Looking at the statement of cash flows, what factors can explain the change in the company’s cash position over the last couple of years?

Exploring Starbucks’ Financial Statements

Over the past decade, Starbucks coffee shops have become an increasingly familiar part of the urban landscape. Currently, the company operates more than 6,000 coffee shops in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and internationally, and in 2005 it had roughly 80,000 employees.

Thomson ONE can access a wealth of financial information for companies such as Starbucks. To find some background information, begin by entering the company’s ticker symbol, SBUX, and then selecting “GO.” On the opening screen, you will see a lot of useful information, including a summary of what Starbucks does, a chart of its recent stock price, EPS estimates, some recent news stories, and a list of key financial data and ratios.

In researching a company’s operating performance, a good place to start is the recent stock price performance. At the top of the Stock Price Chart, click on the section labeled “Interactive Chart.” From this point, we are able to obtain a chart of the company’s stock price performance relative to the overall market, as measured by the S&P 500, between 1995 and 2005. To obtain a 10-year chart, go to “Time Frame,” click on the down arrow, and select 10 years. Then, click on “Draw” and a 10-year price chart should appear.

As you can see, Starbucks has had its ups and downs, but the company’s overall performance has been quite strong, and it has beat the overall market handily.

We can also find Starbucks’ recent financial statements. Near the top of your screen, click on the “Financials” tab to find the company’s balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows for the past 5 years. Clicking on the Microsoft Excel icon downloads these statements directly to a spreadsheet.