Starbucks Reports Q1 Fiscal 2023 Results

Q1 Consolidated Net Revenues Up 8% to a Record $8.7 Billion

Q1 Comparable Store Sales Up 5% Globally; Up 10% in the U.S; Up Double Digits Internationally, Excluding China

Q1 GAAP EPS $0.74; Non-GAAP EPS $0.75; Performance Materially Impacted by Headwinds in China

Q1 Active U.S. Starbucks^® Rewards Membership Reaches 30.4 Million, Up 15% Over Prior Year, Up 6% Sequentially

Q1 Card Loads Reaches a Record $3.3 Billion; Ranking as #2 U.S. Brand in Holiday Gift Card Activations

Company Reaffirms 2023 Full Year Guidance

Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX) today reported financial results for its 13-week fiscal first quarter ended January 1, 2023. GAAP results in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 include items that are excluded from non-GAAP results. Please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this release for more information.

Q1 Fiscal 2023 Highlights

• Global comparable store sales increased 5%, primarily driven by a 7% increase in average ticket, partially offset by a 2% decline in comparable transactions
  • North America and U.S. comparable store sales increased 10%, driven by a 9% increase in average ticket and a 1% increase in comparable transactions
  • International comparable store sales decreased 13%, driven by a 12% decline in comparable transactions and a 1% decline in average ticket; China comparable store sales decreased 29%, driven by a 28% decline in comparable transactions and a 1% decline in average ticket
• The company opened 459 net new stores in Q1, ending the period with 36,170 stores globally: 51% company-operated and 49% licensed
  • At the end of Q1, stores in the U.S. and China comprised 61% of the company’s global portfolio, with 15,952 stores in the U.S. and 6,090 stores in China
• Consolidated net revenues up 8%, to a record $8.7 billion, inclusive of approximately 3% unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation
• GAAP operating margin of 14.4% decreased from 14.6% in the prior year, primarily driven by previously committed investments in labor including enhanced store partner wages and benefits, inflationary pressures and sales deleverage in China, partially offset by strategic pricing in North America and sales leverage across markets outside of China
  • Non-GAAP operating margin of 14.5% decreased from 15.1% in the prior year
• GAAP earnings per share of $0.74 grew 7% over prior year, including an estimated $0.06⁽¹⁾ of dilutive impact from China
  • Non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.75 grew 4% over the prior year, including an estimated $0.06⁽¹⁾ of dilutive impact from China
• Starbucks Rewards loyalty program 90-day active members in the U.S. increased to 30.4 million, up 15% year-over-year

“Starbucks performance in Q1 demonstrates the strength and resilience of our business and accelerating demand for Starbucks Coffee all around the world," said Howard Schultz, interim ceo. “We posted today's strong results despite challenging global consumer and inflationary environments, a soft quarter for retail overall and the unprecedented, COVID-related headwinds that unfolded in China in Q1,” Schultz added.

“I am very proud of what we achieved in Q1, with nearly every business segment contributing to our strong performance,” commented Rachel Ruggeri, chief financial officer. “And I’m pleased to share that our fiscal 2023 guidance remains unchanged, despite the headwinds from China,” Ruggeri added.

⁽¹⁾ In this release, we estimate the impact of headwinds from China by comparing actual results to our previous forecasts and excluding the impact of foreign currency translation. These forecasts were created prior to Q1 FY23 and were based on information available at the time and on a variety of assumptions which we believe were reasonable, some or all of which may prove not to be accurate.

Net revenues for the North America segment grew 14% over Q1 FY22 to $6.6 billion in Q1 FY23, primarily driven by a 10% increase in company-operated comparable store sales, driven by a 9% increase in average ticket and a 1% increase in transactions, net new store growth of 3% over the past 12 months and strength in our licensed store sales.

