Holdings Update: Sell Starbucks

The Jensen Investment Team Sells Position in Starbucks (SBUX)

November 2024

The Jensen Investment Team elected to sell portfolio holding Starbucks (ticker: SBUX) from the Jensen Quality Growth Strategy due to a deterioration in business fundamentals.

Founded in 1971, Starbucks is a global restaurant company and roaster, marketer and retailer of specialty coffee. The company has benefited from competitive advantages such as global brand recognition and strong customer loyalty. However, recent financial performance has suffered from increased competition in its Chinese operations and negative consumer sentiment due to a series of price increases.

The company’s stock price moved sharply higher in conjunction with a recent leadership transition announcement in which the embattled former CEO was replaced with a highly respected outsider, and we are hopeful that this change will improve the company’s business performance in the long run. Nevertheless, we took advantage of the share price rebound as an opportunity to exit the position and add to more attractive portfolio opportunities. We will closely monitor Starbucks’ evolution and may consider reestablishing a position based on improvement in the company’s valuation, fundamentals and/or risk characteristics. 


Strategy holdings are subject to change and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security.

Please click here to view a list of the Jensen Quality Growth Strategy’s current holdings.

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This information is current as of the date of this material and is subject to change at any time, based on the market and other conditions.

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