Starbucks Reports Record First Quarter Fiscal 2007 Results

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter for the period ended December 31, 2006. Fiscal First Quarter 2007 Highlights: Record quarterly retail store openings of 728 stores Net revenues of $2.4 billion, an increase of 22 percent Comparable store sales growth of six percent Net earnings of $205 million, an increase of 18 percent Earnings per share of $0.26, compared to $0.22 per share, an increase of 18 percent Record quarterly Starbucks Card activations of $287 million, an increase of 30 percent "Starbucks strong revenue and comparable store sales growth this quarter clearly demonstrate the fundamental strength of our business. The record number of store openings during the period puts our aggressive 2007 store opening target well within reach,” commented Jim Donald, Starbucks president and ceo. "We will continue to extend the Starbucks Experience by offering innovative beverage and food items, and by expanding our presence to be where our customers want us.” Consolidated Financial and Operating Summary Company-operated retail revenues increased 23 percent to $2.0 billion for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, from $1.6 billion for the same period in fiscal 2006. The increase was primarily attributable to the opening of 1,177 new Company-operated retail stores in the last 12 months and comparable store sales growth of six percent for the quarter. The increase in comparable store sales was due to a four percent increase in the number of customer transactions and a two percent increase in the average value per transaction. Specialty revenues increased 14 percent to $349 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $306 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. Licensing revenues increased 16 percent to $254 million primarily due to higher product sales and royalty revenues from the opening of 1,190 new licensed retail stores in the last 12 months and, to a lesser extent, growth in the licensed grocery and warehouse club business. Foodservice and other revenues increased nine percent to $95 million primarily due to growth in new and existing accounts in the U.S. foodservice business. Cost of sales including occupancy costs increased to 41.8 percent of total net revenues for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to 40.2 percent in the corresponding 13-week period of fiscal 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher rent expense, a shift in sales to higher cost products and increased distribution costs. Store operating expenses as a percentage of Company-operated retail revenues increased to 38.5 percent for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, from 38.2 percent for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher payroll expenditures from an increase in the average hourly wage rate for retail store partners. Other operating expenses (expenses associated with the Company’s specialty operations) increased to 20.8 percent of total specialty revenues for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to 19.3 percent in the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The increase was primarily due to increased payroll-related expenditures to support the growth in U.S. and International licensed stores operations. Depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $110 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $91 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The increase was primarily due to the opening of 1,177 new Company-operated retail stores in the last 12 months. As a percentage of total net revenues, depreciation and amortization expenses were 4.7 percent for both periods. General and administrative expenses decreased to $115 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $123 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The decrease was primarily due to higher charitable contributions in the prior year and higher provisions for incentive compensation due to exceptional performance in the prior year. These were partially offset by increased payroll-related expenditures and higher professional fees in support of continued global growth and systems infrastructure development in the current year. As a percentage of total net revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 4.9 percent for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, from 6.4 percent for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. Income from equity investees decreased five percent to $19 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $20 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The decrease was primarily due to lower income as a result of lower sales volume for both the Starbucks Ice Cream Partnership and the North American Coffee Partnership, which produces ready-to-drink beverages, including Starbucks bottled Frappuccino® coffee drinks and Starbucks DoubleShot® espresso drinks. Operating income increased 14 percent to $320 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $280 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. Operating margin decreased to 13.6 percent of total net revenues for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to 14.5 percent