Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX) today announced that Patrick Grismer, chief financial officer, will participate at the Stifel 2020 Virtual Cross Sector Insight Conference on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 11:20 a.m. ET.

Starbucks (SBUX) comparable store sales in the United States are recovering slightly above the company's expectation.

Starbucks said U.S. same-store sales are strong, but also warned stores "will not require the same level of staffing" and accelerated store overhaul plans.

Dunkin’ Brands and Starbucks get about 60% of their sales before 11 a.m., meaning there’s more downside risk to their stocks from a lack of breakfast bounce-back than to peers, according to Evercore ISI.

Senate legislation builds in a three-year grace period, meaning New York will remain home to Chinese companies’ listings for some time.

Takeout helped Starbucks and Bloomin’ through the coronavirus crisis. Now, which company has a better chance of post-crisis growth?

The coronavirus crisis has effectively reset the board. While both the economy and stock market will someday return to their earlier-year strength, neither will look the same. That means some of the best stocks to buy right now might look much different from top picks just a few quick months ago.The market might very well have another leg down. It's far too early to say we're out of the woods given that most of America is under quarantine and we have yet to see what first-quarter earnings and second-quarter guidance looks like. But we're getting late in the game for a truly defensive posture. That's closing the barn door after the horse has already bolted. While a few protective picks might be in order, now is the time to start planning for the next bull market.Even professional bears are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."I'm selectively buying in my personal accounts," says John Del Vecchio, co-manager of the AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF (HDGE). "There were plenty of companies that went into this crisis on life support, kept alive by cheap debt. You're going to see a lot of these companies fail. But at the same time, a lot of high-quality blue chips are on sale right now at prices we may never see again in our lifetimes."Many companies will be gutted. It might take years for airlines to return to pre-crisis passenger numbers, and they might go through bankruptcy or a government conservatorship in the meantime. Likewise, retailers and restaurants might be dealing with the fallout from lockdowns for months or years, as will their banks and landlords.However, some of Wall Street's best stocks could come out of this with relatively minor scratches. Many have massive stores of cash that will help them weather short-term profit drops. Some might actually benefit from a coming recession by picking up market share when its competitors fold.  Many of these beneficiaries are tech stocks, but certainly not all. Plenty are in the gritty, old-fashioned real economy.Today, we'll look at 20 of the best stocks to buy now as investors shift their focus to the recovery. These companies boast a blend of well-positioned businesses, strong balance sheets and/or leading positions within their industries. SEE ALSO: 25 Dividend Stocks the Analysts Love the Most

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) said it has regained almost two-thirds of its comparable U.S. store sales from the prior year after the coffee chain operator began reopening a large number of its country stores earlier this month.The coffee chain said that over the past week, it recouped about 60-65% of prior year comparable U.S. store sales while reopening under modified operations and with reduced hours.In the second week of May, Starbucks reopened over 85% of its company operated stores across the U.S., and said it expects more than 90% of its stores to be open by early June, under modified operations and hours.“We began reopening a large number of stores in the U.S. in the second week of May and we are tracking slightly above our forecasted recovery curve,” Starbucks CEO Keith Johnson said in a letter to employees.In China, Starbucks comparable store sales have reached about 80% of prior year levels, reflecting gradual improvements over the past several weeks, Johnson added.“We learned in China that when we re-open stores, we begin a recovery process that starts with those safe, familiar and convenient experiences and grows from there,” said Johnson. “Our recovery progresses each week, and we know that it will take time to fully recover and post positive comparable store sales growth.”Shares in Starbucks have been on a recovery path surging 39% in the past two months to trade around $78.49 on Thursday afternoon. However, year-to-date the stock is still down over 12%.Commenting on the coffee chain’s business update, four-star analyst James Rutherford was hopeful of an eventual recovery, but tempered near-term expectations in light of high unemployment, new consumer habits, and a need for a vaccine. As such, Rutherfold maintained a Hold rating on the stock with a $72 price target.Overall, the rest of the Street is cautiously optimistic on the stock. Wall Street analysts’ ratings are divided between 11 Holds and 10 Buys adding up to a Moderate Buy consensus. The $80 average price target reflects limited upside potential of 1.9% in the shares in the next 12 months. (See Starbucks stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: Google, Apple Roll Out Coronavirus Contact Tracing Technology Starbucks Back To Business In Japan Apple To Reopen More Than 25 U.S. Stores  More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * 3 "Strong Buy" Penny Stocks That Offer Massive Potential Gains * Logitech Shares Lifted In Pre-Market On Share Buyback Plan, 10% Dividend Boost * Billionaire Ackman Exits Berkshire Hathaway, Blackstone To Fund Opportunities * HBO Max Launches, But Not Yet Available on Amazon, Roku Platforms

