Yum Brands posts mixed quarter, Taco Bell shines

Yum Brands on Wednesday reported mixed quarterly results, despite strong demand for Taco Bell.

Here’s what the company reported for the period ended Dec. 31 compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

• Earnings per share: $1.73 adjusted vs. $1.77 expected
• Revenue: $2.51 billion vs. $2.45 billion expected

Yum reported fourth-quarter net income of $535 million, or $1.91 per share, up from $423 million, or $1.49 per share, a year earlier.

Excluding tax benefits and other one-time items, the restaurant company earned $1.73 per share.

Net revenue rose 6% to $2.51 billion.

Yum’s global same-store sales increased 3%, fueled by strong performance at Taco Bell and in KFC’s international markets.

Taco Bell’s same-store sales spiked 7% in the quarter, topping Wall Street expectations of 5.6% growth, according to StreetAccount.

The Mexican-inspired chain is the gem of Yum’s portfolio, regularly outperforming the broader fast-food industry, thanks to a mix of value offerings and buzzy menu items.

KFC saw its global same-store sales rise 3%. The fried chicken chain’s international locations reported same-store sales growth of 3%, while restaurants in the U.S. saw a same-store sales increase of 1%. KFC has been undergoing a turnaround in its home market, where it has ceded market share to upstarts like Raising Cane’s in recent years.

Wall Street analysts had expected KFC to report same-store sales growth of 2.1%, according to StreetAccount.

And once again, Pizza Hut was the laggard of the portfolio. The embattled pizza chain reported that its same-store sales declined 1%, driven by a 3% drop in the U.S. and slightly edging out Wall Street estimates of a 1.7% decline during the period.

In November, the company said it would explore strategic options for Pizza Hut. Yum on Wednesday said that the review had begun but did not share more details.