for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006, primarily due to higher cost of sales including occupancy costs and higher store operating expenses, partially offset by lower general and administrative expenses. Interest and other income, net, increased to $6.4 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $0.3 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006, primarily due to foreign exchange gains in the current year compared to foreign exchange losses in the prior year. Income taxes for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, resulted in an effective tax rate of 37.2 percent, compared to 37.8 percent for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. Net earnings for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, increased 18 percent to $205 million from $174 million for the same period in fiscal 2006. Earnings per share also increased by 18 percent to $0.26 for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $0.22 per share for the comparable period in fiscal 2006. STARBUCKS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (unaudited)   13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended December 31, 2006 January 1, 2006 %Change  December 31, 2006 January 1, 2006 (in thousands, except per share data) As a % of total net revenues Net revenues: Company-operated retail $ 2,006,811  $ 1,627,983  23.3% 85.2% 84.2% Specialty: Licensing 253,922  219,150  15.9  10.8  11.3  Foodservice and other   94,990    86,959  9.2  4.0  4.5  Total specialty   348,912    306,109  14.0  14.8  15.8  Total net revenues 2,355,723  1,934,092  21.8  100.0  100.0    Cost of sales including occupancy costs 984,823  778,038  41.8  40.2  Store operating expenses (a) 771,967  622,166  32.8  32.2  Other operating expenses (b) 72,538  59,148  3.0  3.0  Depreciation and amortization expenses 110,196  91,288  4.7  4.7  General and administrative expenses   115,228    123,325  4.9  6.4  Subtotal operating expenses 2,054,752  1,673,965  22.7  87.2  86.5    Income from equity investees   18,753    19,720  0.8  1.0    Operating income 319,724  279,847  14.2  13.6  14.5    Interest and other income, net   6,439    348  0.2  0.0    Earnings before income taxes 326,163  280,195  16.4  13.8  14.5    Income taxes(c)   121,211    106,039  5.1  5.5    Net earnings $ 204,952  $ 174,156  17.7% 8.7% 9.0%   Net earnings per common share - diluted $ 0.26  $ 0.22  Weighted avg. shares outstanding - diluted   782,764    792,949    (a) As a percentage of related Company-operated retail revenues, store operating expenses were 38.5 percent for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, and 38.2 percent for the 13 weeks ended January 1, 2006.   (b) As a percentage of related total specialty revenues, other operating expenses were 20.8 percent for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, and 19.3 percent for the 13 weeks ended January 1, 2006.    (c) The effective tax rates were 37.2 percent for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, and 37.8 percent for the 13 weeks ended January 1, 2006. Segment Results Beginning in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2006, the Company increased its reporting segments from two to three to include a Global Consumer Products Group (CPG) segment in addition to the United States and International segments. Additionally, with the 100% acquisition of the Company’s operations in Hawaii in fiscal 2006, and the shift in internal management of this market to the United States, these operations have been moved from the International segment into the United States segment. Prior period segment results have been restated to reflect these changes. The tables below present operating segment results net of intersegment eliminations for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006 (in thousands): United States 13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006 %Change  Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006             United States As a % of U.S. total net revenues Net revenues: Company-operated retail $ 1,660,263  $ 1,370,687  21.1% 89.3% 88.6% Specialty: Licensing 113,309  96,283  17.7  6.1  6.2  Foodservice and other   86,327    80,371  7.4  4.6    5.2  Total specialty   199,636    176,654  13.0  10.7    11.4  Total net revenues 1,859,899  1,547,341  20.2  100.0  100.0    Cost of sales including occupancy costs 731,121  587,446  39.3  38.0  Store operating expenses 648,377  528,775  39.1  (1) 38.6  (1) Other operating expenses 52,125  44,107  26.1  (2) 25.0  (2) Depreciation and amortization expenses 81,363  67,684  4.4  4.4  General and administrative expenses 21,759  21,533  1.2  1.4    Income from equity investees   -    124  0.0    0.0  Operating income $ 325,154  $ 297,920  9.1% 17.5%   19.3%   (1) Shown as a percentage of related Company-operated retail revenues.   (2) Shown as a percentage of related total specialty revenues. United States total net revenues increased by $313 million, or 20 percent, to $1.9 billion for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $1.5 billion for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. United States Company-operated retail revenues increased by $290 million, or 21 percent, to $1.7 billion, primarily due to the opening of 928 new Company-operated retail stores in the last 12 months and comparable store sales growth of six percent for the quarter. The increase in comparable store sales was due to a three percent increase in the number of customer transactions and a three percent increase in the average value per transaction. Total United States specialty revenues increased by $23 million, or 13 percent, to $200 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $177 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. United States licensing revenues increased 18 percent to $113 million from $96 million in fiscal 2006 primarily due to higher product sales and royalty revenues as a result of opening 758 new licensed retail stores in the last 12 months. United States foodservice and other revenues increased by seven percent to $86 million, from $80 million in fiscal 2006, primarily due to growth in new and existing foodservice accounts. United States operating income increased by nine percent to $325 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, from $298 million for the same period in fiscal 2006. Operating margin decreased to 17.5 percent of related revenues from a record high 19.3 percent in the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The decrease was primarily due to higher cost of sales including occupancy costs and higher store operating expenses. Cost of sales including occupancy costs increased primarily due to a shift in sales to higher cost products, higher rent expense and increased distribution costs. Store operating expenses increased primarily due to higher payroll expenditures from an increase in the average hourly wage rate for retail store partners. International 13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006 %Change  Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006             International As a % of International total net revenues Net revenues: Company-operated retail $ 346,548  $ 257,296  34.7% 85.6% 84.0% Specialty: Licensing 49,864  42,309  17.9  12.3  13.8  Foodservice and other   8,663    6,588  31.5  2.1    2.2  Total specialty   58,527    48,897  19.7  14.4    16.0  Total net revenues 405,075  306,193  32.3  100.0  100.0    Cost of sales including occupancy costs 200,111  145,428  49.4  47.5  Store operating expenses 123,590  93,391  35.7  (1) 36.3  (1) Other operating expenses 14,149  10,440  24.2  (2) 21.4  (2) Depreciation and amortization expenses 20,465  15,009  5.1  4.9  General and administrative expenses 21,711  16,187  5.4  5.3    Income from equity investees   8,024    7,778  2.0    2.5  Operating income $ 33,073  $ 33,516  (1.3%) 8.2%   10.9%   (1) Shown as a percentage of related Company-operated retail revenues.   (2) Shown as a percentage of related total specialty revenues. International total net revenues increased by $99 million, or 32 percent, to $405 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $306 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. International Company-operated retail revenues increased by $89 million, or 35 percent, to $347 million, primarily due to the opening of 249 new Company-operated retail stores in the last 12 months, comparable store sales growth of eight percent for the quarter and favorable foreign currency exchange for both the British pound sterling and Canadian dollar. The increase in comparable store sales resulted from a six percent increase in the number of customer transactions coupled with a two percent increase in the average value per transaction. Total International specialty revenues increased by $10 million, or 20 percent, to $59 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $49 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The increase was primarily due to higher product sales and royalty revenues from opening 432 licensed retail stores in the last 12 months and growth in new and existing foodservice accounts. International operating income decreased slightly to $33 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $34 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. Operating margin decreased to 8.2 percent of related revenues from a record first quarter high of 10.9 percent in the corresponding period of fiscal 2006, primarily due to higher cost of sales including occupancy costs. The increase in cost of sales including occupancy costs was primarily due to prior period accounting corrections totaling $3.4 million, and to rising energy and fuel prices. Global Consumer Products Group (CPG) 13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006 %Change  Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006             Global Consumer Products Group As a % of CPG total net revenues Net revenues: Specialty: Licensing $ 90,749  $ 80,558  12.7% 100.0%   100.0% Total specialty   90,749    80,558  12.7  100.0    100.0  Total net revenues 90,749  80,558  12.7  100.0  100.0    Cost of sales 53,591  45,164  59.1  56.1  Other operating expenses 6,264  4,601  6.9  5.7  Depreciation and amortization expenses 22  34  0.0  0.0  Income from equity investees   10,729    11,818  11.8    14.7  Operating income $ 41,601  $ 42,577  (2.3%) 45.8%   52.9% CPG total net revenues increased by $10 million, or 13 percent, to $91 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $81 