Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is arguably the best-known coffee business in the world. The company has experienced a volatile few years since the outbreak of COVID-19. It was forced to close many of its locations to in-person visitors. Sales fell by 11% in 2020.
That said, it's bouncing back since economies started reopening in 2021. Further, changing consumer habits, like increased digital ordering, could prove a lasting advantage. Let's consider if investors should buy Starbucks stock today.
In the last decade, Starbucks has grown from $13.3 billion in sales in 2012 to $29 billion in 2021. The company runs a mixed model of owning some locations and licensing others. While it operates internationally, the U.S. and China comprise 15,650 and 5,761 of its total of over 34,000 locations. China is considerably lagging behind the rest of the world regarding removing business restrictions. As a result, Starbucks' comparable store sales in China, which exclude the impact of new store openings and closings, fell 44% in its most recent quarter, which ended on July 3.
Source Fool.com