Those who are concerned about sugar levels at coffee giant Starbucks (SBUX) may be about to get a bit of a reason to calm down even as they perk up. Starbucks is set to roll out Energy Refreshers starting tomorrow, April 7. And these will depend less on sugar in its various forms than you might think, instead calling on some “natural ingredients”. This was apparently huge for Starbucks investors, who sent shares blasting up nearly 4% in Monday afternoon’s trading.
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The Energy Refresher line will be available year-round, reports note, which will take the standard Starbucks Refresher and add some extra “…caffeine from nature” as well as extra B-vitamins. Refreshers can also be made caffeine-free, and feature water, lemonade, or coconut milk for a base.
Further, Starbucks customers will now have access to the Mango Strawberry Refresher. Joining Mango Strawberry will be the Mango Strawberry Lemonade version as well as the Mango Dream, which will come with an extra 125 milligrams of caffeine in a grande version. That is actually more than twice the caffeine found in a standard 12-ounce can of Mountain Dew.
Concerning Chai Change
Those looking for a simpler beverage, and favor chai for such an option, will now face change at Starbucks. Starbucks used to flavor chai with simple syrup, a standard option in cocktails the world over from the Old Fashioned to the Long Island Iced Tea. But now, Starbucks will use honey for a sweetener instead.
Those who want syrup instead will be able to get it, reports note. But Starbucks hopes that the shift to honey will give the other flavors involved—cardamom, cinnamon and ginger—a better chance to catch customers’ attention. Early reports suggest the change is getting mixed reception. Some believe the new flavors are indeed shining through, but others believe that the change leaves the drink “flavorless.”
Is Starbucks Stock a Good Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on SBUX stock based on 13 Buys, 11 Holds, and three Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 12.96% rally in its share price over the past year, the average SBUX price target of $100.26 per share implies 7.17% upside potential.
