Key Stats for Starbucks Stock
- Price change for Starbucks stock in the last 6 months: 6%
- $SBUX Stock Price as of Oct. 5: $94
- 52-Week High: $111
- $SBUX Stock Price Target: $112
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What Happened?
Starbucks (SBUX) has been sued by consumers over how it advertises eight protein drinks. The proposed class action was filed on Friday in Seattle federal court.
The drinks are the Sugar-Free Vanilla and Caramel Protein Lattes, the Sugar-Free Vanilla and Caramel Protein Matcha drinks, and the iced versions of each.
Starbucks launched them in September 2025 as part of its “Back to Starbucks” menu update.
The complaint says the “sugar-free” label is misleading because the drinks contain lactose. That is a sugar found naturally in milk.
A 20- or 24-ounce venti serving has 13 to 21 grams of sugar, and the consumers say shoppers would not expect that.
They also point to federal law. It bars the term “sugar-free” for drinks with more than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving.
The complaint adds that Starbucks omitted required disclaimers stating the drinks are not low-calorie or meant for weight control.
The consumers say Starbucks was trying to tap into demand from the 75% of Americans who want to cut back on sugar. They are seeking unspecified damages.
Starbucks says the claims have no merit.
A spokesperson said the company has been clear about its protein drinks, sugar-free options and nutrition details.
That information appears on menus, in marketing, on Starbucks.com and in the app.
The company plans to “vigorously defend” itself. Starbucks’ website lists the drinks as having “no added sugar” and 270 to 340 calories per venti serving. It also shows that they contain sugars.
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What the Market Is Telling Us About Starbucks Stock
For now, this is a legal headline, not a business update. The case is only a proposed class action, and no damages amount has been set.
Starbucks stock may get some short-term attention, but the lawsuit is still in its early stages. The business itself looks strong.
In its latest quarter, Starbucks reported global comparable sales growth of 7.9%. Operating margin rose to 14.4%, and earnings per share grew 70% to $0.85.
Management also raised its full-year EPS guidance to between $2.55 and $2.65.
Food producers are sued over “sugar-free” and “zero sugar” claims fairly often, so this kind of case is not new.
Still, the protein drinks are part of the “Back to Starbucks” push. Anyone following Starbucks stock will want to watch how the case develops and whether Starbucks changes how it markets these drinks.
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Disclaimer:
Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!
