Starbucks Shares (NASDAQ:SBUX) Rise Amidst Increased Competition and Union Issues
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 12 2025
0mins
Should l Buy BROS?
Source: TipRanks
Starbucks Competitors: Dutch Bros. Coffee is expanding rapidly and introducing new breakfast options, posing a challenge to Starbucks' dominance in morning operations, yet Starbucks shares rose nearly 2% despite this news.
Union Strikes: Starbucks faces potential strikes from unionized shops ahead of Red Cup Day, highlighting ongoing employee dissatisfaction with workload and compensation, although Starbucks claims most workers enjoy their jobs.
Market Performance: Analysts maintain a Moderate Buy consensus on Starbucks (SBUX) stock, with a price target suggesting an 8.11% upside potential, despite a 13.41% decline in share price over the past year.
Competitor Challenges: Portillo’s breakfast pilot program was halted due to operational conflicts, providing some relief to Starbucks as it reduces competition in the breakfast segment.
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Analyst Views on BROS
Wall Street analysts forecast BROS stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 53.420
Low
70.00
Averages
78.80
High
85.00
Current: 53.420
Low
70.00
Averages
78.80
High
85.00
About BROS
Dutch Bros Inc. is an operator and franchiser of drive-thru shops, which is focused on serving hand-crafted beverages. The Company sells a range of customizable hot, iced and blended beverages. Coffee-based beverages include handcraft espresso shots for both hot and cold custom classic and signature coffee beverages. It also sells proprietary coffee-based Freeze blended beverages and cold brew. Its Private Reserve coffee is a 100% Arabica three-bean blend, roasted by the Company in Grants Pass, Oregon or Melissa, Texas facilities. The Company has two segments: Company-operated shops, and Franchising and other. The Company-operated shops segment includes retail coffee shop sales to end consumers. The Franchising and other segment includes bean and product sales to franchise partners and includes the initial franchise fees, royalties, and marketing fees. It has approximately 1,101 shops, of which over 779 are operated by the Company and 322 are franchised, across 26 states.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Investment Opportunity Analysis for Dutch Bros Coffee Stock
- Accelerating Growth: Dutch Bros has transformed from a small coffee chain in Oregon to a national coffee shop chain, with a projected 35% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2025, demonstrating resilience against macroeconomic challenges while maintaining strong growth.
- Comparable Sales Growth: With over 1,000 stores, Dutch Bros reported a 7.7% year-over-year increase in comparable sales in Q4 2025, driven by a 5.4% rise in transactions, indicating that growth is not solely reliant on price increases but also on higher transaction volumes.
- Profitability Improvement: Despite rising costs associated with new store development, Dutch Bros achieved a net income of $29.2 million in Q4 2025, a significant increase from $6.4 million the previous year, although the contribution margin slightly decreased to 27.6% due to higher coffee costs.
- Massive Growth Potential: Management anticipates doubling the store count to 2,029 by 2029, with a long-term goal of reaching 7,000 stores, highlighting the company's strategic vision and potential for expansion in the coffee market.
See More
Analysis of Three Growth Stocks in Consumer Sector
- Amazon's Market Advantage: Amazon (AMZN), as the world's largest e-commerce platform, currently trades at a significantly lower PE ratio compared to Walmart and Costco, while its e-commerce operating income growth outpaces sales growth, showcasing its efficient operations driven by investments in robotics and AI.
- Chewy's Defensive Business Model: Chewy (CHWY) trades at a forward PE ratio of 15.5 and has seen over 8% revenue growth in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, with 84% of sales coming from auto-ship customers, indicating a stable revenue source and strong customer loyalty.
- Dutch Bros' Expansion Potential: Dutch Bros (BROS) achieved a 7.7% increase in same-store sales last quarter and plans to expand its store count from 1,136 to over 2,029 by 2029, highlighting its strong momentum and market opportunities in rapid expansion.
- Return on Investment and Cash Flow: Dutch Bros can fully fund its expansion plans through operating cash flow due to relatively low store construction costs, and with ongoing same-store sales growth, it positions itself as a high-quality long-term investment.
See More
Investment Comparison: Chipotle vs Dutch Bros
- Chipotle Sales Decline: Chipotle experienced a 1.7% drop in same-store sales, with traffic contributing to a 2.9 percentage point decline, although higher spending added 1.2 percentage points, indicating that macroeconomic pressures have reduced consumer dining out willingness, negatively impacting performance.
- Expansion Potential: Chipotle added 321 locations last year, bringing its total to over 4,000, and despite a 36.4% drop in stock price over the past year, its P/E ratio has decreased from 50 to 32, still above the S&P 500's 29 multiple, reflecting its relative overvaluation in the market.
- Dutch Bros Strong Growth: Dutch Bros achieved a 5.6% increase in same-store sales last year, with 3.2 percentage points coming from increased traffic, showcasing its strong execution and customer appeal in the fast beverage market, further solidifying its market position.
- Market Expansion Opportunities: Dutch Bros opened about 150 new locations last year, totaling over 1,100 across 25 states, particularly lacking presence in the Northeast and certain Midwest states, indicating significant market expansion potential, even as its stock price fell 35.1% over the past year.
