Pizza Hut to close 250 stores

Group 1 - The upcoming U.S. closures are part of a program called "Hut Forward," which includes marketing initiatives, technology modernization, and franchise agreements, aimed at long-term growth [3] - The closures will focus on underperforming U.S. stores, with approximately 32% of Pizza Hut's 19,872 stores located in the U.S., translating to about 6,360 locations [4] - Closing 250 units represents about 4% of the brand's U.S. system, comparable to Starbucks' recent closure of 400 units [5] Group 2 - Yum is conducting a strategic review of Pizza Hut, which may lead to a sale of the brand, with the review expected to be completed this year [5] - The company has incurred significant costs related to the review process, totaling $36 million in 2025, including $32 million in Q4 [6] - Pizza Hut's global store count decreased from 20,225 at the end of 2024 to 19,974 at the end of 2025, with many closures resulting from the termination of a franchising agreement in Turkey [7] Group 3 - Pizza Hut's U.S. same-store sales declined by 3% in Q4 and by 5% for the entire year, indicating ongoing challenges for the brand [8]