Company Description
Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) is a restaurant company in the accommodation and food services sector, focused on the limited-service restaurants industry. According to company disclosures, Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of over 62,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories under the company’s concepts – KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill. These concepts operate across the chicken, Mexican-inspired food, pizza and fast casual burger categories.
The company’s portfolio includes KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill, which are described as iconic global brands. KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are characterized by the company as global leaders of the chicken, Mexican-inspired food and pizza categories, respectively, while Habit Burger & Grill is a fast casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. Yum! Brands traces its roots to a 1997 spinoff of PepsiCo’s restaurant assets, and its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol YUM.
Yum! Brands operates a largely franchised system. As described in available information, the company’s restaurants are primarily franchised or operated by its subsidiaries, and the business is organized around its four main concepts. KFC Corporation, based in Plano, Texas, has been serving its Original Recipe fried chicken since 1952 and operates over 30,000 KFC restaurants in 150 countries and territories around the world. Pizza Hut, founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, is described as a global leader in the pizza category with nearly 20,000 restaurants in more than 110 markets and territories. Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill contribute additional scale in quick-service and fast casual formats.
According to company commentary, Yum! Brands emphasizes its global footprint and the visibility this provides into food culture and dining behavior. With more than 62,000 restaurants worldwide, the company states that it has an unmatched view into what is happening across global food culture. Yum! Brands has highlighted research and behavioral insights from its internal strategy agency, Collider Lab, and from its four brands to produce a food trends report that explores how consumers use food for personalization, emotional grounding and everyday experiences.
The company also reports on its operating performance by division. In its third-quarter results for the period ended September 30, 2025, Yum! Brands noted worldwide system sales growth and unit growth across its KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill divisions. KFC Division reported system sales growth and unit expansion, Taco Bell Division reported system sales and same-store sales growth, and Habit Burger & Grill Division reported system sales and same-store sales growth. Pizza Hut Division reported flat unit count and a modest decline in system sales and same-store sales over the same period, and Yum! Brands announced a review of strategic options for the Pizza Hut brand.
Yum! Brands also discloses that it is incorporated in North Carolina and maintains its principal executive offices in Louisville, Kentucky. The company’s common stock is registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange. Through its brands, the company participates in quick-service and fast casual restaurant formats, with a presence in numerous countries and territories.
The company has also reported recognition on several external indices and lists. Yum! Brands states that in 2024 it 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, the company notes that 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.
From a capital markets perspective, Yum! Brands periodically reports financial results and other material events through filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Recent filings include current reports on Form 8-K describing quarterly earnings, amendments to the company’s bylaws, changes in senior leadership, and securitization financing activity related to Taco Bell. The company’s board of directors has also declared cash dividends on its common stock, as reflected in its public announcements.
Business segments and concepts
KFC is described as a global chicken restaurant brand with more than 30,000 restaurants in 150 countries and territories. KFC Corporation is based in Plano, Texas, and offers fried chicken and related menu items under the KFC brand. KFC is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc.
Taco Bell is a division within Yum! Brands that operates restaurants offering Mexican-inspired food. Yum! Brands reports Taco Bell system sales and same-store sales as a separate division and notes Taco Bell restaurants in multiple countries.
Pizza Hut is described as a global leader in the pizza category, with nearly 20,000 restaurants in more than 110 markets and territories. Pizza Hut is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. and operates in the pizza segment of the limited-service restaurant industry.
Habit Burger & Grill is a fast casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. Habit Burger & Grill is also a division of Yum! Brands, Inc.
Corporate governance and structure
Yum! Brands has disclosed amendments to its bylaws and changes in its board composition and executive leadership through Form 8-K filings. Recent amendments address procedural mechanics for shareholder meetings, advance notice provisions for director nominations and other business, and governance matters related to board meetings. The company has also reported leadership changes, including appointments to senior executive roles and the board of directors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What does Yum! Brands, Inc. do?
Yum! Brands, Inc. franchises or operates a system of restaurants under the KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill concepts. These brands participate in the chicken, Mexican-inspired food, pizza and fast casual burger categories within the limited-service restaurants industry. - Where is Yum! Brands, Inc. headquartered?
Yum! Brands, Inc. states that it is based in Louisville, Kentucky, and incorporated in North Carolina. - On which exchange does YUM trade?
