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Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) Is Making All the Right Moves

By U.S. News & World Report

In the past year, Starbucks Corporation (ticker: SBUX) shares are up only 8.2 percent, well short of the 17.4 percent gain of the overall Standard & Poors 500 index. Starbucks investors are not used to lagging the market, but they may not have to wait much longer for the stock to return to its winning ways.

Deutsche Bank this week upgraded SBUX stock from “hold” to “buy.” Analyst Brett Levy said that Starbucks’ painful refocusing period is drawing to a close, and the company has made all the right moves to ensure major growth for years down the road.

According to Deutsche Bank, Starbucks stock will likely remain highly correlated with the company’s same-store sales growth.

[See: 7 of the Best Socially Responsible Funds.]

In the past year, Starbucks has heavily invested in developing and marketing its rewards loyalty program, mobile ordering platform and food menu options. Levy reports that Starbucks is already gaining traction with all three initiatives.

The company’s “My Starbucks Rewards” program now has 13.3 million members, up about 11 percent in the most recent quarter. Spending per active user was also up 8 percent.

In addition, mobile orders and payments have grown to more than 20 percent of the company’s total peak-hours transactions. Food now makes up about 21 percent of overall sales.

While Starbucks stock is certainly not cheap, Levy noted that it has been trading slightly below its 10-year average forward price-earnings premium relative to the S&P 500.

“Starbucks remains a standout operator and performer that should separate itself from its peers through ongoing menu innovation, its technology initiatives and a focusing on the in-store experience,” Levy wrote.

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2017.]

In addition to the upgrade, Deutsche Bank has raised its price target for Starbucks stock from $59 to $69.

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Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) Is Making All the Right Moves originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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