Starbucks Corp. shares edged higher in early Wednesday trading, rising about 0.80% to around $92.72 as investors weighed ongoing U.S. traffic challenges against signs of stabilization in China and the company’s multi-year reset plan aimed at reclaiming its position as the “third place” between home and work.
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The stock traded in a range of roughly $92.04 to $93.29 after opening at $92.33, with volume exceeding 1.3 million shares by late morning. It closed Tuesday at $91.98, down 1.97% on the day amid broader market volatility, but remained well above its 52-week low of $75.50 and below the high of $104.82 reached in late January. Market capitalization stood near $105 billion.
Starbucks has faced persistent headwinds in its largest market, the United States, where comparable store sales have softened due to cautious consumer spending, competition from smaller chains and value-focused rivals, and lingering labor tensions. To counter this, the company has accelerated store redesigns, enhanced its rewards program and emphasized hospitality initiatives to rebuild customer loyalty and foot traffic.
A bright spot has emerged in China, Starbucks’ second-largest market. The company recently completed the sale of a 60% stake in its Chinese retail operations to private equity firm Boyu Capital in a deal valuing the business at approximately $4 billion, with the total enterprise value exceeding $13 billion when including Starbucks’ retained 40% interest and future licensing royalties. The transaction, expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, is intended to unlock capital for U.S. reinvestment while maintaining a meaningful presence in the fast-growing market.
Recent quarterly results showed China revenue rising 11% year-over-year to $823 million in the fourth quarter, with comparable store sales up 7% driven by higher transactions and average tickets. The joint venture structure is expected to provide greater operational flexibility and local expertise as Starbucks navigates a competitive landscape there.
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Chief Executive Brian Niccol, who took the helm last year, has outlined an ambitious 2026 reset focused on global growth, menu innovation and elevating the in-store experience. Initiatives include refreshed store designs to enhance the “third place” atmosphere, new beverage platforms and targeted marketing campaigns. Analysts have noted early signs of progress in U.S. comparable sales trends, though full recovery is likely to take several quarters.
Wall Street sentiment remains mixed but leans cautiously optimistic. Consensus 12-month price targets hover around $94, implying modest upside from current levels. Ratings are predominantly “Hold” or “Buy,” with some firms trimming targets recently due to balanced risk/reward and lingering U.S. margin pressures. Guggenheim raised its target to $95 from $90 while maintaining a Hold rating, while RBC Capital downgraded the stock to Sector Perform.
The forward dividend of $2.48 per share yields approximately 2.70%, with the ex-dividend date having passed in mid-February. Starbucks has a long history of returning capital to shareholders, though the pace of dividend growth has moderated amid reinvestment needs.
Labor issues continue to draw attention. Ongoing unionization efforts and contract negotiations have occasionally disrupted operations and weighed on sentiment. The company has emphasized its commitment to fair bargaining while highlighting investments in partner (employee) benefits and training. A recent data breach incident affected some customer accounts but did not involve payment information, limiting its financial impact.
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Starbucks operates more than 42,000 stores globally, with significant exposure to international markets that provide diversification from U.S. cyclicality. The company plans continued expansion, particularly in high-growth regions, while optimizing its domestic footprint through remodels and selective closures of underperforming locations.
For fiscal 2026, analysts forecast gradual improvement in comparable sales, with China expected to contribute meaningfully once the joint venture stabilizes. Earnings per share estimates for the year center around mid-single-digit growth, though execution on the U.S. turnaround remains critical. First-quarter results for fiscal 2026 are scheduled for late April, with investors watching closely for evidence of traffic recovery and margin expansion.
Broader consumer staples stocks have shown resilience amid economic uncertainty, but Starbucks trades at a premium valuation reflecting its brand strength and growth potential. The stock’s beta near 1.0 indicates market-like volatility, while its long-term track record has delivered solid total returns for patient investors despite recent cyclical pressures.
Retail investors have shown renewed interest as the stock pulled back from earlier 2026 highs. Some view current levels as an attractive entry point ahead of anticipated improvements in the second half of the year. Others remain cautious, citing competition from value-oriented coffee alternatives and slower premium beverage growth.
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As trading progressed Wednesday, shares held modest gains, reflecting balanced views on near-term challenges and longer-term strategic repositioning. Starbucks rarely experiences sharp single-session moves, but sustained progress on U.S. traffic and successful integration of the China joint venture could catalyze a rebound toward analyst targets.
The company continues to invest heavily in digital tools, including its popular rewards program, which drives incremental visits and higher check averages. New menu items, seasonal promotions and enhanced mobile ordering aim to boost convenience and personalization in a post-pandemic environment where many customers prefer quick grab-and-go experiences.
Challenges in the U.S. market include competition from emerging chains and shifting preferences toward value. Starbucks has responded with targeted promotions and menu adjustments while protecting its premium positioning. International operations, particularly in Asia and Europe, provide a buffer and growth avenue.
Looking ahead, the success of Niccol’s turnaround strategy will likely determine the stock’s trajectory through 2026 and beyond. With a strong balance sheet, iconic brand and global footprint, Starbucks remains well-positioned to navigate near-term pressures and deliver long-term value for shareholders.
