5 Large-Caps Flirting With 52-Week Highs

1. Starbucks (SBUX) is the leading coffee shop chain with operations in more than 50 countries. The company sells roasted whole bean coffees along with beverages and fresh food items through company-operated retail stores. As of October, the company had 17,000 retail stores.

For fiscal year 2011, Starbucks reported revenue of $11.7 billion, up 9% over fiscal year 2010. The global comparable stores sales increased 8%. In its first year of launch, Starbucks Mobile transactions exceeded 26 million. Earnings per share for the year surged 31% to $1.62 as compared to the previous fiscal year. The company paid cash dividend of 17 cents per share, an increase of 31% from the previous payout.

In November, the company acquired Evolution Fresh. Earlier this month, the company entered five new Chinese cities: Langfang, Zhengzhou, Harbin, Xiangtan and Zhoushan. Starbucks plans to open over 1,500 stores in mainland China by 2015.

For fiscal 2012, Starbucks plans to open 800 net new stores globally. Meanwhile, it targets a 10% revenue growth led by mid-single-digit comparable store sales growth. Earnings per share are seen in the range of $1.75 to $1.82, indicating a 15% to 20% growth over the fiscal year 2011.

In the past 52 weeks, the stock traded between a low of $30.75 and a high of $45. Currently it is at 43.61. Of the 29 analysts covering the stock, 17 recommend a buy.

>>To see these stocks in action, visit the 5 Large-Caps Flirting With 52-Week Highs portfolio on Stockpickr.

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