Yum! Brands Reports First-Quarter Results

Business Wire

30-04-2025

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. First-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.90 and first-quarter EPS excluding Special Items was $1.30, a 13% increase.
DAVID GIBBS COMMENTS
David Gibbs, CEO, said 'I'm incredibly proud of our teams' ability to stay nimble and deliver industry-leading results in a complex consumer environment. This quarter, we achieved 8% Core Operating Profit growth, demonstrating the strength and resilience of our business model. Our twin growth engines led the way, with Taco Bell U.S. reporting a remarkable 9% same-store sales growth and KFC International accelerating same-store sales growth while generating 7% unit growth year-over-year. Byte by Yum! is driving digital momentum, with more franchisees eager to explore the full suite of product offerings after experiencing the technology firsthand at our Global Franchise Convention. As I embark on my final year as CEO, I'm confident that Yum!'s world-class franchisees, talent, global scale, proprietary technologies, and our bold growth strategies will continue to position the company for long-term success."
RECENT STRATEGIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
On March 4 th, Taco Bell hosted a unique investor event, Consumer Day, in Brooklyn where the leadership team announced its business growth plan, R.I.N.G. The Bell, and introduced bold growth targets through 2030. Later in the day, Taco Bell hosted its second annual Live Más Live event, where the brand unveiled its 2025 innovation pipeline that includes over 30 new products and unexpected collaborations.
On March 18 th, we announced an industry-first collaboration with NVIDIA to accelerate the development of innovative AI technologies for Yum! restaurants around the globe. This collaboration brings the two powerhouses together to integrate AI into our restaurants at an unprecedented scale. Leveraging NVIDIA's advanced AI platforms, Yum! aims to become the leader in integrating technology into every touch point, across every restaurant, around the world.
On March 31 st, David Gibbs announced his intention to retire in the first quarter of 2026. The Board has established a selection committee to identify and appoint the best candidate to succeed David and lead Yum! into its next chapter of growth. David has spent 36 years with Yum! in various roles including as CEO since January 2020. He's led the Company's digital transformation, re-ignited the development engine and successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic to make Yum! a top performer in the restaurant industry.
FIRST-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Worldwide system sales grew 5%, excluding foreign currency translation, led by Taco Bell at 11% and KFC at 5%.
Unit count increased 3% including 751 gross new units in the quarter.
Robust digital system sales approaching $9 billion, with digital mix of approximately 55%.
Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted divisional operating profit by $11 million.
First-Quarter
2025
2024
% Change
GAAP EPS
$0.90
$1.10
(18)
Less Special Items EPS 1
$(0.40)
$(0.05)
NM
EPS Excluding Special Items
$1.30
$1.15
+13
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1 See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results within this release for further detail of Core Operating Profit and Special Items.
All comparisons are versus the same period a year ago.
System sales growth figures exclude foreign currency translation ("F/X") and core operating profit growth figures exclude F/X and Special Items. Special Items are not allocated to any segment and therefore only impact worldwide GAAP results. See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results within this release for further details.
Digital system sales includes all transactions at system restaurants where consumers utilize ordering interaction that is primarily facilitated by automated technology.
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KFC DIVISION
First-Quarter (% Change)
International
U.S.
System Sales Growth Ex F/X
+6
(2)
Same-Store Sales Growth
+3
(1)
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KFC Division opened 528 gross new restaurants across 52 countries.
Company-owned restaurant margins were 9.3% with year-over-year comparability primarily impacted by the KFC U.K. stores acquired in the second quarter of 2024. Margins of those stores were lower in Q1 due to seasonality and additional maintenance of the store base.
Excluding the impact of lapping leap day, system sales growth excluding foreign currency translation would have been +6%.
Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted operating profit by $9 million.
1 Refer to investors.yum.com/financial-information/financial-reports/ for a list of the countries within each of the markets.
2 Reflects Full Year 2024.
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TACO BELL DIVISION
Taco Bell Division opened 24 gross new restaurants across 8 countries.
Taco Bell U.S. system sales grew 11% and Taco Bell International system sales excluding foreign currency translation, grew 8%.
Taco Bell U.S. and Taco Bell International same-store sales grew 9% and 3%, respectively.
Company-owned restaurant margins were 22.4%, down slightly year-over-year.
PIZZA HUT DIVISION
First-Quarter (% Change)
International
U.S.
System Sales Growth Ex F/X
Even
(7)
Same-Store Sales Growth
Even
(5)
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Pizza Hut Division opened 198 gross new restaurants across 34 countries.
Pizza Hut Division Operating profit growth was negatively impacted in the quarter by 7 percentage points due to expenses associated with four franchise entities that are transitioning to new ownership and by 3 percentage points due to timing of technology spending within Franchise advertising and other services expenses.
Excluding the impact of lapping leap day, system sales growth excluding foreign currency translation would have been (2%).
Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted operating profit by $1 million.
HABIT BURGER & GRILL DIVISION
Habit Burger & Grill Division opened 1 gross new restaurant.
Habit Burger & Grill Division system sales were flat with same-store sales declining 3%.
OTHER ITEMS
See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP results within this release for further detail of Special Items by financial statement line item including the impact of Special Items on General and administrative expenses.
Disclosures pertaining to outstanding debt in our Restricted Group capital structure will be provided at the time of the filing of the first-quarter Form 10-Q.
