The Biggest Reason Starbucks Is Fighting McDonald's

By Kevin Chen – Mar 29, 2013 at 7:40PM

NASDAQ: SBUX

Starbucks

Market Cap

$99B

Today's Change

(0.98%) $0.86

Current Price

$88.70

Price as of April 26, 2024, 1:53 p.m. ET

Seattle's Best drive-thrus will compete with McDonald's and Panera Bread.

Just when there seems to be a Starbucks (SBUX 0.98%) on every corner, the Seattle-based company has decided to launch 15 Seattle's Best drive-thrus across the U.S., starting in Dallas.

But why now? Expectations for Starbucks are high. In addition, the company currently trades for a P/E of 31, and the China opportunity may not be enough to satiate investors.

Get the scoop on why Starbucks launched these drive-thrus and catapulted itself into competition with McDonald's (MCD -0.25%) and Panera Bread (PNRA).

Fool contributor Kevin Chen owns shares of Panera Bread. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of McDonald's, Panera Bread, and Starbucks. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.