Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol: 'The turn has occurred' — now it's in growth mode

The turnaround at Starbucks ( SBUX ) has been served up, and now it looks to be a caffeinated period of growth.

"I think we're back to being just a growth company. I think the turn has occurred. And now we have all these growth opportunities in front of us because we've got a strong foundation," Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said on Sozzi Unleashed .

Starbucks delivered a bottom-line beat in its fiscal fourth quarter results on Thursday evening, posting adjusted earnings of $0.80 per share versus estimates for $0.71.

Three highlights in particular stood out, in addition to the earnings beat.

Global comparable-store sales jumped 7.2%, and US same-store sales accelerated to 7.7%, driven by healthy ticket and transaction expansion. The company reiterated strength in cold beverages and food.

Sales strength led to a 460 basis point expansion in the operating margin to 14%.

Starbucks also offered initial fiscal 2027 adjusted profit guidance of $3.15 to $3.25 per share, ahead of the $3.14 estimate.

Niccol said the company is full speed ahead on revamping its drive-thrus to unleash the power of AI, offering more caffeine-free afternoon beverages (think drinks with collagen) and new portable foods to match.

"After a strong quarter that showcased significant margin improvement and continued momentum on top-line, we believe Starbucks has raised the bar for excellence," Bernstein analyst Danilo Gargiulo said.

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