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The increase was primarily due to volume growth in both the U.S. and International licensed grocery and warehouse club businesses. CPG operating income decreased slightly to $42 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $43 million for the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. Operating margin decreased to 45.8 percent of related revenues, from 52.9 percent in fiscal 2006, primarily due to higher cost of sales, lower income from the Company’s equity investees and higher other operating expenses. Cost of sales increased primarily due to the timing of sales to the grocery channel. Income from equity investees declined primarily due to decreased sales volumes for the Starbucks Ice Cream Partnership as well as the North American Coffee Partnership, which produces ready-to-drink beverages including Starbucks bottled Frappuccino® coffee drinks and Starbucks Doubleshot® espresso drinks. Other operating expenses increased primarily due to higher marketing expenditures in support of the development and expansion of the ready-to-drink beverages in the Asia-Pacific region. Unallocated Corporate 13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006 %Change  Dec. 31,2006 Jan. 1,2006               Unallocated Corporate As a % of total net revenues Depreciation and amortization expenses $ 8,346  $ 8,561  0.4% 0.4% General and administrative expenses   71,758    85,605  3.0    4.5  Operating loss $ (80,104) $ (94,166) 14.9% (3.4%)   (4.9)% Unallocated corporate expenses decreased to $80 million for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006, compared to $94 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2006. The decrease was primarily due to higher charitable contributions in the prior year and higher provisions for incentive compensation due to exceptional performance in the prior year. These were partially offset by increased payroll-related expenditures and higher professional fees in support of continued global growth and systems infrastructure development in the current year. Total unallocated corporate expenses as a percentage of total net revenues was 3.4 percent for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2006 and 4.9 percent for the 13 weeks ended January 1, 2006. STARBUCKS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share data) December 31, 2006 October 1, 2006 ASSETS (unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 270,873  $ 312,606  Short-term investments - available-for-sale securities 103,184  87,542  Short-term investments - trading securities 62,413  53,496  Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $4,558 and $3,827, respectively 227,823  224,271  Inventories 547,277  636,222  Prepaid expenses and other current assets 121,320  126,874  Deferred income taxes, net   96,646    88,777  Total current assets 1,429,536  1,529,788    Long-term investments – available-for-sale securities 23,280  5,811  Equity and other investments 224,918  219,093  Property, plant and equipment, net 2,396,801  2,287,899  Other assets 205,724  186,917  Other intangible assets 39,469  37,955  Goodwill   207,906    161,478    TOTAL ASSETS $ 4,527,634  $ 4,428,941    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 275,691  $ 340,937  Accrued compensation and related costs 289,005  288,963  Accrued occupancy costs 68,033  54,868  Accrued taxes 173,949  94,010  Short-term borrowings 365,000  700,000  Other accrued expenses 209,146  224,154  Deferred revenue 422,648  231,926  Current portion of long-term debt   765    762  Total current liabilities 1,804,237  1,935,620    Long-term debt 1,746  1,958  Other long-term liabilities 282,796    262,857  Total liabilities 2,088,779  2,200,435    Shareholders’ equity: Common stock and additional paid-in capital - authorized, 1,200,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 757,372,182 and 756,602,055 shares, respectively, (includes 3,394,184 common stock units in both periods) 757  756  Other additional paid-in-capital 39,393  39,393  Retained earnings 2,349,918  2,151,084  Accumulated other comprehensive income   48,787    37,273  Total shareholders’ equity   2,438,855    2,228,506    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 4,527,634  $ 4,428,941  STARBUCKS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited and in thousands) 13 Weeks Ended December 31, 2006 January 1, 2006 OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net earnings $ 204,952  $ 174,156  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 116,122  97,744  Provision for impairments and asset disposals 3,469  3,751  Deferred income taxes, net (21,277)   (26,291) Equity in income of investees (9,020)   (12,451) Distributions from equity investees 18,845  5,769  Stock-based compensation 24,363  23,189  Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 3,422  110  Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options (29,618)   (23,724) Net amortization of premium on securities 213  545  Cash provided/(used) by changes in operating assets and liabilities: Inventories 91,293  93,348  Accounts payable (73,310)   (8,180) Accrued taxes 109,813  127,118  Deferred revenue 191,219  134,205  Other operating assets and liabilities   (61,354)   19,573  Net