According to the company’s SEC filings, Yum! Brands, Inc. common stock, no par value, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol YUM. - How many restaurants are in the Yum! Brands system?
Yum! Brands reports that it and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of over 62,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories under its KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill concepts. - What restaurant brands does Yum! Brands own?
The company’s concepts are KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill. KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are described as global leaders in the chicken, Mexican-inspired food and pizza categories, and Habit Burger & Grill is a fast casual concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. - What is the industry classification for Yum! Brands?
Yum! Brands operates in the limited-service restaurants industry within the accommodation and food services sector. - Does Yum! Brands pay dividends?
In a recent announcement, the board of directors of Yum! Brands, Inc. declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock, indicating that the company pays dividends as authorized by its board. - How global is Yum! Brands’ restaurant system?
The company reports a system of over 62,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories, reflecting a broad international presence for its concepts. - What recent strategic actions has Yum! Brands disclosed?
In its third-quarter 2025 results, Yum! Brands announced that it had initiated a process to explore strategic options for the Pizza Hut brand to maximize long-term value creation for Yum!, Pizza Hut and its franchise partners. - How does Yum! Brands report its performance?
Yum! Brands reports financial and operating results by division, including KFC Division, Taco Bell Division, Pizza Hut Division and Habit Burger & Grill Division, and provides measures such as system sales, same-store sales growth, unit counts and operating profit in its public releases and SEC filings.
Stock Performance
Yum Brands (YUM) stock last traded at $153.96, up 0.86% from the previous close. Over the past 12 months, the stock has lost 2.3%, ranking #1,171 in 52-week price change. At a market capitalization of $43.2B, YUM is classified as a large-cap stock with approximately 276.4M shares outstanding.
Latest News
Yum Brands has 10 recent news articles. Of the recent coverage, 4 articles coincided with positive price movement and 6 with negative movement. Key topics include partnership, dividends, conferences, earnings. View all YUM news →
SEC Filings
Yum Brands has filed 5 recent SEC filings, including 3 Form 4, 1 Form 144, 1 Form SCHEDULE 13G/A. The most recent filing was submitted on March 27, 2026. SEC filings provide transparency into a company's financial condition, material events, and regulatory compliance. View all YUM SEC filings →
Insider Radar
Insider selling at Yum Brands over the past 90 days can reflect routine portfolio management, scheduled trading plans (Rule 10b5-1), tax planning, or compensation-related dispositions rather than a directional view on the stock.
Financial Highlights
Yum Brands generated $8.2B in revenue over the trailing twelve months, retaining a 69.8% gross margin, operating income reached $2.6B (31.3% operating margin), and net income was $1.6B, reflecting a 19.0% net profit margin. The company generated $2.0B in operating cash flow. With a current ratio of 1.35, the company maintains adequate short-term liquidity.
Upcoming Events
Final Four appearances
NYE 2026 BOGO promotion
Tranche 1 repayment
Tranche 2 repayment
Yum Brands has 5 upcoming scheduled events. The next event, "Final Four appearances", is scheduled for April 3, 2026 (in 4 days). 3 of the upcoming events are financial in nature, such as earnings calls or quarterly results. Investors can track these dates to stay informed about potential catalysts that may affect the YUM stock price.
Short Interest History
Short interest in Yum Brands (YUM) currently stands at 7.0 million shares, down 18.8% from the previous reporting period, representing 2.5% of the float. Over the past 12 months, short interest has increased by 13.7%. This relatively low short interest suggests limited bearish sentiment.
Days to Cover History
Days to cover for Yum Brands (YUM) currently stands at 3.1 days, down 36.4% from the previous period. This days-to-cover ratio represents a balanced liquidity scenario for short positions. The ratio has shown significant volatility over the period, ranging from 1.3 to 4.8 days.
YUM Company Profile & Sector Positioning
Yum Brands (YUM) operates in the Restaurants industry within the broader Retail-eating Places sector and is listed on the NYSE. Among dividend-paying stocks, YUM ranks #1,057 by dividend yield. In monthly performance, the stock ranks #732 among all tracked companies.
Investors comparing YUM often look at related companies in the same sector, including Restaurant Brand (QSR), Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), and Yum China (YUMC). Comparing financial metrics, valuation ratios, and stock performance across these peers can help investors evaluate YUM's relative position within its industry.