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Yum China Holdings (YUMC)
NYSE:YUMC

Yum China Holdings (YUMC) AI Stock Analysis

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YU

Yum China Holdings

(NYSE:YUMC)

76Outperform
Yum China Holdings demonstrates solid financial performance with strong revenue and profit growth, supported by effective cost management. While technical indicators show some bearish trends, the company's valuation remains reasonable. Positive earnings calls and strategic corporate events further enhance its growth prospects, despite some challenges in store expansions and delivery costs.
Positive Factors
Market Position
Yum China is the largest quick service restaurant player in China, highlighting its dominant market position.
Sales Growth
Recent trends are very constructive with positive same-store sales growth during the Chinese New Year, no negative impact on traffic post price hikes for KFC, and decent traffic after the launch of a new menu at Pizza Hut.
Shareholder Value
A significant return of USD 4.5 billion to shareholders is planned through share repurchases and dividends, indicating strong shareholder value.
Negative Factors
Profit Growth
Higher-than-expected franchised store opening mix and store closures will affect the net profit growth forecast meaningfully.
Store Sales
Expected negative or flat same store sales growth for both KFC and Pizza Hut suggests challenges in maintaining sales momentum.
Valuation
The stock is trading at a 17.5x FY25E P/E, which is not particularly attractive.

Yum China Holdings (YUMC) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Yum China Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionYum China Holdings, Inc. (YUMC) is a leading restaurant company in China, operating popular brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, along with several local Chinese brands. The company focuses on delivering high-quality, innovative, and localized food offerings through its extensive network of restaurants across the country. Yum China is known for its ability to adapt global brand strategies to the local Chinese market, leveraging its deep understanding of consumer preferences and trends.
How the Company Makes MoneyYum China makes money primarily through the operation of its quick-service and casual dining restaurants, with revenue generated from food and beverage sales. The company benefits from a strong brand portfolio, including KFC and Pizza Hut, which are market leaders in their respective categories in China. Key revenue streams include dine-in, delivery, and digital sales, supported by a robust loyalty program and advanced digital infrastructure. Strategic partnerships with local suppliers and technology companies enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement, contributing to Yum China's financial performance. The company's earnings are also influenced by its ability to innovate menu offerings, optimize its supply chain, and expand its restaurant footprint across diverse regions in China.

Yum China Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Yum China Holdings exhibits robust financial health with consistent revenue growth of 18.2% and solid profit margins. Efficient cost management and strong cash flow generation further support its financial stability, though a slight decrease in total assets warrants attention.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Yum China Holdings shows solid financial performance with a consistent upward trajectory in revenue, reflected in a revenue growth rate of 18.2% from 2022 to 2023. The company has maintained stable profitability, evidenced by a TTM gross profit margin of 38.2% and a net profit margin of 8.1%. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also strong at 10.8% and 14.0% respectively, indicating efficient operations and cost management.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet of Yum China Holdings demonstrates solid financial stability with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, suggesting a moderate level of leverage. The equity ratio stands at 52.6%, reflecting a healthy proportion of equity financing. Return on equity is at 15.8%, indicating effective use of equity to generate profits. However, a decrease in total assets from previous years may need attention.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Yum China Holdings exhibits strong cash flow generation with an impressive free cash flow growth rate of 28.3% in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 1.57, suggesting strong cash generation from operational activities. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.00 further indicates efficient cash management.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
11.30B10.98B9.57B9.85B8.26B
Gross Profit
1.89B1.88B1.33B1.36B1.27B
EBIT
1.16B1.11B833.00M842.00M788.00M
EBITDA
1.81B1.59B1.72B2.29B1.86B
Net Income Common Stockholders
911.00M827.00M442.00M990.00M784.00M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
1.84B2.60B3.15B4.00B4.26B
Total Assets
11.12B12.03B11.83B13.22B10.88B
Total Debt
2.41B2.54B2.40B2.83B2.39B
Net Debt
1.69B1.41B1.27B1.70B1.23B
Total Liabilities
4.69B4.91B4.67B5.30B4.40B
Stockholders Equity
5.73B6.41B6.48B7.06B6.21B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
714.00M763.00M734.00M442.00M695.00M
Operating Cash Flow
1.42B1.47B1.41B1.13B1.11B
Investing Cash Flow
-178.00M-743.00M-504.00M-818.00M-3.11B
Financing Cash Flow
-1.64B-716.00M-862.00M-350.00M2.06B

Yum China Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price44.04
Price Trends
50DMA
48.34
Negative
100DMA
47.57
Negative
200DMA
43.54
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.19
Negative
RSI
42.80
Neutral
STOCH
30.74
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For YUMC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 44.04 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 44.85, below the 50-day MA of 48.34, and above the 200-day MA of 43.54, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -1.19 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 42.80 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 30.74 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for YUMC.

