Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) Shares Sold by Northstar Group Inc.

Northstar Group Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 65,776 shares of the coffee company’s stock after selling 913 shares during the period. Starbucks makes up 1.0% of Northstar Group Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Northstar Group Inc.’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $6,002,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. DT Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in Starbucks by 39.4% during the 3rd quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 428 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Friedenthal Financial acquired a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the 3rd quarter valued at $50,000. Finally, Hager Investment Management Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth $56,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Rachel Ruggeri sold 1,491 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.54, for a total value of $148,414.14. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 80,124 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,975,542.96. This represents a 1.83 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on SBUX. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Starbucks from $98.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and set a $110.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $100.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $105.33.

Starbucks Price Performance

Starbucks stock opened at $112.20 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $96.93 and its 200 day moving average price is $94.32. The company has a market cap of $127.45 billion, a PE ratio of 36.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 1.00. Starbucks Co. has a 1-year low of $71.55 and a 1-year high of $112.62.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.01. Starbucks had a net margin of 9.73% and a negative return on equity of 44.97%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.90 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Starbucks Co. will post 3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 28th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. Starbucks’s dividend payout ratio is presently 78.71%.

Starbucks Profile

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.