Yum Brands Stock Price, News & Analysis

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, announced that CEO David Gibbs will speak at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum on September 13, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The event will be accessible via a live webcast on the Yum! Brands investor relations website. Yum! Brands operates over 51,000 restaurants globally, including KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, and has been recognized for its gender equality and sustainability efforts.

Yum! Brands has appointed Aaron Powell as CEO of its Pizza Hut Division, effective September 20. Powell, a veteran in consumer packaged goods, previously served as President at Kimberly-Clark for the Asia-Pacific region. His extensive experience in business-to-business operations and consumer markets positions him to strengthen Pizza Hut's growth and franchise performance. The leadership change aims to enhance best practices and sustain the brand's momentum both in the U.S. and internationally, as stated by CEO David Gibbs.

Pizza Hut announces the return of its popular Detroit-Style pizza starting August 25, 2021, with early access for Hut Rewards members from August 24. This fan-favorite, characterized by its caramelized crust and customizable topping options, sold out in its initial launch due to high demand, achieving the best quarterly sales for Pizza Hut in a decade. Customers can choose from three classic recipes or create their own with up to five toppings. The pizza is available for delivery, carryout, and new digital order pick-up.

Under Armour announced the appointment of David Gibbs to its Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2021. Currently CEO of Yum! Brands, Gibbs brings extensive experience in global brand management and consumer focus, which Under Armour aims to leverage for growth. Executive Chairman Kevin Plank expressed enthusiasm about Gibbs' potential contributions to the company's ongoing transformation and growth strategy. Gibbs joins Under Armour after a successful tenure at Yum!, where he played a crucial role in its financial and operational strategies.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) has announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, set for distribution on September 10, 2021. Shareholders of record as of August 27, 2021 will receive this dividend. The company, based in Louisville, Kentucky, operates over 51,000 restaurants across more than 150 countries, featuring brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Yum! was recognized in the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and has been previously included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America.

Yum! Brands announced a significant issuance of $2.25 billion in senior secured notes through its Taco Bell subsidiary. This includes $900 million of 1.946% notes, $600 million of 2.294% notes, and $750 million of 2.542% notes, with maturities extending to August 2051. Proceeds will repay earlier notes and fund corporate expenses, possibly including capital returns to shareholders. The offering is targeted at qualified institutional investors, adhering to the Securities Act, and is set to close on August 19, 2021.

Pizza Hut and Beyond Meat have expanded their partnership, introducing the Beyond Pepperoni pizza, a plant-based variant of Pizza Hut's popular topping. Available in nearly 70 locations across five U.S. markets, this innovative offering features simple ingredients like peas and rice, with no GMOs, soy, or gluten. The new pizza is designed to cater to the growing demand for plant-based options, appealing to health-conscious consumers. This collaboration reinforces Yum Brands' commitment to expanding plant-based menu options and enhancing customer choices.

YUM! Brands announced plans to refinance its Series 2016-1 Class A-2-II and Series 2018-1 Class A-2-I Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, which total approximately $2.853 billion. The refinancing will introduce $2 billion in New Notes, aimed at repaying existing notes, covering transaction expenses, supporting general corporate purposes, and potentially returning capital to shareholders. The New Notes will be available to qualified institutional buyers under the Securities Act but will remain unregistered. No assurance is provided regarding refinancing timing or completion.

Yum! Brands, Inc. reported strong second-quarter results for the period ending June 30, 2021, with worldwide system sales growth of 26% and same-store sales growth of 23%. GAAP EPS was $1.29, up 91% year-over-year, while EPS excluding Special Items increased by 41% to $1.16. KFC led with a 35% same-store sales growth, followed by Taco Bell at 24% and Pizza Hut at 10%. The company opened 603 new units globally and revised its long-term unit growth target to between 4% and 5%. Positive trends in digital sales and international expansion supported this performance.