This shift caused Starbucks’ international revenue to fall 34 per cent, but operating margin improved from 13.6 per cent to 19.1 per cent. Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol says the transaction growth is an indication of the success of the Back to Starbucks plan. As a result of a successful Q3, the fourth straight quarter of comparable growth, Starbucks has raised its full-year guidance, with global comparable sales expected to approach six per cent growth for FY26. Starbucks says it opened 175 net new stores in Q3 2026, ending the period with 41,304 stores – 33 per cent of which are company owned. Stores in the United States comprise 41 per cent of Starbucks’ global portfolio, ending the period with 16,933 locations.