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For now, the stock trades in a relatively tight range, reflecting investor patience as the company executes its reset plan. Modest early gains Wednesday suggest cautious optimism that hospitality-focused initiatives and China restructuring will eventually brew stronger results.
Asian airlines are responding to surging fuel prices by implementing significant ticket price hikes, increasing fuel surcharges, and developing contingency plans to ground aircraft.
Ticket price hikes & surcharges: Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines nearly doubled surcharges; Thai Airways raised fares by 10–15%.
Contingency planning: Low-cost carriers (AirAsia, Lion Air, Garuda Indonesia) may delay aircraft purchases or ground planes if fuel remains unaffordable.
Operational efficiency: Airlines are adopting fuel‑saving procedures, lighter loads, and deploying newer aircraft while retiring older widebodies.
These measures come as jet fuel prices have more than doubled due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, with some carriers warning of potential bankruptcy for budget airlines if the crisis persists.
Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines have nearly doubled their fuel surcharges, with long-haul surcharges reaching over HK$1,164. In Thailand, Thai Airways International is raising average ticket prices by 10-15% and limiting the availability of low-fare tickets through dynamic pricing to offset costs. Meanwhile, low-cost carriers in Southeast Asia, including AirAsia, Lion Air, and Garuda Indonesia, are reviewing timelines for aircraft purchases and considering grounding planes if fuel remains unaffordable.
The regional impact is further complicated by a 60% reliance on jet fuel imports from China and Thailand, both of which have recently halted fuel exports to ensure their own energy security. This has led Vietnam to warn of widespread flight cuts and shortages starting in April. Despite these pressures, some carriers like Thai Airways may see marginal benefits on European routes as airspace closures in the Middle East tighten global supply and drive demand toward direct Asian hubs.
Asian airlines are stepping up their response to fuel price surges, and the impact is increasingly visible across the region’s aviation and tourism landscape. For Thailand, where tourism is a major growth engine and air connectivity is critical, these cost pressures are reshaping routes, fares, and investment decisions.
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Fuel costs and Thailand’s connectivity
Fuel remains one of the largest single expenses for airlines, often reaching a quarter or more of total operating costs, so sharp price increases quickly feed into route economics and pricing. In Thailand’s case, this matters not only for local carriers but also for the international airlines that bring tourists from key long‑haul markets. Any sustained rise in fuel prices risks higher fares, especially on long‑haul and regional routes with limited competition, and could constrain capacity growth during peak travel seasons.
In response to the energy security concerns triggered by the war in the Middle East, China and Thailand have implemented strict jet fuel and refined oil export bans to prioritize domestic needs. These restrictions have significantly impacted neighboring countries, with Vietnam warning of flight reductions and Cambodia being forced to seek alternative fuel suppliers in Singapore and Malaysia.
Within Thailand, the Department of Energy Business has confirmed that while national reserves remain sufficient for over 100 days, logistical bottlenecks have caused widespread shortages at local petrol stations. The crisis has hit the agricultural sector particularly hard, leaving machinery idle during the rice harvest season in provinces like Phitsanulok. Meanwhile, Thai Airways International has announced ticket price increases of 10-15% to offset jet fuel costs that have surged to as high as US$220 per barrel.
How airlines are adjusting
Across Asia, carriers are focusing on three main levers: efficiency, networks, and pricing. Operationally, airlines are optimizing flight planning, using fuel‑saving procedures such as continuous climb and descent, and removing unnecessary weight on board to lower fuel burn per sector. At the same time, they are deploying newer, more efficient aircraft on trunk routes and gradually retiring older widebodies that are more expensive to operate when fuel is high.
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Network decisions are becoming more selective. Marginal or highly seasonal routes are under review, with some frequencies trimmed or shifted to aircraft types that can spread fuel costs over more seats. On the revenue side, many carriers have either introduced or increased fuel surcharges on international tickets, alongside targeted fare increases where demand remains strong.
Implications for tourism flows
For tourism‑dependent economies like Thailand, these changes could influence both the volume and composition of visitor arrivals. Higher fuel‑driven costs tend to affect price‑sensitive segments first, potentially slowing growth in budget travel while preserving demand in premium and higher‑spend leisure categories. Airlines’ decisions to prioritize high‑yield routes may work in Thailand’s favor if key source markets in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East remain profitable under elevated fuel prices.
However, persistent cost pressure may limit the pace at which new routes are opened to second‑tier cities or niche destinations within the country, keeping the focus on Bangkok and a few major tourist hubs. That, in turn, could slow diversification of tourism flows away from already crowded hotspots.
Bhagwan Marine will build on the success of its first-ever decommissioning project, with the award of a contract for works to remove moorings and buoys at Barrow Island.
Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno and Kurt ‘CyberGuy’ Knutsson discuss jury deliberations in the social media addiction trial involving tech giants Meta and Google reaching a seventh day on ‘The Bottom Line.’
Meta is cutting roughly 700 jobs on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to FOX Business.
The layoffs are expected to affect several key areas, including Reality Labs, Facebook, recruiting operations and sales, the source said.
