When we think of Robinhood stocks, we often think of stocks that might crush the market in a matter of days or weeks. Many investors using the online trading platform seek opportunities for big gains -- and fast. But that doesn't mean Robinhood investors completely ignore long-term opportunities.
In fact, some of the 100 most popular stocks on the platform make great long-term investments. Here, I'll talk about one of my favorites. The company is recovering quickly from the pandemic. It understands today's customer, has brand strength, and operates in a growing market. Let's find out more about this player that may crush the market in the long run.
Image source: Getty Images.
Two records
So which company am I talking about? None other than coffee shop giant Starbucks (SBUX 1.00%). Like other retailers, Starbucks suffered during the worst of the pandemic. It temporarily closed shops and reduced operations. Even today, sitting down in the café area isn't yet an option in some locations.
Yet, in the quarter ended June 27, Starbucks reported a 78% increase in consolidated net revenue to $7.5 billion. That's a record level for the company. And here's another record during the quarter: The company reported earnings per share of $1.01 on a non-GAAP basis. That's compared to a loss of $0.46 in the year-earlier period.
How did Starbucks manage such a quick recovery? By adapting to today's customer. During the pandemic, Starbucks immediately moved toward contactless experiences and convenience for customers. As part of a plan launched a year ago, the company is revamping its store portfolio to favor digital ordering and pickup in certain locations.
Starbucks is opening smaller shops such as Starbucks Pickup locations in cities and more drive-thrus where needed. And, of course, Starbucks has made it easy to order ahead on its app.
The effort is bearing fruit. In the recent earnings report, Starbucks said drive-thru and mobile ordering accounted for 47% and 26% of transactions, respectively.
So, Starbucks is succeeding when it comes to logistics. But what about the actual coffee? The company is performing well there too. The key ingredients in this recipe? Innovation plus customization. For example, Starbucks is making progress in the cold beverages category. Cold represented about 74% of beverage sales in the quarter. That's up 13 percentage points from the previous quarter.
Why is this category so important? Because it usually adds to ticket and margin growth over time, Chief Operating Officer John Culver said in the earnings call. And topping that off with customized options like espresso shots or dairy alternates is also pleasing customers.
1 million new members
We know that because Starbucks Rewards members and non-members are increasing their spending at the coffee chain. And the company continues adding active members -- more than 1 million in the most recent quarter.
Finally, Starbucks' flagship product -- coffee -- isn't one that will go out of fashion in the coming years. Global coffee sales total more than $400 billion today, and the forecast is for annual growth of more than 8% through 2025, according to Statista.
Now let's have a look at how Starbucks shares have done in the past. Starbucks has outperformed the S&P 500 annually since 2018. But this year, the S&P 500 is heading for the top performance.
If we look at long-term performance and annualized growth rates over the past 10 years, though, Starbucks comes out as the winner.
What does this mean in the Starbucks-versus-the S&P 500 contest? Starbucks may not outperform the S&P 500 every year. But over time, the above points will make it a stock investors will want in their consumer goods portfolios. I love brand strength and revenue and profit growth -- and a lot of other investors do too. That's why, for long-term performance, I'll bet on Starbucks.
