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Yum China Holdings (YUMC)
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Yum China Holdings (YUMC) AI Stock Analysis

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YUMC

Yum China Holdings

(NYSE:YUMC)

Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
$51.00
▲(11.82% Upside)
Yum China Holdings' overall stock score is driven by strong financial performance and positive earnings call highlights. The company's consistent growth and strategic initiatives outweigh the challenges, positioning it well in the market. The technical analysis and valuation suggest stability and fair pricing, contributing to the overall positive outlook.
Positive Factors
Market Position
Yum China is the largest quick service restaurant player in China, with significant store expansion and a total store count of 16,978.
Sales Growth
Delivery sales accounted for 45% of company sales, reflecting strong demand and a key growth area for the company.
Shareholder Returns
Yum China is on track to return USD4.5bn to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends, indicating strong financial health.
Negative Factors
Earnings Forecast
Earnings forecasts for 2025-2026 have been trimmed by 7% and 5% due to more moderate cost savings across KFC.
Profit Growth
Higher-than-expected franchised store opening mix and store closures will affect the net profit growth forecast meaningfully.
Valuation
The stock is trading at a 17.5x FY25E P/E, which is not particularly attractive despite a higher gross profit margin.

Yum China Holdings (YUMC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Yum China Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionYum China Holdings, Inc. is a leading restaurant company in China, operating a portfolio of popular brands including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and others. Founded in 2016 as a spin-off from Yum! Brands, Inc., the company focuses on quick-service and casual dining segments, providing a diverse menu that caters to the tastes of Chinese consumers. With a strong presence across mainland China, Yum China is known for its innovative approach to food offerings, leveraging technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
How the Company Makes MoneyYum China generates revenue primarily through the operation of company-owned and franchised restaurants. Its key revenue streams include sales from food and beverages, franchise fees, and rental income from franchisees. The company benefits from a robust franchise model that allows for rapid expansion with lower capital expenditures. Additionally, Yum China partners with delivery services and leverages digital platforms to boost sales, particularly in urban areas where convenience is a major consumer preference. The company's focus on menu innovation and localization also helps drive customer engagement and loyalty, further enhancing its earnings potential.

Yum China Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -1.87%|
Next Earnings Date:Feb 10, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Yum China demonstrated strong financial performance with record highs in revenue and operating profits, successful expansion of key brands, and innovative product launches driving growth. However, challenges such as increased rider costs and pressure on ticket averages posed some headwinds. Despite these challenges, the positive aspects and strategic initiatives outweigh the negatives, indicating a strong position in the market.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Financial Performance
Achieved record highs in revenue, operating profit, and operating profit margin in Q2 2025. Operating profit grew 14% to USD 304 million.
Strong System Growth
Same-store sales growth turned positive at 1%, and system sales growth reached 4%, showing a sequential improvement of 2 percentage points.
KFC and Pizza Hut Expansion
KFC achieved 5% system sales growth, expanded to over 12,000 stores, and entered 300 new cities. Pizza Hut achieved 2% same-store sales growth and added 95 net new openings.
Innovative Product Launches
Introduced new products like Crazy Spicy Zinger and thin crust pizza, resulting in increased sales and customer excitement.
Delivery Sales Growth
Delivery sales accounted for 45% of the total sales mix, up from 38% the previous year.
Capital Returns to Shareholders
Returned a total of $536 million to shareholders in the first half of the year, with plans to return at least $1.2 billion in 2025.
Negative Updates
Increased Rider Costs
Higher rider costs due to increased delivery mix, despite efforts to optimize operations and manage costs.
Pressure on Ticket Averages
Decline in ticket averages for both delivery and dine-in due to a higher mix of smaller orders, though offset by higher delivery mix.
Company Guidance
During Yum China's second quarter of 2025 earnings call, the company reported record highs in revenue, operating profit, and operating profit margin. Same-store sales growth turned positive at 1%, with same-store transactions increasing for the tenth consecutive quarter. System sales grew by 4%, meeting the mid-single-digit growth target for the year. The company opened 336 net new stores, reaching over 12,000 KFC locations and 3,800 Pizza Hut outlets across China. KFC achieved a 5% system sales growth, while Pizza Hut saw a 2% increase in same-store sales. Restaurant margins improved by 60 basis points, and operating profit rose 14% to USD 304 million. KFC's restaurant margin expanded by 70 basis points, and its operating profit grew 10% year-over-year to USD 292 million. Pizza Hut's restaurant margin increased slightly to 13.3%, with a 15% year-over-year growth in operating profit. Delivery sales accounted for 45% of the total sales mix, up from 38% the previous year. The company plans to return $1.2 billion to shareholders in 2025, with a commitment to return $3 billion from 2025 through 2026.

