We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Consumer Cyclical Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) stands against the other consumer cyclical dividend stocks.
Consumer spending has been unpredictable for some time, influenced by ongoing economic conditions. Some months see strong growth, while others experience a decline. In November, spending on goods rose by 3.4%, slightly outpacing the 2.8% increase in services. However, in January, US consumer spending declined for the first time in nearly two years. According to the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumer spending—which makes up over two-thirds of US economic activity—declined by 0.2% in January. This marked the first drop since March 2023 and was the most significant decline in nearly four years. The decrease followed a stronger-than-expected rise of 0.8% in December, which was initially estimated at 0.7%. At the same time, the goods trade deficit reached a record high as businesses ramped up imports ahead of potential tariffs. These factors suggest the economy may face slower growth or even a downturn this quarter.
Consumer cyclical companies manufacture goods and services that are considered non-essential, meaning consumers are more likely to spend on them when they have extra income or feel financially secure. This category includes businesses in industries such as retail, automotive, travel and leisure, entertainment, and luxury goods.
In February, US business activity slowed significantly, driven by growing concerns over import tariffs and substantial reductions in federal government spending. These factors wiped out the gains seen after President Donald Trump’s election victory. According to S&P Global, business and consumer sentiment has been increasingly affected by the administration’s policies. The firm’s flash U.S. Composite PMI Output Index, which measures both manufacturing and services activity, dropped to 50.4 as of February 22—the lowest level since September 2023—down from 52.7 in January. Since a reading above 50 indicates expansion, this decline suggests a slowdown in private sector growth.
Morningstar equity analyst Noah Rohr made the following comment about the performance of consumer cyclical stocks:
“We’re seeing more pressure on the discretionary side. Consumers are being more cautious with their spending, prioritizing … essential categories like food and beverage and household essentials.”
Persistent inflation is putting pressure on consumer spending, leading to shifts in purchasing habits—even for essential goods. This trend is also impacting the stock market. Although inflation has eased, food prices remain considerably higher than in previous years. As a result, Rohr has observed that grocery stores have been lagging behind larger retailers in performance.
A survey by McKinsey & Company found that, in the first quarter of the year, 46% of US consumers felt optimistic, supported by stable inflation, low unemployment, and steady job growth. However, not everyone shared this outlook. Just over a third expressed mixed feelings about the economy, while pessimism rose slightly from the previous quarter. Interestingly, while stable inflation contributed to optimism, half of the respondents still cited rising prices as their top concern, with older consumers being more worried about inflation than younger ones. The survey also revealed that consumers planned to cut back on spending in many discretionary categories. This suggests that even those with a positive economic outlook, along with those feeling uncertain or pessimistic, may be cautious about their spending habits.
In 2025, consumer cyclical stocks have underperformed compared to the broader market and more defensive sectors. Since the start of the year, the Consumer Discretionary Index has declined by nearly 8%. However, the sector remains a strong dividend payer. In the third quarter of 2024, companies in this sector distributed nearly $23 billion in dividends, a significant increase from $15.3 billion during the same period in 2023, as reported by Janus Henderson. Over the years, dividend payouts in the sector have steadily grown, rising from $16.4 billion in 2018 to $23 billion in 2024.
Our Methodology
For this list, we scanned the holdings of S&P’s Consumer Discretionary index and identified dividend stocks from the entertainment, technology, retail, housing, materials, and automotive industries. These companies are strong dividend payers and have decent yields. From that group, we picked 12 dividend stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, according to Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge funds having stakes in them.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A barista pouring freshly brewed coffee from an espresso machine to a cup in a bustling cafe.
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is a global specialty coffee company that operates over 32,000 locations across 80 countries as both a roaster and retailer. In fiscal Q1 2025, the company reported consolidated net revenues of $9.4 billion, remaining stable year-over-year when adjusted for currency fluctuations. During the quarter, the company expanded its presence by opening 377 new locations, bringing its total store count to 40,576. Of these, 53% were company-operated, while the remaining 47% operated under licensing agreements. By the end of the quarter, 61% of Starbucks’ global stores were located in the US and China, with 17,049 stores in the US and 7,685 in China.
As a global specialty coffee company, Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) operates more than 32,000 locations across 80 countries, serving as both a roaster and retailer. The company is actively working to refresh its brand and enhance customer engagement through its “Back to Starbucks” initiative, which focuses on improving operations and elevating the in-store experience. This strategy underscores Starbucks’ commitment to reinforcing its core identity, with expectations that these efforts will positively impact its stock performance as it realigns with its foundational values.
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has consistently distributed dividends for 59 consecutive quarters, achieving a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20% over this timeframe, reflecting its dedication to long-term shareholder value. In addition, the company has increased its dividend payments annually for 14 straight years, coming through as one of the best dividend stocks on our list. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%, as of March 4.
Overall SBUX ranks 2nd our list of the best consumer cyclical dividend stocks to buy right now. While we acknowledge the potential for SBUX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SBUX but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.