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SBUX (Starbucks) Moat Score : 8/10 (As of Jul. 24, 2025)


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What is Starbucks Moat Score?

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 Corp benefits from strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty, supported by a superior distribution network and significant pricing power. The company's economies of scale and consistent innovation in product offerings further solidify its robust competitive position, justifying a high wide moat score.

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.

Competitive Comparison of Starbucks's Moat Score

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's Moat Score Distribution in the 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.


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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

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Starbucks Business Description

Industry
GURUFOCUS.COM » STOCK LIST » Consumer Cyclical » Restaurants » Starbucks Corp (NAS:SBUX) » Definitions » Moat Score
Comparable Companies
CMG YUM DRI YUMC DPZ TXRH LKNCY WING CAVA BROS MCD LSE:CPG TSX:QSP.UN TSX:QSR HKSE:06862 TSE:7550 EAT HKSE:01364 TSE:3350 SHAK
Traded in Other Exchanges
SBUX80:Thailand SBUX:Peru SBUX:Mexico SBUX_KZ:Kazakhstan 1SBUX:Italy SRBd:UK 0QZH:UK SRB0:Germany SRB:Germany SRB:Germany SRB:Germany SRB:Germany SBUX:Chile SBUX:Canada SBUB34:Brazil SBUX:Austria SBUX:Argentina
Address
2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, WA, USA, 98134
Website
https://www.starbucks.com
Starbucks is one of the most widely recognized restaurant brands in the world, operating more than 40,000 stores across more than 80 countries as of the end of fiscal 2024. The firm operates in three segments: North America, international markets, and channel development (grocery and ready-to-drink beverage). The coffee chain generates revenue from company-operated stores, royalties, sales of equipment and products to license partners, ready-to-drink beverages, packaged coffee sales, and single-serve products.
Executives
Sara Kelly officer: evp, chief partner officer 2401 UTAH AVENUE SOUTH, SEATTLE WA 98134
Rachel Ruggeri officer: evp, cfo 2401 UTAH AVENUE SOUTH, #800, SEATTLE WA 98134
Jorgen Vig Knudstorp director 2401 UTAH AVENUE SOUTH, SEATTLE WA 98134
Michael Aaron Conway officer: group president International 18 LOVETON CIRCLE, SPARKS MD 21152
Wei Zhang director RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION, 650 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK NY 10022
Bradley E Lerman officer: evp, general counsel MEDTRONIC, INC., 710 MEDTRONIC PKWY MSLC300, MINNEAPOLIS MN 55432
Beth Ford director C/O CORPORATE SECRETARY SCHOLASTIC CORP, 557 BROADWAY, NEW YORK NY 10012
Zabrina Jenkins officer: Interim evp, general counsel C/O RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENT CORP., 11250 EL CAMINO REAL. SUITE 200, SAN DIEGO CA 92130
Clara Shih director 2401 UTAH AVE S, # 800, SEATTLE WA 98134
Laxman Narasimhan officer: ceo-elect PEPSICO, INC., 700 ANDERSON HILL ROAD, PURCHASE NY 10577
Mellody L Hobson director C/O TELLABS, 1415 W DIEHL RD, NAPERVILLE IL 60563
Allison Richard E Jr director 30 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DR, ANN ARBOR MI 48105
Howard D Schultz director, officer: chairman, president and ceo 2401 UTAH AVE SOUTH, SEATTLE WA 98134
Angela Lis officer: evp, chief partner officer 2401 UTAH AVENUE SOUTH, EX6, SEATTLE WA 98134
Kevin R Johnson director 2401 UTAH AVE. S, SUITE 800, SEATTLE WA 98134