See More
Investment Outlook for Chipotle and Dutch Bros
- Chipotle Sales Decline: Chipotle's same-store sales fell by 1.7%, with traffic contributing a 2.9 percentage point drop, although higher spending added 1.2 percentage points, indicating that macroeconomic pressures have reduced consumer willingness to dine out, negatively impacting performance.
- Expansion Potential: Despite challenges, Chipotle added 321 locations last year, finishing with over 4,000, demonstrating its expansion potential in the fast-casual dining market; however, its P/E ratio remains high at 32 compared to the S&P 500's 29, indicating it is still overvalued.
- Dutch Bros Growth Opportunity: Dutch Bros achieved a 5.6% increase in same-store sales last year, with traffic contributing 3.2 percentage points, showcasing strong performance in the beverage market, and with over 1,100 locations across 25 states, it has significant expansion opportunities in the Northeast and Midwest.
- Valuation Adjustment: Although Dutch Bros shares have dropped 35.1% over the past year, its P/E ratio has decreased from 240 to 84, which, while still high, is more reasonable, providing investors with a better entry point, especially considering its ongoing sales growth and market expansion potential.
See More
U.S. Stock Market Starts Tepid; Focus on High-Potential Stocks
- MercadoLibre Growth Momentum: MercadoLibre continues to thrive across 18 Latin American countries, with its e-commerce and fintech sectors showing robust growth, as evidenced by a 35% year-over-year increase in gross merchandise volume and a 26% rise in unique active buyers in Q3 2025, highlighting its vast potential in underdeveloped markets.
- Fintech Expansion: The company's fintech operations are expanding even faster, with total payment volume up 54% in the quarter and assets under management soaring by 89%, indicating a significant opportunity for market share growth in the coming years.
- Dutch Bros Expansion Plans: Dutch Bros aims to grow from over 1,000 stores to 2,029 by 2029 and ultimately 7,000, with revenue increasing by 29% year-over-year and net income rising from $6.4 million to $29.2 million, showcasing its strong growth trajectory.
- Innovation Driving Sales: Dutch Bros enhances customer engagement through mobile ordering and a new food menu, with a walk-up shop in Los Angeles outperforming expectations by achieving three times the average order-ahead transactions, further solidifying its competitive edge in the market.
See More
MercadoLibre and Dutch Bros: Growth Opportunities in Latin America
- E-commerce Growth: MercadoLibre's gross merchandise volume increased by 35% year-over-year in Q3 2025, with items sold up 39% and unique active buyers rising by 26%, indicating significant potential in the Latin American e-commerce market, which is expected to double its penetration in the coming years, thereby expanding its market size.
- Fintech Expansion: The fintech segment of MercadoLibre saw total payment volume surge by 54% in the same quarter, with monthly active users increasing by 29%, assets under management rising by 89%, and the total credit portfolio growing by 83%, highlighting its faster growth compared to e-commerce and vast future potential.
- Dutch Bros Expansion Plans: Dutch Bros aims to increase its store count from over 1,000 to 2,029 by 2029 and ultimately to 7,000, presenting significant growth opportunities, especially as revenue rose by 29% year-over-year.
- Innovation Driving Sales: Dutch Bros is enhancing customer engagement by rolling out mobile ordering and adding a food menu, with a new walk-up shop in Los Angeles outperforming expectations by achieving three times the average order-ahead transactions, showcasing its competitive edge in the rapidly growing coffee market.
See More
Investment Opportunity Analysis for Dutch Bros Coffee Stock
- Accelerating Growth: Dutch Bros has transformed from a small coffee chain in Oregon to a national coffee shop chain, with a projected 35% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2025, demonstrating resilience against macroeconomic challenges while maintaining strong growth.
- Comparable Sales Growth: With over 1,000 stores, Dutch Bros reported a 7.7% year-over-year increase in comparable sales in Q4 2025, driven by a 5.4% rise in transactions, indicating that growth is not solely reliant on price increases but also on higher transaction volumes.
- Profitability Improvement: Despite rising costs associated with new store development, Dutch Bros achieved a net income of $29.2 million in Q4 2025, a significant increase from $6.4 million the previous year, although the contribution margin slightly decreased to 27.6% due to higher coffee costs.
- Massive Growth Potential: Management anticipates doubling the store count to 2,029 by 2029, with a long-term goal of reaching 7,000 stores, highlighting the company's strategic vision and potential for expansion in the coffee market.
See More
Analysis of Three Growth Stocks in Consumer Sector
- Amazon's Market Advantage: Amazon (AMZN), as the world's largest e-commerce platform, currently trades at a significantly lower PE ratio compared to Walmart and Costco, while its e-commerce operating income growth outpaces sales growth, showcasing its efficient operations driven by investments in robotics and AI.
- Chewy's Defensive Business Model: Chewy (CHWY) trades at a forward PE ratio of 15.5 and has seen over 8% revenue growth in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, with 84% of sales coming from auto-ship customers, indicating a stable revenue source and strong customer loyalty.
