Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) is one of the best restaurant stocks to buy now. Cautiously Optimistic Analyst Sentiment on Yum! Brands (YUM) Amid Leadership Changes withGod / Shutterstock.com As of January 6, 2026, roughly 41% of analysts are positive on Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) with a median price target of $164.00. The median price target translates into an upside potential of 9.10%. The cautiously optimistic analyst sentiment surrounds the stock amid expectations that strategic actions under the co ...

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) is one of the 13 Best Fast Food Stocks to Buy. On December 9, Stifel reiterated its Hold rating on Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) with a price target of $160. This update comes as the company is looking at strategic options for its Pizza Hut business. Stifel’s analysis suggested that divesting Pizza Hut could boost the company’s overall growth outlook. However, it might lead to lower absolute earnings, which could cancel out any possible valuation gains. The research firm pointe ...

Core Insights - Yum! Brands, Inc. has a market capitalization of $41.1 billion and operates globally with brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill, serving diverse food categories in over 150 countries [1] Financial Performance - Analysts predict Yum! Brands will report an adjusted EPS of $1.46 for Q3 2025, reflecting a 6.6% increase from $1.37 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the adjusted EPS is forecasted to be $6, a 9.5% rise from $5.48 in fiscal 2024, with further growth anticipated to $6.57 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Yum! Brands' shares have increased by 10.3% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 14.8% return and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's 18.4% increase [4] Recent Developments - The company's shares fell by 5.1% on August 5 after reporting Q2 2025 adjusted EPS of $1.44, which missed analyst estimates due to rising ingredient costs, higher advertising spending, and a 13% increase in total expenses, while same-store sales grew only 2%, below the forecast of 2.37% [5] Analyst Sentiment - The consensus view on Yum! Brands stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating from 29 analysts, including nine recommending "Strong Buy" and 20 indicating "Hold." The average price target is $160.08, suggesting an 8% potential upside from current levels [6]

Company Overview - Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM) has a market capitalization of $40.5 billion and operates globally through its well-known brands: KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill, with a presence in over 150 countries and territories primarily through franchise and license agreements [1][2] Stock Performance - Yum! Brands' shares have decreased by 10.6% from their 52-week high of $163.30, while the stock has risen 1.5% over the past three months, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 8.2% in the same period [3] - Year-to-date, YUM stock is up 8.8%, lagging behind the S&P 500's 11.1% increase, and has increased by 9.9% over the past 52 weeks compared to the S&P 500's 18.9% return [4] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Yum! Brands reported an adjusted EPS of $1.44, which missed analyst estimates, leading to a 5.1% drop in shares on August 5. Rising ingredient costs, increased advertising spending, and a 13% rise in total expenses pressured margins, while worldwide same-store sales grew only 2%, below the forecast of 2.37% [5] - Taco Bell, which accounts for 38% of revenue, experienced a slowdown in U.S. same-store sales growth to 4% [5] Analyst Sentiment - Despite underperforming relative to the S&P 500, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook on Yum! Brands, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 28 analysts and a mean price target of $159.78, indicating a potential upside of 9.4% from current levels [6]