MILAN — Starbucks, the world’s leading coffeehouse chain, released preliminary fourth-quarter and full fiscal year results after the markets closed on Tuesday, showing a new drop in sales, as the company tries to execute a turnaround. In the quarter ended September 29, 2024, Starbucks saw same-store sales fall 7% from the same period a year earlier, with net revenue down 3% to $9.1 billion. GAAP earnings per share is $0.80, down 25% over prior year.
Non-GAAP earnings per share is also $0.80, declining 24% on a constant currency basis. The fourth-quarter sales decline was twice as steep as analysts had expected and the biggest quarterly drop in four years.
Starbucks ‘ new CEO Brian Niccol, who replaced Laxman Narasimhan in September, also announced that he was suspending the company’s financial guidance for next year due to the crisis
The company’s shares fell by 4 per cent following the announcement.
The company’s results were primarily driven by softness in North America’s revenues in the quarter, specifically a 6% decline in U.S. comparable store sales, driven by a 10% decline in comparable transactions, partially offset by a 4% increase in average ticket.
The accelerated investments in an expanded range of product offerings coupled with more frequent in-app promotions and integrated marketing to entice frequency across the customer base did not improve customer behaviors, specifically traffic across both Starbucks Rewards and non-SR customer segments, resulting in lower-than-expected performance, said the company in the press release.
Additionally, China comparable store sales declined 14%, driven by an 8% decline in average ticket compounded by a 6% decline in comparable transactions, weighed down by intensified competition and a soft macro environment that impacted consumer spending.
For the full fiscal year 2024, global comparable store sales declined 2%, and consolidated net revenues increased 1% to $36.2 billion, also a 1% increase on a constant currency basis. GAAP earnings per share is $3.31, down 8% over prior year.
Non-GAAP earnings per share is also $3.31, declining 6% on a constant currency basis. The lower-than-expected performance for the full fiscal year was a result of pronounced traffic decline, including a cautious consumer environment, and our targeted and accelerated investments not improving customer behaviors, as well as the macro and competitive environment in China pressuring our results further.
Given the company’s ceo transition coupled with the current state of the business, guidance will be suspended for the full fiscal year 2025
This will allow ample opportunity to complete an assessment of the business and solidify key strategies, while stabilizing and positioning the business for long-term growth.
The company also announced in a separate release that its Board of Directors approved an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend from $0.57 to $0.61 per share of outstanding Common Stock. This increase will be effective with the dividend payable on November 29, 2024, to shareholders of record on November 15, 2024, and raises the company’s annual dividend rate to $2.44 per share.
Starbucks initiated its dividend in 2010 at $0.05 per share of outstanding Common Stock, and increased its dividend consecutively each year over the past 14 years at a CAGR of approximately 20%.
“Despite our heightened investments, we were unable to change the trajectory of our traffic decline, resulting in pressures in both our top-line and bottom-line. While our efficiency efforts continued to produce according to plan, they were not enough to outpace the impact of the decline in traffic,” commented Rachel Ruggeri, chief financial officer.
“We are developing a plan to turn around our business, but it will take time. We want to amplify our confidence in the business, and provide some certainty as we drive our turnaround. For that reason, we have increased our dividend,” Ruggeri added.
“Our fourth quarter performance makes it clear that we need to fundamentally change our strategy so we can get back to growth and that’s exactly what we are doing with our ‘Back to Starbucks’ plan,” commented Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer
“I’ve spent my first several weeks in stores engaging with and listening to feedback from our partners and customers. It’s clear that Starbucks is a much-loved brand. We need to focus on what has always set us apart — a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather and where we serve the finest coffee, handcrafted by our skilled baristas. We are energized and the team is already moving quickly. I’ll share more details at our upcoming earnings call, but invite you to listen to my initial thoughts on our investor relations website,” Niccol concluded.
Starbucks released a video of prepared remarks by Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer. The video is available at https://investor.starbucks.com/ and the video will be available on the company’s website until the end of day, Thursday, December 5, 2024.
