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Yum! Brands, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • GAAP EPS lifted by Pizza Hut gain: Diluted GAAP EPS was $5.92 against $1.41 a year earlier. EPS excluding Special Items was $1.56 against $1.58, down 1%. Source
  • Core profit excluding Pizza Hut grew: Core Operating Profit excluding Pizza Hut grew 1% in the quarter and 6% year to date. Reported worldwide Core Operating Profit fell 4% in the quarter and rose 2% year to date. Source
  • KFC restaurant margin fell 140 basis points: KFC company-owned restaurant margin was 12.3%, down 140 basis points, mainly from 15 lower-margin stores tested under the Saucy brand in 2026. Source
  • Taco Bell U.S. sales declined: Taco Bell U.S. system sales fell 3% and same-store sales fell 4% in the quarter. Source
  • $1.8 billion returned year to date: The company returned $1.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases year to date. Source
  • Pizza Hut sold in two deals: Pizza Hut in mainland China was sold to Yum China on August 7 and the rest of Pizza Hut to LongRange Capital on September 1, each for about $1.2 billion. Source

“Yum! has entered its next chapter of growth, having completed the divestiture of Pizza Hut, with a sharper focus on our Raise the B.A.R. priorities.”

Chris Turner, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Unit growth SourceLong term, on average, over an extended period5%Kept
System sales growth excluding F/X SourceLong term, on average, over an extended period7%Kept
Core Operating Profit growth SourceLong term, on average, over an extended periodAt least 8%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Long-term growth targets of 5% unit growth, 7% system sales growth excluding F/X and at least 8% Core Operating Profit growth carried forward unchanged. Source
  • Ended: Pizza Hut brand sold in two transactions completed in the quarter, ending its ownership by the company. Source
  • New: Three reportable segments from September 1, 2026, on a prospective basis, following the Pizza Hut sale. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • GAAP EPS lifted by Pizza Hut gain: Diluted GAAP EPS was $5.92 against $1.41 a year earlier. EPS excluding Special Items was $1.56 against $1.58, down 1%. Source
  • Core profit excluding Pizza Hut grew: Core Operating Profit excluding Pizza Hut grew 1% in the quarter and 6% year to date. Reported worldwide Core Operating Profit fell 4% in the quarter and rose 2% year to date. Source
  • Pizza Hut gain added to GAAP profit: GAAP Operating Profit of $2,317 million included a pre-tax gain of about $1.7 billion on the Pizza Hut sales. Source

Segments and regions

  • KFC operating profit rose 9%: KFC Division operating profit was $425 million, up 9% from $388 million. Operating margin was 44.8% against 44.1%. Source
  • China is largest KFC market: China accounted for 26% of KFC system sales. System sales excluding F/X rose 3% in the quarter and 5% year to date. Source
  • Taco Bell profit down; international grew: Taco Bell Division operating profit fell 5% in the quarter and rose 10% year to date. International system sales excluding F/X grew 14% in the quarter. Source
  • Taco Bell U.S. outpacing QSR industry: Management said that since the end of September, Taco Bell U.S. has outpaced the QSR industry on same-store sales growth. Source
  • Pizza Hut results only to sale dates: Pizza Hut Division operating profit fell 41% to $50 million in the quarter. 2026 figures include Pizza Hut only up to the sale dates. Source
  • Habit system sales grew 3%: Habit Burger & Grill Division system sales grew 3% and same-store sales were flat. The division opened 4 gross new restaurants. Source

“we remain confident in our ability to deliver consistent earnings growth and create long-term shareholder value.”

Chris Turner, CEO

Products and customers

  • Digital mix reached 64%: Digital system sales were over $9 billion, excluding Pizza Hut, with digital mix at 64%. Source
  • KFC building new global strategy: KFC recorded record third-quarter global gross unit development and continued scaling its new global strategy, which aims to make it the most modern chicken QSR. Source
  • Taco Bell value and innovation: Management said Taco Bell will keep building on recent momentum with differentiated value and innovation across consumer groups. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • KFC restaurant margin fell 140 basis points: KFC company-owned restaurant margin was 12.3%, down 140 basis points, mainly from 15 lower-margin stores tested under the Saucy brand in 2026. Source
  • Taco Bell restaurant margin lower: Taco Bell Division company restaurant margin was 20.2% against 23.7%. Taco Bell U.S. company-owned restaurant margin was 20.5%. Source
  • Pizza Hut review costs kept separate: Pizza Hut strategic review charges were $26 million in the quarter and $107 million year to date, reported as Special Items outside segment results. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Taco Bell U.S. sales declined: Taco Bell U.S. system sales fell 3% and same-store sales fell 4% in the quarter. Source
  • U.S. KFC sales fell: The United States, 12% of KFC system sales, fell 6% in the quarter and 3% year to date. Source
  • Unit count grew 7%: Unit count increased 7% excluding Pizza Hut, including 955 gross new units in the quarter. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • $1.8 billion returned year to date: The company returned $1.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases year to date. Source
  • Cash rose to $2.1 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,108 million at September 30, 2026, against $709 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Pizza Hut sale proceeds received: Year-to-date cash flow shows $2,380 million of proceeds from Pizza Hut divestitures, alongside $1,202 million of share repurchases and $616 million of dividends paid. Source
  • Dividend declared rose against last year: Dividends declared were $0.75 per share in the quarter against $0.71 a year earlier, and $2.25 year to date against $2.13. Source
  • Short-term borrowings rose sharply: Short-term borrowings were $2,141 million at September 30, 2026, against $38 million at December 31, 2025. Long-term debt was $9,459 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Pizza Hut sold in two deals: Pizza Hut in mainland China was sold to Yum China on August 7 and the rest of Pizza Hut to LongRange Capital on September 1, each for about $1.2 billion. Source
  • Three reportable segments from September 1: After the sale, the company reports three segments on a prospective basis. Pizza Hut results remain in comparatives through the sale dates. Source
  • Pizza Hut gain carries tax expense: Tax expense of $466 million was recorded in the quarter on the Pizza Hut sales, shown in the Special Items tax reconciliation. Source

Special Items and effective tax rate

  • Special Items were operating income: Special Items were income of $1,656 million in operating profit for the quarter, against an $18 million expense a year earlier. Source
  • Tax rate excluding Special Items 20.9%: Effective tax rate excluding Special Items was 20.9% in the quarter against 20.8%. The GAAP effective tax rate was 26.1%. Source
  • Deferred tax benefit recognized year to date: Year-to-date results include a $359 million net deferred tax benefit tied to tax basis in entities expected to be sold with Pizza Hut. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Restricted Group debt disclosure coming: Disclosures on Restricted Group outstanding debt will come with the third-quarter Form 10-Q filing. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Same-store sales growth, KFC Division (quarter) Source+1%
Same-store sales growth, Taco Bell Division (quarter) Source-4%
Restaurant openings, KFC Division (quarter) Source878
Restaurant openings, Taco Bell Division (quarter) Source73
Restaurant count, system-wide Sourcemore than 44,000

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The prior release expected Pizza Hut sales to close in the quarter ended September 30, 2026. The sales completed on August 7 and September 1.
  • Not stated: The prior release set KFC's aspiration for core elements of its strategy to be live across its Top 20 markets by the end of 2027. The current release does not restate it.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.