- Dutch Bros' Expansion Potential: Dutch Bros (BROS) achieved a 7.7% increase in same-store sales last quarter and plans to expand its store count from 1,136 to over 2,029 by 2029, highlighting its strong momentum and market opportunities in rapid expansion.
- Return on Investment and Cash Flow: Dutch Bros can fully fund its expansion plans through operating cash flow due to relatively low store construction costs, and with ongoing same-store sales growth, it positions itself as a high-quality long-term investment.
See More
Investment Comparison: Chipotle vs Dutch Bros
- Chipotle Sales Decline: Chipotle experienced a 1.7% drop in same-store sales, with traffic contributing to a 2.9 percentage point decline, although higher spending added 1.2 percentage points, indicating that macroeconomic pressures have reduced consumer dining out willingness, negatively impacting performance.
- Expansion Potential: Chipotle added 321 locations last year, bringing its total to over 4,000, and despite a 36.4% drop in stock price over the past year, its P/E ratio has decreased from 50 to 32, still above the S&P 500's 29 multiple, reflecting its relative overvaluation in the market.
- Dutch Bros Strong Growth: Dutch Bros achieved a 5.6% increase in same-store sales last year, with 3.2 percentage points coming from increased traffic, showcasing its strong execution and customer appeal in the fast beverage market, further solidifying its market position.
- Market Expansion Opportunities: Dutch Bros opened about 150 new locations last year, totaling over 1,100 across 25 states, particularly lacking presence in the Northeast and certain Midwest states, indicating significant market expansion potential, even as its stock price fell 35.1% over the past year.
See More
Investment Outlook for Chipotle and Dutch Bros
- Chipotle Sales Decline: Chipotle's same-store sales fell by 1.7%, with traffic contributing a 2.9 percentage point drop, although higher spending added 1.2 percentage points, indicating that macroeconomic pressures have reduced consumer willingness to dine out, negatively impacting performance.
- Expansion Potential: Despite challenges, Chipotle added 321 locations last year, finishing with over 4,000, demonstrating its expansion potential in the fast-casual dining market; however, its P/E ratio remains high at 32 compared to the S&P 500's 29, indicating it is still overvalued.
- Dutch Bros Growth Opportunity: Dutch Bros achieved a 5.6% increase in same-store sales last year, with traffic contributing 3.2 percentage points, showcasing strong performance in the beverage market, and with over 1,100 locations across 25 states, it has significant expansion opportunities in the Northeast and Midwest.
- Valuation Adjustment: Although Dutch Bros shares have dropped 35.1% over the past year, its P/E ratio has decreased from 240 to 84, which, while still high, is more reasonable, providing investors with a better entry point, especially considering its ongoing sales growth and market expansion potential.
See More
U.S. Stock Market Starts Tepid; Focus on High-Potential Stocks
- MercadoLibre Growth Momentum: MercadoLibre continues to thrive across 18 Latin American countries, with its e-commerce and fintech sectors showing robust growth, as evidenced by a 35% year-over-year increase in gross merchandise volume and a 26% rise in unique active buyers in Q3 2025, highlighting its vast potential in underdeveloped markets.
- Fintech Expansion: The company's fintech operations are expanding even faster, with total payment volume up 54% in the quarter and assets under management soaring by 89%, indicating a significant opportunity for market share growth in the coming years.
- Dutch Bros Expansion Plans: Dutch Bros aims to grow from over 1,000 stores to 2,029 by 2029 and ultimately 7,000, with revenue increasing by 29% year-over-year and net income rising from $6.4 million to $29.2 million, showcasing its strong growth trajectory.
- Innovation Driving Sales: Dutch Bros enhances customer engagement through mobile ordering and a new food menu, with a walk-up shop in Los Angeles outperforming expectations by achieving three times the average order-ahead transactions, further solidifying its competitive edge in the market.
See More
MercadoLibre and Dutch Bros: Growth Opportunities in Latin America
- E-commerce Growth: MercadoLibre's gross merchandise volume increased by 35% year-over-year in Q3 2025, with items sold up 39% and unique active buyers rising by 26%, indicating significant potential in the Latin American e-commerce market, which is expected to double its penetration in the coming years, thereby expanding its market size.
- Fintech Expansion: The fintech segment of MercadoLibre saw total payment volume surge by 54% in the same quarter, with monthly active users increasing by 29%, assets under management rising by 89%, and the total credit portfolio growing by 83%, highlighting its faster growth compared to e-commerce and vast future potential.
- Dutch Bros Expansion Plans: Dutch Bros aims to increase its store count from over 1,000 to 2,029 by 2029 and ultimately to 7,000, presenting significant growth opportunities, especially as revenue rose by 29% year-over-year.
- Innovation Driving Sales: Dutch Bros is enhancing customer engagement by rolling out mobile ordering and adding a food menu, with a new walk-up shop in Los Angeles outperforming expectations by achieving three times the average order-ahead transactions, showcasing its competitive edge in the rapidly growing coffee market.
See More
