SBUX – Starbucks rises after Q2 beats expectations, as customer traffic shows clearer signs of recovery in its turnaround plan

📌 Starbucks reported a stronger-than-expected Q2 FY2026, with revenue reaching $9.53B, up 9% year over year, while adjusted EPS came in at $0.50, above the expected $0.43.
🔎 The key point was not only profit, but global comp sales rising 6.2%, supported by a 3.8% increase in transactions and a 2.3% rise in ticket size. This suggests the recovery is being driven by real demand, not just price increases.
💡 The U.S. remained the main growth driver, with comp sales up 7.1% and transactions rising 4.3%, strengthening expectations that the “Back to Starbucks” strategy is starting to work after a long period of pressure.
⚠️ Still, China remains an area to watch, with comp sales up only 0.5%, while North America margins continue to face pressure from labor costs, coffee prices, and tariffs.
✅ Starbucks’ higher FY2026 guidance and the stock’s roughly 5% after-hours gain show a positive market reaction, but the next leg higher will still depend on whether U.S. traffic can stay strong in the coming quarters.