Starbucks Looks Weak Next to Competitors

As Howard Schultz of Starbucks tours America, speaking all about how the chain's troubles are a function of fumble-fingered operations at the store level, investors should ask whether he's right or whether the company's woes are even within its control.

The best way to answer this question? We could start by comparing Starbucks' (SBUX Quote)results with those of two other coffee peddlers who reported earnings: Peet's Coffee & Tea (PEET Quote) and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR Quote). Caribou Coffee Company (CBOU Quote), which reports after the close Wednesday, should also be part of this comparison.

Maybe it's because Starbucks seems so singular and because the charismatic and publicity-savvy Schultz could suck attention from the sun, but excluding The Motley Fool and Barron's, I haven't seen many attempts to gauge Starbucks' performance relative to its competitors'. See the Fool's story here and Barron's story here.

They Just Don't Get Starbucks!

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