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A spokesperson for the company said the layoffs are part of ongoing restructuring efforts, noting that the tech giant regularly adjusts its workforce to better align with its goals.
In this photo illustration, the app icons of Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus VR are displayed on a smartphone screen with a Meta logo. (Onur Dogman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The company is also working to place some affected employees into other roles where possible.
“Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure they’re in the best position to achieve their goals,” the spokesperson said. “Where possible, we are finding other opportunities for employees whose positions may be impacted.”
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The move comes as Meta faces financial pressure tied to its aggressive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, Reuters reported.
A security guard stands watch by the Meta sign outside the headquarters of Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. in Mountain View, Calif., Nov. 9, 2022. (Reuters/Peter DaSilva/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the tech giant was planning layoffs that could affect 20% or more of its workforce as it looks to offset those costs and improve efficiency through AI-driven tools.
Meta had nearly 79,000 employees as of Dec. 31, according to Reuters.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles after defending the company in a landmark social media addiction trial Feb. 19, 2026. (Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The job cuts also come amid legal challenges for the company.
A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and Google liable in a closely watched case alleging their platforms were designed to addict young users, awarding $3 million in damages.
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FOX Business’ Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
Good evening, and welcome to Quadient’s Full Year 2025 Results Presentation. I am Anne-Sophie Jugean, Quadient’s Head of Investor Relations. Today’s presentation will be hosted by Geoffrey Godet, CEO; and Laurent Du Passage, CFO. The agenda for today’s call is on Slide 3. As usual, there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation. You can submit your questions in writing through the web or ask questions live by dialing into the conference call.
Thank you very much. And with that, over to you, Geoffrey.
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Geoffrey Godet CEO & Director
Thank you, Anne-Sophie. Good evening, everyone. So let me start by setting out the market context for Quadient. Over the past few years, we’ve been operating in an environment shaped by powerful structural trends. In 2025, these trends did not change in nature, but they accelerated simultaneously reaching a new level of momentum. So the first one is there is, in ’25, a marked step change in artificial intelligence. Rapid advances in AI are accelerating digitalization across industries and reinforcing the long-term demand for software solution. This is not a short-term phenomenon.
AI is fundamentally reshaping how enterprise automate, secure and scale mission-critical workflows, well beyond any single use — sorry, any single use case and regulatory cycle. What customers increasingly require our software platform that can deliver value quickly, integrate AI natively, including agents and responsibly into system of records and reliably operate within complex legal, regulatory and data security environment. In this context, AI-driven digitalization spans our entire digital portfolio from
When Meta (META) started building their Superintelligence team (MSL) in mid-2025, I certainly expected to see faster progress than what we have seen from them so far. I wonder if the Llama 4 fiasco, as well as the backlash
It will be the first time humans have returned to the moon since 1972
Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall(Image: Goonhilly Earth Station)
A Cornish space centre is to provide communications support to the world’s first manned moon mission in more than half a century. Goonhilly, a ground station near Helston, will play a role in NASA’s historic Artemis II voyage by passively tracking the Orion spacecraft as it journeys around the moon and back to earth.
Staff at the satellite company believe tracking the spacecraft will demonstrate the UK – and Cornwall’s – capability to support deep-space missions from British soil.
The mission will mark the first time humans have returned to the moon since 1972, with Apollo 17. It will also include the first woman and black astronaut to travel beyond low earth orbit.
Matthew Cosby, CTO of Goonhilly Earth Station, said: “Artemis II marks a significant milestone in humanity’s return to the moon, and we’re proud that the capabilities developed here in Cornwall are contributing to that mission.
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“From our site, we will support tracking of the Orion spacecraft, showcasing our readiness for future crewed Artemis missions. At the same time, we are positioning the UK to play a key role in NASA’s longer‑term Moon‑to‑Mars exploration strategy.”
In 2022, Goonhilly provided critical communication and tracking support for NASA’s Artemis I. Using its 32-metre GHY-6 antenna and expert teams, the facility tracked the mission’s uncrewed Orion spacecraft and communicated with six of the CubeSats launched on the mission.
For Artemis II, tracking will focus on the crewed Orion spacecraft as it journeys beyond low earth orbit, flying around the moon, and returning to earth.
Goonhilly is one of a limited number of organisations worldwide with the infrastructure required to support deep-space communications. The site was involved in broadcasting the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969 as well as supporting modern missions to the moon and Mars.
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UK space minister Liz Lloyd said: “Goonhilly’s rich heritage in space communication continues to inspire. It’s fantastic to see Cornwall once again at the heart of a truly historic moment in human spaceflight. This partnership with NASA shows what British expertise and innovation can achieve on the world stage, while creating opportunities for skilled jobs and growth right here in the UK.”
Elsewhere, Goonhilly is working with the UK Space Agency and NASA to explore downlink solutions for near-real time space weather measurement enabled by NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP).
This new heliophysics observatory is designed to study particle acceleration and the boundary to interstellar space, and at the same time provides solar wind and space weather observations.
Lynas Rare Earths has shaken hands with a South Korean power and communications manufacturing firm to work towards developing a rare earths metals production facility in Vietnam.
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