Consumer Business Review: Starbucks DISSES, Ford RECALLS Escapes

Here are Thursday’s top stories:

Shares of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) and those of Whole Foods Market Inc. (NASDAQ:WFM) soared Thursday, for slightly different reasons. However, Starbucks missed earnings after hours and shares are slumping 8%. Meanwhile, at least four analysts increased their price targets for the Whole Foods shares. S&P Capital IQ praised the balance sheet and foresees same-store sales “growing in upper single digits through FY 2013 with share gains reflecting consumer adoption of a healthier lifestyle.”

Don’t Miss: Starbucks Earnings: Short of Profit Estimate, Yet Double Digit GROWTH.

As anticipated, Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Kansas City fiber network will offer pay-TV services to accompany 1 gigabyte per second broadband connectivity. iPad/Android tablet streaming will be in the package, along with a 2TB cloud DVR service. A TV/Internet combo deal will cost $120 per month, and standalone broadband service will run $70 a month. The prices probably will not send local competitor Time Warner Cable, Inc. (NYSE:TWC) packing, and there is no word as to whether Google intends to expand its service to other cities.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) recalls 484,000 2001 to 2004 year model Ford Escape SUVs, for a problem in which the throttle can become stuck open. United States safety regulators are looking into whether the matter was involved in the death of a teenager in Arizona earlier in 2012.

Don’t Miss: At Least Apple’s iPad is SOARING.

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