Yum China Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Yum China Holdings exhibits strong financial performance with consistent revenue growth and profitability. The company demonstrates effective cash flow management, although there is a need to monitor debt levels carefully.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Yum China Holdings has demonstrated consistent revenue growth, with a notable increase in the TTM period. The company maintains healthy gross and net profit margins, although there is a slight decline in EBIT and EBITDA margins compared to previous years. Overall, the income statement reflects strong revenue growth and profitability, with some room for improvement in operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The balance sheet shows a stable financial position with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio that has improved in the TTM period. The return on equity remains strong, indicating effective use of shareholder funds. However, the equity ratio suggests a moderate reliance on debt financing, which could pose risks if not managed carefully.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
The cash flow statement highlights robust operating cash flow and a positive trend in free cash flow growth. The company has a strong free cash flow to net income ratio, indicating efficient cash generation relative to earnings. Overall, Yum China Holdings demonstrates solid cash flow management, supporting its operational and financial stability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue11.43B11.30B10.98B9.57B9.85B8.26B
Gross Profit1.95B1.89B1.89B1.43B1.36B1.27B
EBITDA1.72B1.68B1.57B1.72B1.25B1.16B
Net Income919.00M911.00M827.00M442.00M990.00M784.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets10.98B11.12B12.03B11.83B13.22B10.88B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.15B1.84B2.60B3.15B4.00B4.26B
Total Debt1.81B2.41B2.54B2.40B2.83B2.39B
Total Liabilities4.51B4.69B4.91B4.67B5.30B4.40B
Stockholders Equity5.79B5.73B6.41B6.48B7.06B6.21B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow835.81M714.00M763.00M734.00M442.00M695.00M
Operating Cash Flow1.44B1.42B1.47B1.41B1.13B1.11B
Investing Cash Flow-336.87M-178.00M-743.00M-504.00M-818.00M-3.11B
Financing Cash Flow-1.56B-1.64B-716.00M-844.00M-313.00M2.06B

Yum China Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price45.61
Price Trends
50DMA
45.63
Negative
100DMA
45.64
Negative
200DMA
46.41
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.41
Positive
RSI
44.14
Neutral
STOCH
38.85
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For YUMC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 45.61 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 46.36, below the 50-day MA of 45.63, and below the 200-day MA of 46.41, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.41 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.14 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.85 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for YUMC.

Yum China Holdings Risk Analysis

Yum China Holdings disclosed 79 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Yum China Holdings reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Yum China Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$16.53B18.5215.84%1.75%3.53%16.64%
70
Outperform
$215.25B25.84-216.57%2.29%1.17%2.09%
66
Neutral
$106.13B40.38-47.07%2.62%0.60%-35.19%
66
Neutral
$39.44B28.06-19.43%1.88%11.30%-7.82%
61
Neutral
$17.22B11.49-5.93%3.08%1.37%-15.47%
60
Neutral
$1.51B20.33-20.16%3.87%-1.46%8.10%
58
Neutral
$57.43B37.8642.59%8.57%10.72%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
YUMC
Yum China Holdings
44.82
11.17
33.19%
CMG
Chipotle
43.48
-10.49
-19.44%
MCD
McDonald's
308.95
40.39
15.04%
PZZA
Papa John's International
47.60
2.73
6.08%
SBUX
Starbucks
93.06
0.49
0.53%
YUM
Yum! Brands
146.77
11.61
8.59%

Yum China Holdings Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsStock Buyback
Yum China Holds 2025 Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
May 23, 2025

Yum China Holdings, Inc. held its 2025 annual meeting of stockholders on May 23, 2025, in Hong Kong, where 83.50% of the company’s outstanding common stock was represented. During the meeting, stockholders elected 12 directors, approved KPMG as auditors, endorsed executive compensation, and granted the board authority to issue and repurchase shares within specified limits, impacting the company’s governance and financial strategies until June 23, 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (YUMC) stock is a Buy with a $37.40 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Yum China Holdings stock, see the YUMC Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 07, 2025