Some gurus are buying the coffee giant at its lower-than-normal valuation Continue reading...

Brewing up some good news after the entire restaurant industry took a drubbing from COVID-19, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) published an open letter to its partners today describing its recovery following the possible recent decline in the pandemic's severity. It cites the start of the Transcontinental Railway during the American Civil War, and notes how, during the Cold War, "President John F. Kennedy united the country around a quest to the Moon." Starbucks attempts to strike an upbeat note throughout, in addition to providing some more concrete data.

You could ask 100 different analysts what they think about buying and selling stocks during COVID-19, and you might just get 100 different opinions. If you have $1,000 to invest, now could be a great opportunity to start a new position, and billion-dollar hedge fund managers have been scooping up shares of IDEXX Laboratories (NASDAQ: IDXX), Goodyear Tire (NASDAQ: GT) and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX). You may not recognize IDEXX Laboratories, but if you're a pet owner there's a chance you've crossed paths with its products or services already.

On May 18, President Trump met with several leaders and executives from the restaurant industry. By now, we're all familiar with how a wide range of businesses have suffered as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and ensuing lockdown. And so, in the recent meeting with President Trump, restaurant executives have asked for more federal assistance. They highlighted that their sector is a depressed segment of the economy and businesses will need extra capital to stay afloat until customers come back.Amid the generally grim outlook for many specfiic sectors, the past two months have seen broader market indexes rallying. Now investors are wondering if the market has flown too close to the sun.In the short run, it isn't easy to predict what the market or any given stock mighty do. But if you are a long-term investor with a 2 to 3 year time horizon, then I believe the market offers plenty of opportunities.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 7 Excellent Penny Stocks Ready to Roar As part of our economy opens up, here are three restaurant stocks that may be able to bring healthy returns for shareholders: * Denny's (NASDAQ:DENN) * McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) * Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX)On May 18, all three of these stocks saw strong bounces alongside the rest of the market. The next day, there was some profit-taking in all three names, potentially offering better entry points for long-term investors. I expect daily volatility to continue in the short run.All three companies have recently reported earnings that showed some rough fundamental metrics. And there may still be some choppy waters ahead.Moreover, these restaurant chains will have to follow different state or even national rules depending on the state or country where a restaurant is located. But they are all large and organized enough to be able to adapt to different operating procedures rather efficiently. Denny's (DENN)Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com The restaurant chain bills itself as "America's Diner" and many of its regular patrons would likely agree. As of late March, the group had a combined 1,695 franchised, licensed and company restaurants. 147 of those are outside of the continental U.S.On May 14, DENN released results for its first quarter ended March 25, 2020, and provided a business update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 17 cents was better than analysts' estimates, and despite the 36% YoY quarterly fall in revenue, the restaurant managed to post profits of $9 million. CEO John Miller said:"As restaurant operations were being limited to off-premise sales channels, we implemented streamlined menus, 'Dine-Thru' curbside service programs, and shareable family meal packs in a matter of days… [w]e have fortified our balance sheet, made disciplined cost savings decisions, and worked aggressively on multiple fronts to secure various forms of financial relief for our franchisees.Denny's has also made amendments in 400 stores and begun selling grocery items. Finally, the