Investing.com -- Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) reported Tuesday better-than-expected second quarter results, driven by growth in its core North America market and a rebound in China.
Starbucks shares trade nearly 5% lower following the report.
Starbucks announced EPS of $0.74 on revenue of $8.7 billion. Analysts polled by Investing.com anticipated EPS of 65 cents on revenue of $8.4B.
Comparable store sales increased 11%, underpinned by a 6% increase in comparable transactions and a 4% increase in the average ticket.
In its core North America market, Starbucks reported comparable store sales increased 12%. International comparable store sales increased 7%, while China, the coffee chain's second largest market, was up 3% year-on-year in Q2. The return to growth in China following a 29% slump in Q1 comes after the country lifted its zero-COVID policy.
Starbucks also reaffirmed its 2023 outlook on the earnings call.
Morgan Stanley analysts said Starbucks delivered "an impressive quarter by most measures," but investors likely wanted more from the company, hence the move lower in shares.
"'23 guide not changing, nor really do forward estimates, in itself a headwind where investors may have wanted more, but key fundamental drivers remain intact, in our view," the analysts said in a note.
JPMorgan analysts also said the results were strong but maintained FY23 guide was likely not enough to please investors.
"While there was much to be happy about in 2Q23, including headline US comps of 12% vs our 9% and being up >32% vs F19, and China comps finishing the quarter up 3% including up 30% in March - people were very focused on "macro uncertainty" tempering US results, China recovery, and a variety of near term expense investments intended to drive medium term productivity that served to constrain any expected upside in F23," the analysts said in a note.
Additional reporting by Senad Karaahmetovic