Yum! Brands initiated with a Sector Perform at RBC Capital

RBC Capital analyst Logan Reich initiated coverage of Yum! Brands (YUM) with a Sector Perform rating and $165 price target The stock is an intriguing story, but ultimately risk/reward is too balanced at current levels to justify an Outperform rating, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Taco Bell US and KFC International are the most important drivers of the stock given they represented about 80% of the company’s operating profit in FY24, and while Taco Bell has been outperforming fast-food peers, expectations are elevated where consensus is modeling 140 bps/year faster SSS growth, the firm added.