Operating income increased to $1.2 billion in Q1 FY23 compared to $1.1 billion in Q1 FY22. Operating margin of 18.5% contracted from 18.9% in the prior year, primarily driven by previously committed investments in labor including enhanced store partner wages and benefits, as well as higher commodity and supply chain costs due to inflationary pressures. This contraction was partially offset by strategic pricing and sales leverage.

Net revenues for the International segment declined 10% over Q1 FY22 to $1.7 billion in Q1 FY23, primarily driven by approximately 13% unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, as well as a 13% decline in comparable store sales, primarily attributable to suppressed mobility in China. These decreases were partially offset by growth in our licensed store revenue including higher product sales and royalty revenues, as well as net new store growth of 8% over the past 12 months.

Operating income decreased to $240.4 million in Q1 FY23 compared to $299.6 million in Q1 FY22. Operating margin of 14.3% contracted from 16.0% in the prior year, primarily driven by sales deleverage in China. This contraction was partially offset by sales leverage across markets outside of China, lapping amortization expenses and business mix.

Net revenues for the Channel Development segment grew 15% over Q1 FY22 to $478.2 million in Q1 FY23, driven by growth in the Global Coffee Alliance and global ready-to-drink business.

Operating income increased to $226.3 million in Q1 FY23 compared to $183.2 million in Q1 FY22. Operating margin of 47.3% expanded from 43.9% in the prior year, primarily due to strength in our North American Coffee Partnership joint venture income.

Fiscal 2023 Financial Targets

The company will discuss fiscal year 2023 financial targets during its Q1 FY23 earnings conference call starting today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. These items can be accessed on the company's Investor Relations website during and after the call. The company uses its website as a tool to disclose important information about the company and comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation Fair Disclosure.

Company Updates

1. In October, the company hosted a District Manager+ Leadership Experience in Seattle, WA, a two-day gathering that welcomed over 2,000 retail leaders from across the U.S. and Canada. The gathering was designed to elevate the leadership excellence required to lead our stores and store partners through the company's Reinvention.
2. In November, the company opened the Starbucks Reserve^® store Empire State Building^® store. Spanning 23,000 square feet and three floors, this unique store serves as celebration of our brand, through innovative coffee experiences and service, including immersive hands-on workshops, guided tasting flights, as well as new beverage and food offerings only available at this location.
3. In December, the company resumed the company's Origin Experience, in which select partners who completed the company's Coffee Masters training visit Hacienda Alsacia, the company's farm in Costa Rica. The Origin Experience immerses partners in the company's coffee heritage, C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) practices and farm innovation.
4. In December, the company launched Starbucks Odyssey^TM Beta experience, powered by Web3 technology, to a group of waitlist Starbucks Rewards members and partners in the U.S., unlocking access to exciting new benefits and experiences through a series of entertaining, interactive activities called “Journeys”.
5. In January, the company announced the expansion of a partnership with DoorDash, Inc. providing a new delivery service in Northern California, Texas, Georgia, Florida and other select markets. Starbucks delivery with DoorDash will expand to additional markets over the coming months, with the goal of full nationwide availability in all 50 states by March 2023.
6. In Q1 fiscal 2023, the company resumed its share repurchase program, repurchasing 1.9 million shares of common stock valued at $191.4 million; approximately 50.6 million shares remain available for purchase under the current authorization. As Reinvention accelerates, the company expects to return approximately $20 billion to shareholders by the end of fiscal 2025 between our dividends and share repurchases.
7. The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.53 per share, payable on February 24, 2023, to shareholders of record on February 10, 2023. The company had 51 quarters of consistent dividend payouts with a CAGR greater than 20%.

Conference Call

Starbucks will hold a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, which will be hosted by Howard Schultz, interim ceo, and other members of Starbucks executive leadership team. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at http://investor.starbucks.com. A replay of the webcast will be available until end of day Friday, March 3, 2023.

