Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) stock traded flat after posting mixed quarterly results, with earnings coming in shy of expectations despite higher revenue.
Strength at Taco Bell and KFC supported systemwide growth and unit expansion, while restaurant margins softened year over year.
Quarterly Metrics
The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.73, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.77. Quarterly sales of $2.514 billion outpaced the Street view of $2.451 billion.
Worldwide system sales rose 5% excluding currency impacts and the extra 53rd week comparison. Growth was led by Taco Bell, up 8%, and KFC, up 6%.
Operating profit in the quarter under review was $738 million, higher than $657 …