Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE:YUM) reported fourth quarter 2025 earnings that modestly exceeded Wall Street expectations, with shares little changed in early trading.
The fast-food giant posted net revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter, up 6% from a year earlier and above the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion.
Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.61, slightly surpassing the $1.60 consensus forecast.
Yum! Brands highlighted strong performance across its brands. Taco Bell reported same-store sales growth of 7% for both the quarter and full year, while KFC recorded a record number of new store openings, with over 1,100 in the fourth quarter and nearly 3,000 for the full year.
Worldwide system sales grew 5% on a comparable basis, excluding currency effects and the impact of the 53rd week, led by Taco Bell at 8% and KFC at 6%.
The company added 1,814 gross units in the fourth quarter, representing 3% year-over-year unit growth. Digital system sales remained robust, exceeding $11 billion for the quarter and contributing to a digital mix approaching 60%.
For the full year, Yum! Brands reported GAAP EPS of $5.55 and EPS excluding special items of $6.05, a 10% increase from 2024. Full-year revenue totaled $2.36 billion, slightly above the $2.35 billion forecast, while worldwide system sales grew 5% on a comparable basis.
“Yum! delivered another year of outstanding results at KFC and Taco Bell with our fundamentals stronger than ever at both brands,” Yum! Brands CEO Chris Turner said in a statement. “We enter 2026 with a clear strategic focus on accelerating long-term growth, embodied in our multi-year 'Raise the Bar' priorities.”
Shares of Yum! Brands added 0.4% at about $159 following its earnings report.