SBUX ▼ -0.2% - Starbucks Corporation $SBUX is considering selling control of its Japan operations, its largest company-operated market outside the U.S., with 1,883 stores representing nearly 9% of its global footprint. A formal sale process could begin in Q4, with both global and Japanese buyout firms expected to show interest. Starbucks took full control of the business in 2014 at a roughly $1.5B valuation, when it had about 1,050 stores. The unit could now be worth around $3B. The move would further reshape Starbucks’ international portfolio after it ceded control of its China business last year. Source: Reuters Starbucks is exploring a sale of its Japan operations, which comprise 1,883 stores and represent nearly 9% of global revenue, with a potential formal process beginning in Q4 and an estimated valuation around $3 billion. The modest 0.2% decline suggests investors are taking a measured view of the divestiture, which would continue the company's strategic shift toward asset-light models after similar moves in China and elsewhere. 16-SEP-2026 05:50 AM ET