Traders were atwitter last week over Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX ) plans to unveil
"in the near future" a new single-serve coffee product . Starbucks recently
won a suit ending its dozen-year partnership with Kraft (NYSE: KFT ). Rumors
are swirling that Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ: GMCR ) could be the
beneficiary. Option trading investors already know it but never forget take all
rumors with a grain of salt. Although Starbucks recently announced record
seasonal profits, it also issued conservative forward guidance of just
$1.43-$1.47 per share. Rising commodity prices may prove to be an obstacle, as
coffee Starbucks' lifeblood is no exception, with coffee prices at a 13-year
high. Sure, SBUX is up nearly 50% in the past year alone, and it plans to open
500 new stores this year in markets like China along with entering the Indian
market. Still, I like the SBUX April 33 Calls , which are going for about $1.60
today. Note that Starbucks CEO Howard Schulz recently joined the board of
Groupon, the super-successful online deal house. It wouldn't be surprising if
Groupon were to offer deals on Starbucks gift cards and merchandise (say, a
brand-new single-cup coffee brewer). In the nearer term, however, consumers
aren't going to give up their Starbucks runs. It's still "the" meeting
place for students and small-business owners. And with healthier menu items than
fast-food joints, it's a one-stop shop for consumers on the go.
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