Form 4: Starbucks Legal Chief Sells Shares for Tax

Starbucks' EVP and Chief Legal Officer, Bradley E. Lerman, disposed of 864.074 shares of common stock to cover tax obligations related to restricted stock unit vesting.

Summary

• Bradley E. Lerman, EVP and Chief Legal Officer of Starbucks Corp (SBUX), reported a transaction involving company common stock.
• On November 14, 2025, Lerman disposed of 864.074 shares of SBUX common stock.
• This disposition was not an open market sale but shares withheld by Starbucks to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock units.
• The shares were valued at $84.78 per share for the purpose of tax withholding.
• Following this transaction, Lerman beneficially owns 42,675.7235 shares of Starbucks common stock.
• The transaction was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan, indicating it was pre-scheduled.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: This is a neutral, routine transaction for tax purposes related to executive compensation. It does not indicate any positive or negative sentiment regarding the company's performance or future prospects.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

This is a routine insider transaction related to executive compensation and tax obligations, common across all publicly traded companies. It does not reflect specific industry trends in the coffee or retail sector.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction represents a minor reduction in the executive's direct ownership, but it is a routine event for tax purposes and does not signal a change in confidence or operational strategy.
• Employees: No direct impact on employees.
• Customers/Suppliers/Creditors: No direct impact.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine, pre-scheduled disposition of shares by an executive to cover tax obligations upon RSU vesting. Such transactions are common and do not reflect a change in the company's fundamentals or the executive's confidence. Therefore, it provides no new information that would warrant a change in investment recommendation; a 'hold' stance is maintained based on existing broader analysis of SBUX.

Keywords

Starbucks, SBUX, Insider Trading, Form 4, Stock Transaction, Restricted Stock Units, Tax Withholding, Bradley Lerman, Executive Compensation