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Chris O'Cull

Managing Director and Senior Analyst at Stifel

Chris O'Cull is a Managing Director and Senior Analyst at Stifel specializing in equity research coverage of restaurant and franchised businesses, with a distinguished track record in the retail and consumer cyclical sectors. He covers over 21 publicly traded companies, including Brinker International, Cracker Barrel, Panera Bread, Tim Hortons, and Bob Evans Farms, and has maintained a success rate of approximately 56% with an average rating return of 12.8% over the past year. O'Cull began his sell-side analyst career in 2006 after executive roles in publicly held restaurant companies, previously serving as Managing Director and Equity Research Analyst at KeyBanc Capital Markets before joining Stifel in 2017. He holds professional credentials as a registered securities analyst, supported by industry recognition such as Thomson Reuters StarMine awards for stock picking and earnings estimation, and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky.

Chris O'Cull's questions to STARBUCKS (SBUX) leadership

Question · Q4 2025

Chris O'Cull asked about the impact of increased competition from emerging beverage brands on Starbucks, particularly in markets with significant overlap, and how Starbucks views these new beverage concepts in its competitive landscape.

Answer

Brian Niccol, Chairman and CEO, stated that Starbucks' best offense is its focus on craft, connection, and customer experience. He highlighted Starbucks' existing scale across all access points (drive-thru, mobile, cafe) and its unique brand positioning. He views competition as a motivator to continuously improve, aiming to be better than the previous day.

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Question · Q4 2025

Chris O'Cull questioned the impact of increased competition from emerging beverage brands, particularly in markets with significant overlap, and how Starbucks is strategizing to address this new competitive landscape.

Answer

Brian Niccol, Chairman and CEO, Starbucks, stated that the company's approach is to be on its 'best offense,' focusing on the craft of its coffee, drinks, and food, alongside customer connection and experience. He emphasized Starbucks' scale in drive-thru, mobile order, digital, and cafe businesses, believing competition will drive the organization to continuously improve.

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Chris O'Cull's questions to BRINKER INTERNATIONAL (EAT) leadership

Question · Q1 2026

Chris O'Cull asked about Chili's strategy to leverage tokenized consumer data for enhanced engagement and growth, and the performance of their value promotions, specifically comparing the Triple Dipper advertising to the $10.99 value platform, and future innovation plans.

Answer

CEO Kevin Hochman explained that new capabilities allow tracking monthly cohorts to understand guest retention and the impact of investments and menu initiatives on frequency. He noted that Triple Dipper advertising brought in more new guests but the overall lift was not as great as the $10.99 value platform, leading them to return to value messaging. He also mentioned significant innovation planned for the $10.99 platform in Q3/Q4.

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