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 36,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at stories.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein and in our investor conference call related to these results are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “feel,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements include statements relating to trends in or expectations relating to the effects of our existing and any future initiatives, strategies, investments and plans, including our Reinvention plan, as well as trends in or expectations regarding our financial results and long-term growth model and drivers; our operations in the U.S. and China; our environmental, social and governance efforts; our partners; economic and consumer trends, including the impact of inflationary pressures; impact of foreign currency translation; strategic pricing actions; the conversion of certain market operations to fully licensed models; our plans for streamlining our operations, including store openings, closures and changes in store formats and models; the success of our licensing relationship with Nestlé, of our consumer packaged goods and foodservice business and its effects on our Channel Development segment results; tax rates; business opportunities, expansions and new initiatives, including Starbucks Odyssey; strategic acquisitions; our dividends programs; commodity costs and our mitigation strategies; our liquidity, cash flow from operations, investments, borrowing capacity and use of proceeds; continuing compliance with our covenants under our credit facilities and commercial paper program; repatriation of cash to the U.S.; the likelihood of the issuance of additional debt and the applicable interest rate; the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial results and future availability of governmental subsidies for COVID-19 or other public health events; our ceo transition; our share repurchase program; our use of cash and cash requirements; the expected effects of new accounting pronouncements and the estimated impact of changes in U.S. tax law, including on tax rates, investments funded by these changes and potential outcomes; and effects of legal proceedings. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and trends may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: the continuing impact of COVID-19 on our business; regulatory measures or voluntary actions that may be put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, including restrictions on business operations or social distancing requirements, and the duration and efficacy of such restrictions; the resurgence of COVID-19 infections and the circulation of novel variants of COVID-19; fluctuations in U.S. and international economies and currencies; our ability to preserve, grow and leverage our brands; the ability of our business partners and third-party providers to fulfill their responsibilities and commitments; potential negative effects of incidents involving food or beverage-borne illnesses, tampering, adulteration, contamination or mislabeling; potential negative effects of material breaches of our information technology systems to the extent we experience a material breach; material failures of our information technology systems; costs associated with, and the successful execution of, the Company’s initiatives and plans; new initiatives and plans or revisions to existing initiatives or plans; our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms; the acceptance of the Company’s products by our customers, evolving consumer preferences and tastes and changes in consumer spending behavior; partner investments, changes in the availability and cost of labor including any union organizing efforts and our responses to such efforts; failure to attract or retain key executive or employee talent or successfully transition executives; significant increased logistics costs; inflationary pressures; the impact of competition; inherent risks of operating a global business including any potential negative effects stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine; the prices and availability of coffee, dairy and other raw materials; the effect of legal proceedings; and the effects of changes in tax laws and related guidance and regulations that may be implemented, including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors” and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the company’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings.

A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Key Metrics

The company's financial results and long-term growth model will continue to be driven by new store openings, comparable store sales growth and operating margin management. We believe these key operating metrics are useful to investors because management uses these metrics to assess the growth of our business and the effectiveness of our marketing and operational strategies.

Corporate and Other primarily consists of our unallocated corporate operating expenses and Evolution Fresh prior to the sale in Q4 FY22.

Supplemental Information

The following supplemental information is provided for historical and comparative purposes.

Store Data

Non-GAAP Disclosure

In addition to the GAAP results provided in this release, the company provides certain non-GAAP financial measures that are not in accordance with, or alternatives for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Our non-GAAP financial measures of non-GAAP general and administrative expenses (G&A), non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income growth, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP effective tax rate and non-GAAP earnings per share exclude the below-listed items and their related tax impacts, as they do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the company’s future operating performance or comparisons to the company's past operating performance. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to non-GAAP G&A, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income growth, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP effective tax rate and non-GAAP earnings per share are general and administrative expenses, operating income, operating income growth, operating margin, effective tax rate and diluted net earnings per share, respectively.

Non-GAAP G&A, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income growth, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP effective tax rate and non-GAAP earnings per share may have limitations as analytical tools. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the company’s results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than the company does, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

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