cash provided by operating activities 569,132  608,862    INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of available-for-sale securities (148,362)   (232,000) Maturity of available-for-sale securities 115,165  14,734  Sale of available-for-sale securities -  76,504  Acquisition, net of cash acquired (47,304)   -  Net additions to equity, other investments and other assets (15,722)   (4,893) Net additions to property, plant and equipment   (161,270)     (147,323) Net cash used by investing activities (257,493)   (292,978)   FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from issuance of common stock 65,530  44,412  Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options 29,618  23,724  Net repayments of revolving credit facility (335,000)   (172,000) Principal payments on long-term debt (209)   (186) Repurchase of common stock   (115,288)     (134,301) Net cash used by financing activities (355,349)   (238,351) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   1,977    93  Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (41,733)   77,626    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS: Beginning of period   312,606    173,809    End of the period $ 270,873  $ 251,435    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Cash paid during the 13 weeks ended: Interest $ 8,318  $ 2,918  Income taxes $ 40,570  $ 10,280  Fiscal First Quarter 2007 Store Data The Company’s store data for the periods presented are as follows: Net stores opened during the 13 weeks ended Stores open as of Dec. 31, 2006 Jan. 1, 2006 Dec. 31, 2006 Jan. 1, 2006 United States: Company-operated Stores(1) 282  164  6,010  5,082  Licensed Stores 223  198  3,391  2,633  505  362  9,401  7,715  International: Company-operated Stores (1) 76  60  1,511  1,262  Licensed Stores (1) 147  138  2,256  1,824  223  198  3,767  3,086    Total 728  560  13,168  10,801    (1) International store data has been adjusted for the acquisitions of the Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Beijing operations by reclassifying historical information from Licensed Stores to Company-operated Stores. United States store data was also adjusted to align with the Hawaii operations segment change by reclassifying historical information from International Company-operated stores to the United States. Fiscal 2007 Targets Looking ahead, Starbucks reaffirmed its fiscal 2007 targets: Starbucks plans to open at least 2,400 new stores on a global basis in fiscal 2007. In the United States, Starbucks plans to open approximately 1,000 Company-operated locations and 700 licensed locations. In International markets, Starbucks plans to open approximately 300 Company-operated stores and 400 licensed stores; The Company is targeting total net revenue growth of approximately 20 percent for the full year and comparable store sales growth remains in the target range of three percent to seven percent; and, Starbucks continues to target earnings per share in the range of $0.87 - $0.89 for fiscal 2007. Starbucks will be holding a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, which will be hosted by Howard Schultz, chairman, Jim Donald, president and ceo, and Michael Casey, executive vice president and chief financial officer. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed at the Company’s web site address of http://investor.starbucks.com. A replay of the call will be available via telephone through 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, by calling 1-800-642-1687, reservation number 4132389. A posting of speaker remarks and a replay of the call will also be available via the Investor Relations page on Starbucks.com through approximately 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, March 2, 2007, at the following URL: http://investor.starbucks.com. The Company’s consolidated statements of earnings, operating segment results, and other additional information have been provided on the preceding pages in accordance with current year classifications. This information should be reviewed in conjunction with this press release. Please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2006, as amended by Amendment No.1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on December 21, 2006, for additional information. About Starbucks Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches people’s lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit www.starbucks.com. This release includes forward-looking statements about trends in or expectations regarding: store openings, comparable store sales, net revenue and earnings per share results. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and trends may differ materially depending on a variety of factors including but not limited to, coffee, dairy and other raw material prices and availability, successful execution of internal performance and expansion plans, fluctuations in U.S. and international economies and currencies, the impact of initiatives by competitors, the effect of legal proceedings, and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors” section of Starbucks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2006. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements. © 2007 Starbucks Coffee Company. All rights reserved.