Yum Brands Stock Price, News & Analysis

Yum! Brands, Inc. has partnered with the University of Louisville to launch the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence, the first public university franchise education program. This initiative aims to support franchisees with extensive online education about franchising across various sectors. Focused on promoting equity, the Center will help underrepresented groups, particularly women and people of color, gain access to opportunities in franchise ownership. This program is part of Yum!'s $100 million commitment to its Unlocking Opportunity Initiative.

Pizza Hut announces a nostalgic return of the BOOK IT! program with Camp BOOK IT!, a summer reading initiative for kids aged 4-12. This program runs from June to August, rewarding participants with a free Personal Pan Pizza for meeting reading goals. Additionally, Pizza Hut unveils the $10 Tastemaker pizza, allowing customers to customize their order with various toppings. The campaign highlights Pizza Hut's commitment to literacy and community engagement, with the launch of themed merchandise like vintage-inspired t-shirts.

Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) is hosting a virtual KFC Investor Day on May 25, 2021. The event will showcase the KFC division, which has over 25,000 restaurants across 145 countries. Attendees will meet the diverse leaders driving this global business. The live webcast can be viewed on the Yum! Brands website at investors.yum.com. Yum! Brands operates over 50,000 restaurants and has been recognized for its commitment to gender equality and sustainability.

Yum! Brands has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, to be distributed on June 11, 2021, to shareholders recorded by May 28, 2021. Furthermore, the Board approved a new share repurchase program allowing up to $2 billion in repurchases from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. This follows an unutilized prior authorization ending on June 30, 2021 due to suspended repurchases in 2020 amid COVID-19 uncertainties. Yum! Brands operates over 50,000 restaurants worldwide across leading food categories.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) reported a strong Q1, highlighting a 14% growth and 11% same-store sales growth over two years. In response to increasing demand, KFC is seeking to hire 20,000 permanent positions across the U.S. The roles available include various levels, emphasizing opportunities in management and customer service. The company underscores that more than 75% of its general managers started as team members. Additionally, KFC offers employee benefits through the KFC Foundation, including education grants and training programs.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) reported a strong Q1 2021, with worldwide system sales rising 11% and same-store sales up 9%. GAAP EPS rose to $1.07, a 67% increase year-over-year. All divisions saw sales growth, with KFC and Taco Bell both reporting 11% increases. The company opened 435 new units, reflecting solid demand and development. CEO David Gibbs highlighted advancements in digital and marketing capabilities through strategic acquisitions. However, challenges remain due to the ongoing COVID-19 impact in various regions.

Pizza Hut has launched The Hut Lane™, a dedicated digital order pick-up window, at over 1,500 locations as part of its adaptation to evolving customer preferences during the pandemic. This initiative allows customers to conveniently place digital orders and pick them up without leaving their vehicles. The Hut Lane is part of Pizza Hut's long-term strategy to modernize customer experiences, emphasizing safety and speed. Franchise owner Flynn Restaurant Group plans to prioritize this feature in many of its stores, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is donating one million pieces of chicken to support seniors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with Meals on Wheels America. This initiative, running through May, will provide boneless chicken breast filets to help combat food insecurity among homebound seniors. KFC franchisees will contribute additional cases of chicken to local programs. Additionally, KFC is honoring volunteers with 11,000 gift cards. This marks KFC's third significant donation since the pandemic began, following previous donations to frontline workers and educators.