. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 44.97% and a net margin of 9.73%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.90 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Starbucks Co. will post 2.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Starbucks from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Starbucks from $96.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Wedbush upped their price target on shares of Starbucks from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $105.33.

About Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items.