company has been "bolstering [its] sanitation protocols to transitioning to free contactless delivery and pick up services." Following the results, the shares popped higher.Year-to-date (YTD), DENN stock is down over 50%. On March 19, it hit a multi-year low at $4.50. Now it is hovering around $9.5.Its current trailing P/E of 5.4 and P/S ratio of 1.3 makes the casual-dining restaurant a long-term play for me, especially if the price falls toward $9 or even below. McDonald's (MCD)Source: 8th.creator / Shutterstock.com The group has more than 38,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, though its largest segment is the U.S. And on April 30, McDonald's reported first quarter 2020 results.CEO Chris Kempczinski commented that "McDonald's has seen a lot over our 65 years and I'm confident that the actions we're taking will enable us to emerge from this crisis in a position of competitive strength. But in Q1, global comparable sales declined 3.4%. Similarly, consolidated revenues decreased 6% (5% in constant currencies)."Approximately 75% of McDonald's restaurants remain open globally. Nonetheless earlier in April, management had already withdrawn its 2020 outlook.Over 90% of McDonald's restaurants are currently franchised. This gives it a significant competitive edge, as the initial franchise fees and continuous royalties mean high margins. It also collects rent from franchisees, as the company in fact owns most of these properties. Then it leases them out to the franchisees, often at significant markups. Put another way, the company is in the real estate business as much as food services.So far in 2020, MCD stock is down 9%. That decline is compared to a 4.8% drop in the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLY), which includes MCD as its third-largest holding at 6.55% of the portfolio, behind Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) at a whopping 23.9% and Home Depot (NYSE:HD) at 12.9% of the exchange-traded fund's assets.In Aug. 2019, MCD stock hit an all-time high of $221.93. The current price of about $179 means a trailing P/E ratio of 23.5 and P/S ratio of 6.6. On a fundamental basis, I'd be more comfortable with lower values in both metrics.The Golden Arches may not yet be able to go over $200 in the second half of 2020, but if you are a buy-and-hold investor, then you may consider investing in the shares, especially if there is a dip in price toward the $170 level or below. * 7 Excellent Penny Stocks Ready to Roar If you're looking for passive income, the burger chain's current dividend yield stands at 2.9%. Sshares are expected to go ex-dividend on May 29. However for now, McDonald's has paused its share buyback program. Starbucks (SBUX)Source: monticello / Shutterstock.com On April 28, the coffee chain released Q2 Fiscal 2020 results that said its quarterly global same-store sales fell 10%. Americas and U.S. comparable store sales declined 3%.On the other hand in the quarter, China comparable store sales were down 50%. Regular InvestorPlace may remember that novel coronavirus-related concerns had started rather earlier in the year for Starbucks as the virus had begun affecting operations in China.For the quarter, adjusted earnings per share came at 32 cents. Revenue was $6 billion, a decline of 5% from the prior year due to lost sales related to the viral pandemic.Management also warned that third-quarter results would take a larger hit from the COVID-19 outbreak, even though sales in China were recovering. In early April, the group had already withdrawn guidance for fiscal 2020.Starbucks opened 255 net new stores in the quarter, which means a 6% YoY unit growth. At the end of the period, it had 32,050 stores globally, of which 51% and 49% were company-operated and licensed, respectively.YTD, SBUX stock is down about 13%. In July 2019, SBUX stock hit an all-time high of $99.72. But on March 18, 2020, the shares saw a 52-week low of $50.02. They are currently around $76.Its trailing P/E ratio is 26.9 and P/S ratio is 3.4. Like McDonald's, I'd ideally like to see lower values in both metrics. Long-term investors may consider buying dips on SBUX stock, especially if it goes toward $70 or lower.Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation. As of this writing, Tezcan Gecgil did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post 3 Reliable Restaurant Stocks to Buy for Reopening Returns appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Ackman still likes Berkshire, calling it a “strong investment” but thinks his fund is better equipped to move quickly as new opportunities present themselves.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said that his Pershing Square Capital Management Ltd. has exited investments in Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, the Blackstone Group Inc. (BX) and Park Hotels & Resorts (PK).Pershing Square’s stock holding in Berkshire was valued at about $1 billion as of the end of March. Ackman divested the Blackstone position as shares have soared about 57% over the past two months, erasing all of their losses from earlier this year.Despite strong stock market volatility triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, Pershing’s portfolio this year returned 27% on its investments as of May 26.Speaking on an investor conference call, Ackman said that Pershing Square has about 85% to 98% of its assets invested in its funds and is holding cash positions of between 15% and 20%.“We think it's a very different environment than when we made the investment in Berkshire a year ago”, said partner Ryan Israel, who oversaw Pershing’s Berkshire investment, on the investor call. “We continue to think Berkshire will be a strong investment over the longer term, but we also think the current environment means there may be more than typical opportunities for us to see very high-returning investments and we wanted to make sure we have enough cash.”At the beginning of the year, Ackman moved to protect the firm’s stock portfolio against coronavirus-related panic selling in markets by buying credit default swaps. Pershing Square yielded a stellar $2.6 billion from hedging its stock portfolio through the credit protection.Ackman said that today, “we have $10 billion of capital to invest; we can be much more nimble," adding that he wants to “take advantage of that nimbleness, preserve some extra liquidity in the event that prices get more attractive again."The billionaire investor informed investors that Pershing increased its positions in Agilent Technologies Inc. (A) by 16% at an average price of $64.57, while the stock is now trading at $86.18 a share. He also ramped up the portfolio’s stakes in Lowes Companies (LOW) at $84 a share (now trades at $128 a share), Howard Hughes, Restaurant Brands International (QSR), as well as rebuilt the Starbucks position at $60 a share. Shares in the coffee chain are currently trading at $78.60.“So far so good,” Ackman said. “Everything we currently own is undervalued.”Some analysts view Blackstone as a worthwhile investment. CFRA recently upgraded Blackstone to Buy from Hold, citing the company’s attractive valuation. “We view positively the secular growth opportunities at Blackstone, evidenced by 2019 asset inflows that topped $134 billion” CFRA said.“Though near-term results could be uneven amid market uncertainty and volatility, demand for private-equity investments will be fueled by the persistently low interest-rate environment” the firm explained, adding that Blackstone is also poised to deploy its more than $150 billion of unallocated capital in a marketplace where asset values have become more attractive.Shares in Blackstone rose less than 1% to $56.46 as of Wednesday’s close.Turning now to the Street’s outlook on Blackstone stock, TipRanks data shows that Wall Street analysts are still cautiously optimistic. The Moderate Buy consensus consists of 8 Buy and 4 Hold ratings. However, in view of the recent share rally, the $53.85 average price target now implies 4.6% downside potential over the coming year. (See Blackstone stock analysis on TipRanks).Related News: Gates Foundation Buys Up Amazon, Apple, Twitter Stock; Trims Berkshire Hathaway Stake Billionaire Ackman Takes New Bet On Blackstone, Trims Chipotle Stake Buffett’s Berkshire Shaves Off 84% Of Its Goldman Sachs Stake More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * Logitech Shares Lifted In Pre-Market On Share Buyback Plan, 10% Dividend Boost * HBO Max Launches, But Not Yet Available on Amazon, Roku Platforms * Apple Snaps Up AI Startup Inductiv, As Analysts Boost PTs On Store Reopenings * Microsoft Seeks $2B Stake In India’s Jio Platforms- Report

