Yum! Brands, IncNYSE: YUM
Consumer Discretionary · Restaurants
$158.14
-0.95%
Vol: 1.1M
Research Digest
Friday, May 1, 2026
Yum Brands crushes Q1 earnings with 71% profit jump to $432m and 15% revenue growth to $2.06B, driven by Taco Bells 8% same-store sales growth.
Yum Brands exceeded expectations with Q1 2026 earnings of $1.50 per share adjusted (vs. $1.38 expected) and revenue of $2.06 billion (up 15.2% YoY). Net income surged 71% to $432 million from $253 million a year earlier. Taco Bell delivered 8% same-store sales growth and 10% system sales growth. KFC delivered 6% system sales growth with a record 648 new restaurant openings in Q1 across 45 countries. Digital system sales approached $11 billion. Shares jumped 2.9% after results.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysApr 30Taco Bell's 8% same-store sales growth propels YUM Brands Q1 earnings 15% higher, digital mix reaches 63%Positive▶
Yum! Brands reported strong Q1 2026 results with net income of $432 million, up 71% year-over-year, and adjusted EPS of $1.50 representing 15% growth. Revenue climbed to $2.059 billion, up 15% from Q1 2025. Taco Bell led with 8% same-store sales growth, while global same-store sales rose 3%. Digital sales reached nearly $11 billion with 63% digital mix. The company opened 648 new KFC, 30 Taco Bell, 346 Pizza Hut, and 6 Habit Burger restaurants in the quarter.
Apr 29Yum Brands Q1 EPS up 15% to $1.50, Taco Bell delivers 8% same-store sales growthPositive▶
Yum! Brands reported Q1 2026 earnings exceeding expectations with EPS ex-items up 15% to $1.50, and revenue of $2.06 billion up 15% YoY. Taco Bell delivered outstanding 8% same-store sales growth, while KFC showed resilient growth with double-digit system sales in many markets. Digital sales reached record 63% mix. The company announced AI-driven A/B testing expansion for Taco Bell drive-thrus. Stock traded up following earnings announcement. All three major brands grew system sales, with total unit growth of 1,030 in the quarter.
Apr 16Yum! Brands closing 250 Pizza Hut locations in H1 2026 as Taco Bell posts strong 7% same-store sales growth; Q1 earnings imminent.Mixed▶
Yum! Brands plans to close approximately 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations in the first half of 2026 amid restructuring. However, Taco Bell showed strong performance with 7% same-store sales growth. Q1 2026 earnings are due imminently with analysts forecasting $1.37 adjusted EPS, up 5.4% from $1.30 prior year. Analysts rate YUM as "Buy" with a 12-month target of $168.27, up 4.18% from current $161.09. The company faces competitive pressures from McDonald's menu expansion.
Apr 15Yum! Brands appoints former Marriott CFO Kathleen Oberg to board; plans to close 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations in H1 2026.Neutral▶
Yum! Brands appointed Kathleen K. Oberg, former CFO of Marriott International, to its Board effective April 1, 2026. The company plans to close approximately 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations during H1 2026. Q1 2026 earnings scheduled for April 29. Piper Sandler maintains Neutral with $158 price target.
Apr 14Yum! Brands appoints Kathleen Oberg to Board effective April 1; Q1 2026 earnings optimism growing.Mixed▶
Yum! Brands appointed Kathleen K. Oberg, former CFO and EVP of Marriott International, to its Board of Directors effective April 1, 2026. Analysts forecasting 9.8% EPS growth to $6.64 for fiscal 2026 versus $6.05 in fiscal 2025. Company faces headwinds from sluggish U.S. same-store sales and rising input/operating costs.
Apr 13Yum! Brands released first-ever 2026 Food Trends Report and CEO David Gibbs announced retirement amid institutional buying.Neutral▶
Yum! Brands released inaugural 2026 Food Trends Report highlighting consumer shifts. CEO David Gibbs announced planned retirement in Q1 2026. Analysts forecast 2026 adjusted EPS of $6.64 (+9.8% YoY). Q1 2026 earnings approaching with analyst expectations for $1.37 EPS (+5.4% YoY). Company operates ~61,000 restaurants globally across KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and The Habit Burger.
Apr 10OFI Invest takes new position in Yum! Brands; Kathleen Oberg appointed to Board effective April 1.Positive▶
OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in Yum! Brands around April 9. Kathleen Oberg, former Marriott CFO, joined the Board effective April 1. Yum plans to relaunch Taco Bell in Germany Q4 2026 and close 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations. Analyst consensus is Moderate Buy with average PT of $170.67. Q1 earnings due April 29.
