Trump's Energy Agenda, Skyrocketing Coffee Prices, Davos Highlights, And Powell's Wait-And-See Approach: This Week In Economics
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2025
0mins
Should l Buy SBUX?
Source: Benzinga
Trump's Energy Policies: President Trump has declared a national energy emergency, emphasizing fossil fuel production and plans to revoke the electric vehicle mandate, which may significantly impact companies like Baker Hughes and Gulfport Energy.
Market Reactions: Netflix has raised its streaming prices by 16% amid inflation concerns, while soaring coffee prices could squeeze Starbucks' margins, and Jerome Powell indicates that interest rates will likely remain unchanged for now.
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Analyst Views on SBUX
Wall Street analysts forecast SBUX stock price to fall
21 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
7 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 96.680
Low
59.00
Averages
96.12
High
115.00
Current: 96.680
Low
59.00
Averages
96.12
High
115.00
About SBUX
Starbucks Corporations is a roaster, marketer, and retailer of specialty coffee globally. Its North America segment includes the United States and Canada. Its International segment includes China, Japan, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Its North America and International segments include both Company-operated and licensed stores. The Channel Development segment includes roasted whole bean and ground coffees, Starbucks-branded single-serve products, a variety of ready-to-drink beverages, such as Frappuccino and Starbucks Doubleshot, foodservice products, and other branded products sold outside the Company-operated and licensed stores. A large portion of its Channel Development business operates under a licensed model of the Global Coffee Alliance with Nestle, while its global ready-to-drink businesses operate under collaborative relationships with PepsiCo, Inc., Tingyi-Ashi Beverages Holding Co., Ltd., Arla Foods amba, Nestle, and others.
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.
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- Market Share Growth: Luckin Coffee has surpassed Starbucks in the Chinese market by attracting younger consumers with trendy offerings like Moutai Latte and Coconut Latte, demonstrating significant market share gains in a rapidly evolving industry.
- Global Strategic Expansion: This acquisition allows Luckin Coffee to access high-demand markets in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea, while establishing a presence in key U.S. cities like New York and Boston, creating a global coffee ecosystem that enhances brand influence.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: Starbucks is closing 1% of its stores in North America, indicating challenges in sales growth, while Luckin Coffee's stock has gained nearly 21% over the past 12 months, reflecting its strong performance and growth potential in the market.
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- Advocacy for Reform: Kennedy's nonprofit MAHA Action proposed reforms aimed at ensuring American foods meet the highest global safety and nutritional standards, emphasizing the need for transparency on food additives, which could lead to stricter regulations and industry standards.
- Symbolic Response from Governor: Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey defended Dunkin' through a social media post inspired by the
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- Foreign Brand Struggles: Numerous mid-tier Western brands are facing challenges in the Chinese market primarily due to a lack of localization strategies and sufficient scale, resulting in their market share being gradually eroded by local competitors.
- Shifting Consumer Preferences: The geopolitical landscape and post-pandemic consumer habits have significantly increased Chinese consumers' preference for domestic brands, prompting foreign brands to reassess their market strategies.
- Market Overhaul: Foreign food chains and their franchisees are undergoing a comprehensive operational overhaul to adapt to the new market environment and consumer demands, reflecting intensified industry competition and changing market dynamics.
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- New Office Establishment: Starbucks plans to open a new corporate office in Davidson County, Nashville, later this year, aimed at enhancing supply chain teams' direct and indirect sourcing operations to support coffeehouse growth and meet rising customer demand in the region.
- Supply Chain Expansion: The new office will focus on expanding North American supply chains, particularly in the Southeast market, with COO Mike Grams noting Nashville's deep talent pool makes it an ideal location, further driving the company's business development in the area.
- Job Relocation Plan: Starbucks intends to relocate some Seattle-based roles to Nashville while maintaining Seattle as its global headquarters, a move that not only optimizes resource allocation but also potentially brings more job opportunities to the new office.
- Local Economic Impact: Tennessee officials and Nashville city leaders welcomed the decision, emphasizing its potential to create jobs and stimulate economic development in Davidson County, with Deputy Governor Stuart McWhorter highlighting that such investments reinforce Tennessee's position as a destination for high-quality corporate growth.
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- Earnings Downgrade: Wells Fargo removed Nike from its 'top picks' list and lowered fiscal 2027 EPS estimates significantly below Street expectations, indicating concerns about international growth, particularly in the challenging Chinese market.
- Pressure in China: Nike's Greater China sales declined nearly 17% year-over-year in fiscal Q2 2026, worsening from a 9% drop in Q1, highlighting a long road ahead for recovery amid fierce local competition and discount pressures.
- Innovation and Inventory Cleanup: While Nike shows positive signs domestically and recent innovations are well-received, analysts note that the inventory cleanup is nearing completion, and the company must address multiple challenges in China to achieve a full recovery.
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- Menu Pricing Importance: Most restaurants depend on menu pricing strategies to increase their sales.
- Exceptions Noted: There are notable exceptions among restaurants that do not follow this trend.
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