Starbucks' Q1 earnings showed a positive start under CEO Brian Niccol, despite continued downward trends in key metrics.

For Starbucks ( SBUX) CEO Brian Niccol to achieve maximum greatness — which would boil down to a sustained turnaround in North America sales by later this year — he must improve consumer perception ...

A host of changes to stores and operations could help Starbucks escape its sales trouble, and executives are already planning the company’s next move.