$SBUX

Starbucks UK has launched its autumn menu, including the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) and new drinks like the Maple Pecan Macchiato and Iced Apple Crumble Matcha Latte. Prices range from £4.70 to £6.00. The company is collaborating with Martha Stewart to promote the seasonal items.

Starbucks (SBUX) is reportedly exploring strategic options for its Japan operations, including a partial sale or public listing, with the unit valued at $2.5B-$3.1B. The company aims for global expansion, with CEO Brian Niccol highlighting growth opportunities in China and the U.S. SBUX stock rose 0.6% overnight and is up 15% year-to-date.

Starbucks (SBUX) reported its biggest-ever fall menu launch, with record sales for items like the Pumpkin Spice Latte. CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround efforts have led to four consecutive quarters of global same-store sales growth, with Q3 revenue at $9.3B and adjusted EPS up 70% to $0.85. The company raised its full-year 2026 outlook, guiding for 6%+ growth in U.S. and global comps. SBUX stock is up 24% YTD.

U.S. stock indices rose on Thursday, led by chipmaker stocks, with S&P 500 up 0.8%, Nasdaq 100 up 1.3%, and Dow Jones up 0.3%. Investors focused on SK Hynix's upcoming Nasdaq debut and upcoming earnings season. Oracle was downgraded by S&P Global Ratings, Starbucks is using AI to reduce reliance on legacy tech, TeraWulf plans $3.5B debt raise, Palo Alto Networks CEO commented on AI token prices, and Fate Therapeutics received FDA clearance for a clinical trial.

A U.S. appeals court narrowed an NLRB ruling against Starbucks, rejecting most claims of illegal threats to employees for unionizing. The court upheld a finding that Starbucks threatened to deny maternity leave benefits to a pregnant employee if workers unionized. Starbucks has faced complaints from employees at over 700 stores. The NLRB and Starbucks did not immediately comment.

The share of employers covering GLP-1 drugs for weight management dropped from 72% in 2025 to 60% in 2026, with 14% planning to drop coverage by 2027. Starbucks confirmed it will stop covering GLP-1 medications for weight loss starting in October, citing high costs. Pharmacy costs now represent 25% of employers' total healthcare spend, with drug costs projected to rise 12%. Some employers are tightening eligibility criteria instead of dropping coverage entirely.

Starbucks (SBUX) is set to report Q2 earnings, with consensus estimates at $9.2B revenue and $0.41 EPS. JPMorgan, Stifel, and Bank of America raised price targets to $100, $115, and $130 respectively. Q1 revenue grew 6% to $9.9B, beating estimates. The company plans a new office in Nashville and a new 'Mobile Order & Pay' feature. Retail sentiment is bearish on Stocktwits.

The global decaffeinated coffee market is expected to grow from USD 3.7 billion in 2026 to USD 5.2 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 7.0%, according to Wissen Research. Growth is driven by health-conscious consumers, technological advancements in decaffeination, and expanding product availability. Key players like Nestlé and Starbucks are investing in premium offerings and new technologies. Europe leads the market, while Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region.

A U.S. appeals court ruled in favor of Starbucks, overturning an NLRB decision that found the company's dress code policies restricting union insignia violated labor laws. The court remanded two policies for reconsideration, criticizing the NLRB's legal standard. The case involved employees wearing union shirts at a New York Starbucks location.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled on September 2, 2026, that Starbucks' dress code policy, which limits union-related clothing, is not automatically unlawful. The court rejected the NLRB's 2022 Tesla framework, stating that employers' business interests, like brand image, should be balanced against employees' rights. The case was sent back to the NLRB for reconsideration. The decision also addressed the level of deference courts must give to the NLRB's legal interpretations