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Yum China Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Same-store sales grew third straight quarter: Same-store sales rose 3% in the fourth quarter, the third consecutive quarter of growth; full-year same-store sales rose 1%. Source
  • Quarter operating profit up 25%: Operating profit rose 25% to $187 million and core operating profit rose 23%; OP margin was 6.6%, up 80 basis points. Source
  • Delivery share of sales climbed: Delivery sales grew 34% in the quarter and were about 53% of Company sales, up from 42%; full-year delivery sales grew 25%. Source
  • Restaurant margin up 70 basis points: Restaurant margin was 13.0% in the quarter, up 70 basis points; full-year restaurant margin was 16.3%, up 60 basis points. Source
  • 2025 capital return reached $1.5 billion: Full-year 2025 return was $1.5 billion, including $1.14 billion of repurchases and $353 million of dividends; $539 million came in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Dividend raised 21%: The Board declared a 21% increase in the cash dividend, to $0.29 per share from $0.24. Source
  • 2026 store target over 20,000: The company's 2026 target is over 20,000 stores, with more than 1,900 net new stores and a 40-50% franchise share of net new stores. Source

“Our fourth quarter performance capped off 2025 on a high note.”

Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total stores Source2026over 20,000New
Net new stores Source2026more than 1,900New
Franchise mix of net new stores Source202640-50% for KFC and Pizza HutNew
Capital expenditures Source2026approximately $600 million to $700 millionKept
Capital return to shareholders Source2026$1.5 billionKept
Share repurchases Sourcefirst half of 2026approximately US$460 millionNew
Average annual capital return Source2027 and 2028approximately $900 million to over $1 billion; exceed $1 billion in 2028New
Free cash flow returned to shareholders Sourcestarting 2027approximately 100% of annual free cash flow after subsidiaries' dividends to non-controlling interestsNew
Total stores Source2030more than 30,000New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First full-year 2026 targets were issued for store count, net new stores, franchise mix, capital expenditure and capital return. Source
  • Guidance raised: Cash dividend raised 21% to $0.29 per share; the third quarter release had declared $0.24 per share. Source
  • New: Pizza Hut developed a WOW model to enter previously untapped locations, especially lower-tier cities, alongside value-for-money changes. Source
  • New: Strategy is now referred to as RGM 3.0, discussed at Investor Day; the third quarter release called RGM Resilience, Growth and Moat. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Same-store sales grew third straight quarter: Same-store sales rose 3% in the fourth quarter, the third consecutive quarter of growth; full-year same-store sales rose 1%. Source
  • System sales growth accelerated: System sales grew 7% excluding F/X in the quarter, up from 4% in the year-earlier quarter. Source
  • Quarter operating profit up 25%: Operating profit rose 25% to $187 million and core operating profit rose 23%; OP margin was 6.6%, up 80 basis points. Source
  • Full-year operating profit up 11%: Full-year operating profit rose 11% to $1.3 billion, with OP margin of 10.9%, up 60 basis points; core operating profit also rose 11%. Source
  • Mark-to-market moved EPS growth: Full-year diluted EPS rose 8% to $2.51, or 14% excluding mark-to-market and F/X; quarter diluted EPS rose 33% to $0.40. Source

Segments and regions

  • KFC operating profit rose in quarter: KFC operating profit rose 16% to $223 million, with OP margin of 10.5%; full-year KFC operating profit was $1.3 billion, up 8%. Source
  • KFC franchisees opened over a third: KFC opened 1,349 net new stores in 2025, with 37% opened by franchisees; 15% of its 12,997 stores are franchise-operated. Source
  • Pizza Hut quarter profit rose 52%: Pizza Hut operating profit rose 52% to $20 million, a fourth-quarter record; OP margin was 3.7%, up 110 basis points. Source
  • Pizza Hut record store openings: Pizza Hut opened a record 444 net new stores in 2025, 31% by franchisees; its store count reached 4,168 at year-end. Source

“Looking ahead, we are on track to reach over 20,000 stores in 2026 and are targeting more than 30,000 stores by 2030 with an equity-and-franchise hybrid model.”

Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China

Products, customers and delivery

  • Delivery share of sales climbed: Delivery sales grew 34% in the quarter and were about 53% of Company sales, up from 42%; full-year delivery sales grew 25%. Source
  • Membership base passed 590 million: Combined KFC and Pizza Hut membership exceeded 590 million, up 13% year over year, per the release. Source
  • KCOFFEE and KPRO add occasions: The CEO said KFC's KCOFFEE cafe and KPRO side-by-side modules have unlocked new consumption occasions. Source

Traffic and average ticket

  • KFC transactions and sales both rose: KFC same-store sales grew 3% and same-store transactions grew 3% in the fourth quarter; KFC system sales grew 8%. Source
  • KFC ticket flat on delivery mix: KFC average ticket was flat; growth in smaller orders was offset by higher delivery mix, which carries a higher ticket. Source
  • Pizza Hut transactions up 13%: Pizza Hut same-store transactions grew 13%, its 12th consecutive quarter of growth; same-store sales rose 1%. Source
  • Pizza Hut ticket lower on value: Pizza Hut average ticket was 11% lower, which management tied to its mass-market strategy and better value-for-money offerings. Source

“We are also broadening our addressable market through front-end segmentation and back-end consolidation.”

Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China

Costs and restaurant margin

  • Restaurant margin up 70 basis points: Restaurant margin was 13.0% in the quarter, up 70 basis points; full-year restaurant margin was 16.3%, up 60 basis points. Source
  • KFC margin helped by streamlining: KFC restaurant margin rose 70 basis points to 14.0%, mainly on streamlined operations and favorable commodity prices. Source
  • Rider and wage costs weighed: KFC margin gains were partly offset by higher rider cost from the delivery mix and wage inflation in low single digits. Source
  • Pizza Hut delivery and value costs: Pizza Hut restaurant margin rose 60 basis points to 9.9%, partly offset by delivery-mix cost and value-for-money offerings. Source
  • Equity investment marks moved EPS: Mark-to-market was a 6 cent loss in 2025 against an 8 cent gain in 2024, with minimal F/X impact, according to the release footnote. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • 2025 capital return reached $1.5 billion: Full-year 2025 return was $1.5 billion, including $1.14 billion of repurchases and $353 million of dividends; $539 million came in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Share count reduced about 7%: Yum China repurchased 24.7 million shares in 2025, about 7% of shares outstanding at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Dividend raised 21%: The Board declared a 21% increase in the cash dividend, to $0.29 per share from $0.24. Source
  • Repurchase agreements set for first half: The company entered repurchase agreements in the U.S. and Hong Kong covering open-market buybacks for the first half of 2026, including a Rule 10b5-1 program. Source
  • Return policy steps up from 2027: From 2027 the company plans to return about 100% of annual free cash flow, after dividends paid to non-controlling interests. Source

Strategy and store growth

  • 2026 store target over 20,000: The company's 2026 target is over 20,000 stores, with more than 1,900 net new stores and a 40-50% franchise share of net new stores. Source
  • Target of 30,000 stores by 2030: Management is targeting more than 30,000 stores by 2030 using an equity-and-franchise hybrid model. Source
  • Front-end and back-end plan: Management is broadening its addressable market through front-end segmentation and back-end consolidation. Source
  • Record fourth-quarter store openings: The company opened a fourth-quarter record of 587 net new stores, 36% by franchisees; full-year net new stores were 1,706. Source
  • RGM 3.0 focus on efficiency: Management remains committed to RGM 3.0, with a dual focus on innovation and operational efficiency. Source

Management view and recognition

  • CEO sees 2025 close as high note: The CEO said the fourth quarter capped off 2025, with same-store sales growth for three quarters and transaction growth for twelve. Source
  • Top Employer recognition continues: Yum China was named a Top Employer in China for the eighth consecutive year and ranked first in restaurants for the fifth year in a row. Source
  • System sales improved sequentially: The CEO said system sales growth improved sequentially to 7% and operating profit rose 25% year over year in the fourth quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Dividend payable March 25, 2026: The $0.29 per share dividend is payable on March 25, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on March 4, 2026. Source
  • First-half 2026 buyback agreements: Repurchase agreements in the U.S. and Hong Kong run through open-market transactions for the first half of 2026. Source
  • Capital return policy from 2027: Starting in 2027 the company plans to return about 100% of annual free cash flow, after dividends to non-controlling interests. Source
  • Path to 20,000 stores in 2026: The CEO said the company is on track to reach over 20,000 stores in 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales (same-store sales growth), fourth quarter Source3% YoY; full year 1%
Traffic (same-store transactions), fourth quarter Source4% YoY; KFC 3%, Pizza Hut 13%
Average ticket, fourth quarter SourceKFC flat YoY; Pizza Hut 11% lower YoY
Inventories, net Source$438 million at 12/31/2025 vs $405 million at 12/31/2024
Net new stores, fourth quarter Source587 in the quarter; 1,706 full year
Store closures, KFC, full year 2025 Source374
Store closures, Pizza Hut, full year 2025 Source211

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: KFC restaurant margin was partly offset by higher rider cost from the delivery mix and wage inflation in low single digits. Source
  • Operational: Pizza Hut restaurant margin gains were partly offset by higher delivery-mix cost and value-for-money offerings. Source
  • Financial: Mark-to-market losses on equity investments reduced full-year diluted EPS growth; the 2025 impact was a 6 cent loss. Source
  • Demand: Average ticket was lower at Pizza Hut, linked by management to its mass-market strategy and value-for-money offerings. Source
  • External: Reported revenue growth was higher than growth excluding F/X, so currency translation affected reported results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Company states it is on track to return $1.5 billion each year from 2024 to 2026. Source
  • On track: CEO says the company is on track to reach over 20,000 stores in 2026. Source
  • Not stated: The release reports that the company returned $1.5 billion in 2025, against the earlier plan of about $1.5 billion; it does not use a status word. Source
  • Not stated: The release reports 1,706 net new stores in 2025 against the earlier 1,600 to 1,800 target, without a status word. Source

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.