Starbucks Americas sales disappoint on softer traffic

The world's biggest coffee chain said a 1 percent increase in traffic contributed to a 5 percent gain in sales at Americas-region cafes open at least 13 months.

But that result fell short of the 6.2 percent gain expected by analysts polled by Consensus Metrix, and the company's shares fell almost 5 percent to $73.54 in after-hours trading.

The Americas region contributes the majority of STARBUCKS (SBUX.NQ)revenue. Sales for the region were up 6 percent for the third quarter, bolstered by a 2 percent increase in traffic.

"We grew traffic, but it was at a bit of slower clip," said Troy Alstead, Starbucks' chief operating officer, who said the softening is affecting the broader restaurant industry.

The report from the world's biggest coffee chain came on the heels of disappointing news from rivals McDonald's Corp and Dunkin' Donuts parent Dunkin' Brands .

While Starbucks reported stronger same-store sales than those chains, its growth paled in comparison to Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc's outsized 19.8 percent jump in same-restaurant sales for the latest quarter.

The Seattle-based company's net income was $587.9 million, or 77 cents per share, for the fiscal fourth quarter that ended Sept. 28. That compared with a loss of $1.23 billion, or $1.64 per share in the year ago quarter, when it booked a large charge related to ending its grocery coffee distribution deal with Kraft.

Starbucks also forecast fiscal 2015 revenue growth of 16 to 18 percent, including more than $1 billion in incremental revenue from the planned acquisition of Starbucks Japan.

It now expects earnings excluding items in the range of $3.08 to $3.13. The company previously forecast earnings growth at the low end of a range of 15 to 20 percent. The new forecast falls in the middle of that range, Chief Financial Officer Scott Maw told Reuters.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Bernard Orr)