SBUX (Starbucks) Moat Score: 8/10 (As of Jun. 27, 2026)


SBUX Starbucks Corp SBUX
81 GF Score
Price $104.60
GF Value $98.75
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 8 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Starbucks Moat Score?

Starbucks SBUX +1.40% 81 Moat Score is 8 as of Jun. 27, 2026. GuruFocus rates SBUX with a GF Score™ of 81/100 and a GF Value™ of $98.75 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 370 Restaurants companies, Starbucks ranks better than 99.46% on this metric.

Starbucks has the Moat Score of 8, which implies that the company might have Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat.

Starbucks has Wide Moat: Starbucks has a robust wide moat due to its strong brand, customer loyalty, and significant pricing power. Its global distribution network and consistent innovation in product offerings further solidify its competitive advantages.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Starbucks might have Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat.


Starbucks  (NAS:SBUX) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Starbucks Moat Score Related Terms


SBUX vs CMG, YUM, MCD: Moat Score Comparison

For the Restaurants subindustry, Starbucks's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Starbucks Moat Score vs Restaurants Industry

For the Restaurants industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Starbucks's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Starbucks's Moat Score falls into.


SBUX
81GF Score
Starbucks Corp SBUX
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 8 mean?
Starbucks (SBUX) has a Moat Score of 8 as of Jun. 27, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Starbucks ranks #2 out of 370 companies in the Restaurants industry, placing it in the top 0.5%.
Is Starbucks' Moat Score too high?
Starbucks' current Moat Score is 8. Based on the distribution chart, Starbucks ranks #2 out of 370 companies in the Restaurants industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Starbucks has a GF Score™ of 81/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Starbucks' Moat Score compare to CMG and YUM?
According to the Restaurants industry distribution chart, Starbucks ranks #2 out of 370 companies for Moat Score. This places Starbucks in the top 1% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Restaurants company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Restaurants industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Starbucks's current Moat Score is 8. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Starbucks stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Starbucks (SBUX) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $98.75, compared to a current price of $104.60 — trading 5.9% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 8. Starbucks' overall GF Score™ is 81/100 with 8 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Starbucks (SBUX), the current Moat Score is 8 as of Jun. 27, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Starbucks (SBUX) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Starbucks stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $104.60 is trading 5.9% above its estimated GF Value™ of $98.75. GuruFocus considers Starbucks to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for SBUX:

  • Moat Score: 8
  • GF Value™: $98.75 vs. price of $104.60 (5.9% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 81/100 with 8 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the SBUX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Starbucks Business Description

Address 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, WA, USA, 98134
Starbucks stands out as the world's biggest and most recognizable coffee brand, powered by ultracustomizable beverages in-store and a sweeping footprint of nearly 41,000 cafes in over 80 countries. About 52% are company-operated, with the balance run by licensees. The company operates roasteries and sells across its North America (74% of revenue as of the end of fiscal 2025), international (21%), and channel development (5%) segments. The brand collects revenue from company-operated stores, licensee royalties, equipment and product sales, retail ready-to-drink beverages, and packaged coffee.
81GF Score

Get the complete analysis for SBUX

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$104.60
Price
$98.75
GF Value