Starbucks Dominates Restaurant Stocks Amid Turnaround Strategy

Starbucks' stock has surged 23% this year to date at $103.32, while McDonald's is down 12% to $269.61 and Chipotle Mexican Grill is down 5% to $35.15.

The Invesco Food & Beverage ETF is up 8% year-to-date, but that still trails behind Starbucks' impressive gains.

Starbucks' turnaround strategy under CEO Brian Niccol has caught Wall Street's attention, with the company converting its China business into a licensed joint venture and retaining a 40% ownership stake.

The 'Back to Starbucks' plan focuses on store operations, customer experience, and employee investment, which investors seem to be rewarding.