-- Yum Brands (YUM) reported first-quarter results above Wall Street's estimates on Wednesday, buoyed by comparable sales growth at KFC and Taco Bell.
The fast-food restaurant operator's adjusted earnings rose to $1.50 a share for the March quarter from $1.30 the year before, ahead of the FactSet-polled consensus of $1.38. Overall revenue climbed 15% to $2.06 billion, surpassing the Street's view for $2.04 billion.
The stock was up 1.6% in the most recent premarket activity.
Worldwide same-store sales grew 3%, exceeding the average analyst estimate for growth of 2.6%. Same-store sales inclined 2% and 8% at KFC and Taco Bell, respectively, while Pizza Hut was even. Habit Burger & Grill comparable sales increased 5%.
"Taco Bell delivered an outstanding 8% same-store sales growth, meaningfully ahead of the QSR industry, building off a very strong (first-quarter) same-store sales growth rate in 2025," Chief Executive Chris Turner said in a statement. "KFC delivered impressive unit growth and resilient same-store growth, with many KFC markets growing system sales double-digits."
US same-store sales declined 4% at Pizza Hut, while Taco Bell gained 8%.
The company opened 1,030 gross new units, representing a 5% annual increase, including 648 KFC locations and 346 Pizza Hut branches.
Domino's Pizza (DPZ) reported weaker-than-expected first-quarter results earlier in the week, with CEO Russell Weiner saying consumer uncertainty and inflation weighed on demand late in the period.