LONG-TERM GROWTH ALGORITHM
The Company targets the following long-term financial performance metrics, first announced in 2022, that it believes it can achieve over an extended period of time, on average:
5% Unit Growth
7% System Sales Growth, excluding F/X and 53rd week; and
At least 8% Core Operating Profit Growth, excluding F/X and 53rd week 3
1 Refer to investors.yum.com/financial-information/financial-reports/ for a list of the countries within each of the markets.
2 Reflects Full Year 2024.
3 At this time, we are unable to forecast any Special Items or any impact from changes in F/X rates, and therefore cannot provide an estimate of Operating Profit Growth on a GAAP basis.
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CONFERENCE CALL
Yum! Brands, Inc. will host a conference call to review the company's financial performance and strategies at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time April 30, 2025. The number is 404/975-4839 for U.S. callers, 833/950-0062 for Canada callers, and +1/929-526-1599 for international callers, conference ID 540566.
The call will be available for playback beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time April 30, 2025 through May 7, 2025. To access the playback, dial 866/813-9403 in the U.S., 226/828-7578 in Canada, and +1/929-458-6194 internationally, conference ID 647857.
The webcast and the playback can be accessed by visiting Yum! Brands' website, investors.yum.com/events-and-presentations and selecting 'Q1 2025 Yum! Brands, Inc. Earnings Call.'
Quarter-end dates for each division, restaurant count details, definitions of terms and Restricted Group financial information are available at investors.yum.com. Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in our Condensed Consolidated Summary of Results.
This announcement may contain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as 'expect,' 'expectation,' 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'may,' 'could,' 'intend,' 'belief,' 'plan,' 'estimate,' 'target,' 'predict,' 'likely,' 'seek,' 'project,' 'model,' 'ongoing,' 'will,' 'should,' 'forecast,' 'outlook' or similar terminology. These statements are based on and reflect our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and/ or projections, our perception of historical trends and current conditions, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events, circumstances or performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. There can be no assurance that our expectations, estimates, assumptions and/or projections, including with respect to the future earnings and performance or capital structure of Yum! Brands, will prove to be correct or that any of our expectations, estimates or projections will be achieved.
Numerous factors could cause our actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: food safety and food- or beverage-borne illness concerns; adverse impacts of health epidemics, deterioration in public health conditions or the occurrence of other catastrophic or unforeseen events; the success and financial stability of our concepts' franchisees, particularly in light of challenging macroeconomic conditions; the success of our development strategy; anticipated benefits from past or potential future acquisitions, investments, other strategic transactions or initiatives, or our portfolio business model; our significant exposure to the Chinese market; our global operations and related exposure to geopolitical instability, including as a result of the Middle East conflict as well as the expansion of restrictive trade policies which could also impact sentiment for U.S. brands; foreign currency risks and foreign exchange controls; our ability to protect the integrity or availability of IT systems or the security of confidential information and other cybersecurity risks; compliance with data privacy and data protection legal requirements and reporting obligations; our ability to successfully and securely implement technology initiatives, including utilization of artificial intelligence; our increasing dependence on digital commerce platforms; the impact of social media; our ability to protect our trademarks or other intellectual property; shortages or interruptions in the availability and the delivery of food, equipment and other supplies; the loss of key personnel, labor shortages and increased labor costs, including as a result of state and local legislation related to wages and working conditions; changes in food prices and other operating costs; our corporate reputation, the value and perception of our brands and changes in consumer preferences such as wellness trends; evolving expectations and requirements with respect to social and environmental sustainability matters; adverse effects of severe weather and climate change; pending or future litigation and legal claims or proceedings; changes in, or noncompliance with, legal requirements; tax matters, including changes in tax rates or laws, impositions of new taxes, tax implications of our restructurings, or disagreements with taxing authorities; changes in consumer discretionary spending and macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary pressures and elevated interest rates; competition within the retail food industry; and risks relating to our level of indebtedness. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. The forward-looking statements included in this announcement are only made as of the date of this announcement and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions 'Risk Factors' and 'Forward-Looking Statements' in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of nearly 61,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories under the company's concepts – KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill. The Company's KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands are global leaders of the chicken, Mexican-inspired food and pizza categories, respectively. Habit Burger & Grill is a fast casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. In 2024, Yum! was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America, Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies, USA Today's America's Climate Leaders and 3BL's list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens. In 2025, the Company was recognized among TIME magazine's list of Best Companies for Future Leaders. In addition, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut led Entrepreneur's Top Global Franchises 2024 list and were ranked in the first 25 of Entrepreneur's 2025 Franchise 500, with Taco Bell securing the No. 1 spot in North America for the fifth consecutive year.
Category: Earnings