Apr 9Yum! Brands initiates strategic review of Pizza Hut division with Goldman Sachs and Barclays as advisersMixed▶
Yum! Brands announced formal strategic review of Pizza Hut brand to explore options maximizing shareholder value and helping brand reach full potential. Company retained Goldman Sachs and Barclays as financial advisers to examine strategic options. Q1 2026 revenue grew 6.4% to $2.52 billion, beating expectations with EPS of $1.73 despite slight miss on estimates. Announced closure of approximately 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations in U.S. during H1 2026. Institutional investors including Ethos Capital Management increasing stakes. Citigroup adjusted target upward to $171 maintaining Neutral stance; UBS Group reaffirmed Buy with $180 target; Evercore ISI holds Outperform at $190. 18 analysts average Buy with $168.63 target, 7.01% upside. Stock trading at $166.59 with 46.22B market cap.
Apr 8Yum! Brands appoints Marriott CFO Kathleen Oberg to board; Pizza Hut strategic review underwayMixed▶
Yum! Brands appointed Kathleen K. Oberg, former Marriott CFO with deep asset-light experience, to its Board of Directors effective April 1, 2026. Company initiated formal strategic review of Pizza Hut brand to maximize shareholder value. Yum! announced 250 Pizza Hut U.S. store closures in H1 2026 as it completes strategic review with potential sale. Taco Bell same-store sales spiked 7% driven by strong demand and new chicken innovations. KFC introduced 'Value Feast' menu while Taco Bell expands offerings. Stock trades at $156.09 with analyst consensus "Buy" and average 12-month target of $168.63.
Apr 7Yum appoints Kathleen Oberg to board; Pizza Hut closing 250 underperforming locations.Mixed▶
Yum appointed Kathleen Oberg (former Marriott CFO) to board April 1. Closing 250 Pizza Hut locations under Hut Forward plan in H1 2026. Transferred 20 Taco Bell Australia outlets. Taco Bell SSS +7%. Stock $160.26. 18 analysts target $168.63.
Apr 6Yum brands appoints Marriott CFO to board, Taco Bell relaunches in Germany Q4 2026Neutral▶
Yum! Brands appointed Kathleen Oberg, former Marriott CFO, to its Board effective April 1, 2026. The company is closing 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations and relaunching Taco Bell in Germany in Q4 2026 across Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Cologne. CEO Turner and KFC CEO Mezvinsky made modest stock sales on April 1. Stock trades near $156.09 with 1.85% dividend yield and earnings due April 29.
Apr 3Yum Brands appoints former Marriott CFO to board while Pizza Hut closure plan signals international strategic reset.Mixed▶
Yum Brands appointed Kathleen K. Oberg, former Marriott CFO, to its board effective April 1, 2026. The company plans to close approximately 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations in H1 2026. Q4 2025 earnings missed consensus on EPS ($1.73 vs. $1.77 expected) but beat on revenue ($2.51B vs. $2.45B). KFC Division CEO and CEO Turner sold shares on April 1. Next earnings due May 6.
Apr 2Yum Brands appointed Marriott CFO Kathleen Oberg to board on April 1; company closing 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations.Neutral▶
Yum! Brands announced board appointment of Kathleen K. Oberg, former Marriott CFO (2016-2026), effective April 1, 2026. On the same day, KFC Division CEO Scott Mezvinsky sold 271 shares at $154.18 while CEO Christopher Lee Turner sold 257 shares at $154.18. The stock rose 0.24% in 24 hours to $154.59. Yum is executing the Hut Forward plan to close 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations and transfer 20 Taco Bell outlets in Australia to new operator.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCDMCDONALD | $287.01 | -2.24% | -5.2% | 20.4x | 0.53 | $208.7B |
| SBUXSTARBUCKS | $105.84 | +0.48% | +11.1% | 34.9x | 0.94 | $120.0B |
| YUMYUM | $158.14 | -0.95% | +1.5% | 21.3x | 0.66 | $44.1B |
| CMGCHIPOTLE | $32.98 | -2.99% | +1.5% | 25.0x | 1.06 | $43.7B |
| DRIDARDEN | $195.03 | -2.76% | +2.0% | 17.6x | 0.63 | $23.0B |
| DPZDOMINO | $338.34 | -0.32% | -10.9% | 16.1x | 1.19 | $11.3B |
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