With Starbucks, Investors Need Patience

Investors looking to cash in on a turnaround at Starbucks Corp. shouldn't expect results soon.

Wall Street cheered the return of coffee pioneer Howard Schultz as chief executive last month, bidding up the company's battered stock price, which had slid nearly 50% during the previous year. But investors looking for a bargain should proceed gingerly.

Everyday investors can get tempted by once-hot brand names that look cheap. Many don't realize how long it can take to right the ship, and how rocky the sailing can be during that time. Companies like Gap Inc. and Home Depot Inc. have spent several ...