Warren Buffett isn't going to invest in every good value stock that's available on the markets -- there are just too many of them out there. With a good mix of value, stability, and moat, the three stocks listed below could appeal to investors who want to invest like the Oracle of Omaha. Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ: WBA) is a household name and the pharmacy retailer provides many day-to-day essentials for customers.

Check out our weekly earnings calendar and read the latest quarterly earnings previews.

On a hot summer day, would you choose an ice-cold can of Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) or a Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) blended Frappuccino? Coke is the eternal classic, while Starbucks is the drink of a new generation. The two companies have very different operating models, the first noticeable difference being that Starbucks mostly operates through owned retail stores while Coke is a manufacturer that wholesales its products to stores and restaurants.

Global coffee giant Starbucks is one of top growth stocks to watch in 2020, but is it a buy in the current stock market rally?

We at Insider Monkey have gone over 821 13F filings that hedge funds and prominent investors are required to file by the SEC The 13F filings show the funds' and investors' portfolio positions as of March 31st, near the height of the coronavirus market crash. In this article, we look at what those funds think […]

It has been a difficult year for restaurant stocks to say the least. Thanks to the novel coronavirus, the sector has been absolutely walloped. Even with the market generally recovering strongly, most of the restaurant names remain down in the dumps. Dunkin' Brands (NASDAQ:DNKN) stock, however, is one exception.Source: JStone / Shutterstock.com Shares fell from $75 to $38 during the crash, but are back up to $65 now. And with good reason: Dunkin' should get back to its old highs as investors realize it is one of the best-positioned restaurants in this new economic environment. Why would that be? First, let me tell you a story.Because my youngest son was born in New York and spent the first eight years of his life there, he "grew up" with Dunkin' Donuts. Soon, he became one of the restaurant chain's biggest fans. Almost every weekend, we'd drive to the local Dunkin' shop to pick up a dozen doughnuts, along with a box of doughnut holes.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsBut then we moved to California and left the East Coast Dunkin' behind. My son never really got over it. Every time I traveled to the East Coast for business, he'd ask me to bring back a doughnut or two, if I could. And if I couldn't, he'd ask me to at least take a photo of a Dunkin' Donuts shop and send it to him. * 7 Dow Jones Stocks to Buy With Fortress-Like Balance Sheets That's a powerful example of "brand value," and that's one of the traits that will enable Dunkin' Brands to thrive in the post-Covid-19 world. And that tradition will continue well into the next generation and beyond. Plenty of Room for Brand GrowthWhile many East Coasters, like my son, are huge fans of Dunkin' Donuts, much of the country isn't so familiar with Dunkin' yet. The company launched its initial public offering in 2011 in part to raise funds and enhance its public stature as part of a big expansion push across the United States. That is well under way now, as the company has found new franchisees outside of its core East Coast market.There's also a large overseas opportunity for Dunkin' Donuts. International revenues account for just 17% of the company's total sales at this point. However, this could grow a ton. As of year-end 2019, Dunkin' Donuts had more than 13,000 locations. Nearly 10,000 of those are in the United States, and the other 3,500 are international. Three thousand five hundred is an impressive number and shows the potential for the company to become a coffee and fast-food leader around the world, following in the footsteps of McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX). Dunkin' Is a Natural Social-Distancing WinnerThe Canton, Massachusetts-based company's other main winning trait is a business model that relies heavily on "takeaway" purchases and mobile deliveries.Takeout orders represented 90% of the company's business even before the quarantines started. Unlike Starbucks, few people go to Dunkin' to hang out and enjoy the ambiance. Dunkin' has never marketed itself as a public space to linger with friends or get work done. So it loses little from switching to all takeout and delivery for the time being.On top of that, Dunkin' is actively finding new clients through delivery services. The company has added delivery alliances with GrubHub (NYSE:GRUB), UberEats (NYSE:UBER), DoorDash and Postmates. Put it all together, and the company has doubled its pre-coronavirus delivery capacity. The Verdict on DNKN StockDunkin' has a fantastic brand. And, unlike a McDonald's or Starbucks, it's not fully saturated yet. There are plenty of markets, both in the United States and overseas, for Dunkin' to tap in to.On top of that, Dunkin' has a unique advantage right now: Its brand is based around its products, but not its in-store experience. People like Dunkin's doughnuts and drinks (and the ice cream at Baskin-Robbins), not the look of its restaurants. Thus, Dunkin' can seamlessly switch to delivery and takeout only for some time, while many competitors lose much of their appeal without dine-in eating.So, I expect Dunkin' Brands to snap back quickly and thrive in the post-coronavirus world. Dunkin' was set to earn more than $3 per share before the virus hit. And the company has historically grown earnings at more than 10% a year thanks to its new-store growth and large share buyback.For a fast-growing franchisee restaurant chain, the market normally would pay at least 25x earnings, which would support a stock price up toward $80. As investors figure out that sales should be steady, and perhaps even increase as the new delivery options kick in, expect shares to continue moving higher.Eric Fry is an award-winning stock picker with numerous "10-bagger" calls -- in good markets AND bad. How? By finding potent global megatrends … before they take off. And when it comes to bear markets, you'll want to have his "blueprint" in hand before stocks go south. Eric does not own the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post Dunkin' Brands Has the Perfect Recipe to Overcome Coronavirus Challenges appeared first on InvestorPlace.