Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM)
Yum! Brands is the global restaurant powerhouse behind iconic fast-food chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.
Is Yum! Brands, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Yum! Brands is the global restaurant powerhouse behind iconic fast-food chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in emerging markets drives long-term profit scaling.
Long-term shift in consumer health preferences away from fast food.
What does Yum! Brands, Inc. do?
Yum! Brands operates as a massive franchisor, meaning they mostly collect fees from independent owners who run the actual restaurants rather than managing every kitchen themselves. They make their money through these ongoing royalties and marketing fees, which keeps their own costs relatively low. Keeping their brands popular across different countries while managing the rising costs of ingredients is the balance to follow.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and quality, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 2.0% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 12% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 25% of sales into profit
- Growth screens high (74/100)
- Highly recognisable global brands with strong customer loyalty.
- Franchise model generates reliable, recurring royalty income.
- Healthy profit margins compared to many other restaurant operators.
- Shifting consumer tastes toward healthier eating options.
- Economic downturns reducing the frequency of dining out.
- Rising labour and ingredient costs squeezing franchise profitability.
What do Yum! Brands, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Yum! Brands, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Yum! Brands, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - Yum! Brands, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 2.0% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Yum! Brands, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Yum! Brands, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-11-03 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-30 | $1.56 | $1.62 | Beat +4% |
| 2026-04-29 | $1.39 | $1.50 | Beat +8% |
| 2026-02-04 | $1.76 | $1.73 | Missed -1% |
| 2025-11-04 | $1.48 | $1.58 | Beat +7% |
| 2025-08-05 | $1.46 | $1.44 | Missed -1% |
| 2025-04-30 | $1.28 | $1.30 | Beat +2% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Yum! Brands, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 4 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Ross Stores, Inc.What are the scenarios for Yum! Brands, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Yum! Brands, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Highly recognisable global brands with strong customer loyalty.
- Franchise model generates reliable, recurring royalty income.
- Healthy profit margins compared to many other restaurant operators.
- Heavy reliance on the performance of individual franchisees.
- High competition in the fast-food sector from both big chains and local rivals.
- Vulnerable to changes in global food safety regulations and supply chain costs.
- Shifting consumer tastes toward healthier eating options.
- Economic downturns reducing the frequency of dining out.
- Rising labour and ingredient costs squeezing franchise profitability.
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained, significant drop in global same-store sales.
- A major change in the franchise business model that reduces profit margins.
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.