Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM)

In the past six months, Yum! Brands' stock price has seen fluctuations. As of July 22, 2025, the stock had risen by 5.35% over the last month and 16.07% over the last six months. The company's stock price increased by 17.36% between July 19, 2024, and July 18, 2025. Key events impacting the stock include the Q1 2025 earnings report, where Yum! Brands reported strong results with worldwide system sales growth. CEO David Gibbs announced his intention to retire in the first quarter of 2026, with CFO Chris Turner set to assume the CEO role. Yum! Brands announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to accelerate the development of innovative AI technologies. Taco Bell unveiled its business growth plan and introduced bold growth targets through 2030. Yum! Brands reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results. Yum! Brands terminated franchise agreements with IS Gida A.S. Yum! Brands delivered a strong performance in 2024, with Pizza Hut and Taco Bell showing consistent growth.

Company-owned restaurant margins were lower in Q1 2025 due to seasonality and additional maintenance of the store base. The quick-service restaurant industry can experience seasonal demand fluctuations, often influenced by holidays, weather, and school calendars. There is no obvious sustained upward or downward trend in inventories, suggesting that inventory levels are managed to accommodate seasonal demand or supply chain scheduling. The stock's seasonality going into July shows a chance of a "green month."

Yum! Brands, Inc. is a multinational fast-food corporation that operates and franchises quick-service and fast-casual restaurants globally. The company is a leader in the foodservice sector and the restaurant industry. Its major products include fried and non-fried chicken products, Mexican-style food, pizza, and chargrilled burgers. Yum! Brands' portfolio includes KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill. As of 2023, Yum! Brands operated 55,000 restaurants in over 155 countries, primarily utilizing a franchise business model, with 97% of its total restaurants being franchised.

Yum! Brands has a significant global presence, with nearly 61,000 restaurants in over 155 countries and territories. The company's international expansion is a key part of its strategy, particularly in emerging markets. KFC was the first Western fast-food chain to open in Mongolia, and Yum! Brands operates extensively in India, Thailand, Nepal, and Nigeria through its franchise partner, Devyani International Limited. The brands in China are operated by a separate entity, Yum China.

Yum! Brands' brand reputation in the past year has been influenced by mixed performance across its brands and strategic initiatives. Taco Bell has been a standout performer, consistently driving growth. KFC has shown mixed results, with strong international performance but weaker results in the United States. Pizza Hut has faced challenges, experiencing its sixth consecutive quarter of comparable sales declines in the U.S. market. Yum! Brands has been actively investing in technology, including the acquisition of Tictuk Technologies and Kvantum Inc., and a collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate AI into its restaurants. Yum! Brands published a new Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report, highlighting its efforts in sustainable practices. The company has been involved in community support. KFC launched a "Free Bucket On Us" offer as part of its "Comeback Era" initiative.

Yum! Brands is primarily owned by institutional shareholders, who hold approximately 82.34% of the company's stock. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Capital International Investors, and State Street Corp. Individual investors own about 8.70% of the company. Keith A. Meister is noted as the largest individual shareholder, owning 21.04 million shares. Insiders own approximately 8.96% of the stock.