Quick Read McDonald’s (MCD) and Yum Brands (YUM) face double-digit traffic declines from lower-income U.S. consumers in Q3. KFC dominates India with 600+ locations and unified franchise structure. McDonald’s operates 500 stores split between two partners. Yum’s Taco Bell U.S. same-store sales grew 7% in Q3. McDonald’s U.S. comparable sales rose just 2.4%. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here ...

Core Insights - Pizza Hut has been underperforming compared to competitors like Papa Johns and Domino's, which have experienced positive same-store sales growth in the U.S. over the past two years [3] - Yum Brands is conducting a strategic review of Pizza Hut, which may lead to actions aimed at enhancing the brand's value, potentially outside of Yum [3][7] - Despite challenges, Yum believes Pizza Hut has the potential to regain market leadership due to the pizza segment's fragmentation and the brand's strong equity and scale [4] Financial Performance - Pizza Hut has faced seven consecutive quarters of same-store sales declines in the U.S., including a 6% drop in Q3 2025 [7] - The chain's U.S. sales account for 42% of its total revenue, making it more vulnerable to market issues compared to KFC, which derives only 14% of its sales from the U.S. [6] - While Pizza Hut experienced a 2% increase in international same-store sales, this was not enough to offset the decline in U.S. sales [6] Store Distribution - Pizza Hut operates a total of 19,872 global units, with approximately 68% located internationally, leaving about 6,350 locations in the U.S. [5] - The majority of Pizza Hut's store system being outside the U.S. does not fully shield it from domestic market challenges [5]