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Yum! Brands (YUM)
NYSE:YUM
Earnings Data
Report Date
May 06, 2026Before Open (Confirmed)
Period Ending
2026 (Q1)Consensus EPS Forecast
1.37Last Year’s EPS
1.3Same Quarter Last Year
Based on 17 Analysts Ratings
Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call highlighted multiple strong operational and financial wins — notably robust Taco Bell performance, record KFC unit development, meaningful digital adoption and margin expansion — while acknowledging focused near-term pain points primarily at Pizza Hut (same-store sales decline, targeted closures, and one-time investments) and some market-specific disruptions (Turkey closures, integration costs). Management emphasized strategic priorities to drive higher AUVs, accelerate franchisee economics, and scale the Byte platform. On balance, the positives (broad brand momentum, digital scale, unit growth, and EPS/margin expansion) outweigh the lowlights tied mostly to one underperforming brand and localized issues.Company Guidance
Strong System Sales Growth
Q4 system sales grew 5% (driven by 3% unit growth and 3% same-store sales); full-year system sales grew 5%, led by Taco Bell (8% full-year system sales) and KFC (6% full-year system sales).
Taco Bell Outperformance
Taco Bell delivered exceptional results with ~7% same-store sales growth (highlighted by management), 8% full-year system sales growth, 10% divisional core operating profit growth, strong market-share gains, and Taco Bell US restaurant-level margins of 25.7% in Q4 (50 bps expansion) and 24.4% for the full year.
KFC Record Unit Development and Profitability
KFC delivered record gross unit openings (nearly 3,000 units for the year and over 1,100 in Q4), 6% system sales growth, and 10% divisional core operating profit growth; notable unit expansion across 105 markets and milestone of 30,000th international restaurant.
Digital & Byte Platform Traction
Digital sales topped $11 billion and grew 25% YoY, raising digital mix to nearly 60%; Byte platform: smart ops in >7,000 restaurants, digital ordering bundle in ~18,000, at least one Byte product live in ~38,000 restaurants globally; Byte processed >370 million digital transactions (+~60% YoY) with measurable ops benefits (e.g., up to 75% reduction in aggregator ordering failure rates, up to 85% reduction in stock outs).
Margin Expansion and EPS Growth
Company Q4 core operating profit grew 11%; full-year core operating profit grew 7% (10% ex-Pizza Hut). Ex-special EPS was $1.73 in Q4 and ex-special EPS for the year was $6.05 (up 10%). Company restaurant margins in Q4 were 16%.
Robust Unit Development Across Portfolio
Opened >1,800 new units in Q4 and >4,550 new units for the year across the portfolio; Taco Bell opened 228 units in Q4 (155 international gross units, +~40% YoY international development) and Pizza Hut still opened significant gross units globally (~1,200 in 2025).
Capital Allocation and Balance Sheet Actions
Net CapEx of $293 million for the year (with $371 million gross CapEx and $78 million refranchising proceeds); completed a 128-unit Taco Bell acquisition for $668 million; returned ~ $1.35 billion to shareholders via dividends and buybacks; net leverage ended the year at ~4x with intent to hold around that level.
Clear Strategic Priorities and Long-Term Targets
Management outlined a 'Raise the Bar' plan focused on (1) battling for the future consumer, (2) accelerating restaurant-level economics, and (3) reaching the full potential of Byte; Taco Bell 2030 ambitions reiterated (approx. $3.0M US AUV target, 3,000 international stores, and 25–26% US restaurant-level margin).
YUM Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed
YUM Earnings-Related Price Changes
Report Date | Price 1 Day Before | Price 1 Day After | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Feb 04, 2026 | $158.74 | $159.57 | +0.52% |
Sep 30, 2025 | $153.21 | $151.28 | -1.26% |
Aug 06, 2025 | $138.17 | $139.99 | +1.32% |
Apr 30, 2025 | $145.57 | $148.28 | +1.86% |
Earnings announcements can affect a stock’s price. This table shows the stock's price the day before and the day after recent earnings reports, including the percentage change.
FAQ
When does Yum! Brands (YUM) report earnings?
Yum! Brands (YUM) is schdueled to report earning on May 06, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
What is Yum! Brands (YUM) earnings time?
Yum! Brands (YUM) earnings time is at May 06, 2026, Before Open (Confirmed).
Where can I see when companies are reporting earnings?
You can see which companies are reporting today on our designated earnings calendar.
What companies are reporting earnings today?
You can see a list of the companies which are reporting today on TipRanks earnings calendar.
What is YUM EPS forecast?
YUM EPS forecast for the fiscal quarter 2026 (Q1) is 1.37.
