Yum! Brands' first quarter 2026 EPS beats estimates, driven by standout 8% same-store sales growth at Taco Bell.

Yum! Brands reported first quarter 2026 revenue of $2.06 billion and EPS of $1.50, beating analyst expectations. The company saw worldwide system sales grow 6% ex-FX, led by strong performance at Taco Bell and continued unit expansion at KFC, which offset weakness at Pizza Hut.

Key Highlights

• Taco Bell delivered standout results with same-store sales growth of 8%, significantly outpacing analyst estimates of 5.2%.
• The KFC division reported resilient performance with 7% unit growth and 6% system sales growth (ex-FX), opening 648 gross new restaurants.
• Pizza Hut's performance remained weak, with flat same-store sales globally and a 4% decline in the U.S., leading to a 16% drop in the division's core operating profit.
• Digital sales mix reached a new record of 63%, with digital system sales approaching $11 billion for the quarter.