Yum China Holdings Risk Analysis

Yum China Holdings disclosed 79 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Yum China Holdings reported the most risks in the “Legal & Regulatory” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Yum China Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$16.51B18.4715.73%1.63%2.79%19.36%
CMCMG
76
Outperform
$69.47B45.3045.57%12.57%21.42%
MCMCD
76
Outperform
$223.07B27.39-216.57%2.21%-0.22%
YUYUM
68
Neutral
$40.38B27.81-19.43%1.82%10.09%-11.50%
64
Neutral
$97.04B27.61-47.07%2.79%-0.50%-24.28%
61
Neutral
$6.65B11.713.09%3.98%2.65%-20.82%
60
Neutral
$1.17B14.06-20.16%5.16%-3.57%2.31%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
YUMC
Yum China Holdings
44.04
7.00
18.90%
CMG
Chipotle
51.56
-12.42
-19.41%
MCD
McDonald's
311.96
49.05
18.66%
PZZA
Papa John's International
35.69
-20.29
-36.25%
SBUX
Starbucks
84.69
13.60
19.13%
YUM
Yum! Brands
149.14
15.58
11.67%

Yum China Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 30, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -5.66%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong financial performance with record revenue, significant same-store sales growth, and successful expansion in new ventures such as KCOFFEE. Despite challenges like higher delivery costs and the impact of smaller store openings on overall sales growth, the company remains optimistic with strategic plans for continued expansion and shareholder returns.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Quarterly Performance
Achieved first-quarter record highs in revenue, net income, and diluted EPS. Operating profit grew by 8% and diluted EPS increased by 10% year-over-year.
KFC and Pizza Hut Same-Store Sales Growth
Same-store sales index was 100% of prior year level for both KFC and Pizza Hut, marking a significant improvement.
Expansion and Growth in KCOFFEE
Opened 300 KCOFFEE cafes, reaching a total of 1,000 locations with plans to expand to 1,500 by the end of 2025. KCOFFEE saw around a 20% increase in both cups and sales year-over-year.
Successful Product Innovations
Introduced a spicy flavor of original recipe chicken at KFC, boosting sales mix by 50% during the promotion period. Pizza Hut's new menu enhanced its value-for-money proposition, significantly boosting consumer traffic.
Strong Shareholder Returns
On track to return $3 billion to shareholders in 2025 through 2026, with $262 million returned in Q1 2025.
Negative Updates
Impact of Smaller Store Openings
Opening more smaller stores in lower-tier cities led to a net new unit contribution of only 4% to sales growth, despite an 11% increase in store count.
Delivery Costs Pressure
Cost of labor increased by 30 basis points year-over-year due to higher rider costs from increased delivery volume.
Temporary Store Closures
Slightly more temporary closures during the Chinese New Year holiday impacted sales growth.
Company Guidance
During Yum China's first quarter 2025 earnings call, significant guidance metrics were highlighted, demonstrating the company's robust performance and strategic direction. The company achieved record highs in revenue, net income, and diluted EPS, with same-store sales index reaching 100% of the prior year level for KFC and Pizza Hut. Restaurant margins expanded by 100 basis points year-over-year, contributing to an 8% increase in operating profit and a 10% rise in diluted EPS. KFC's system sales grew by 3%, with restaurant margins at 19.8%, while Pizza Hut's operating profit surged by 29%, driven by a 2% increase in system sales and a 17% growth in same-store transactions. Yum China opened 300 KCOFFEE cafes, aiming for 1,500 locations by the end of 2025. The company maintained its full-year guidance of mid-single-digit system sales growth, with plans to open 1,600 to 1,800 net-new stores and a strategic focus on innovation and operational efficiency to navigate the evolving market landscape.

Yum China Holdings Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Yum China Releases 2024 Annual Financial Report
Neutral
Apr 7, 2025

On April 7, 2025, Yum China Holdings, Inc. released its annual report for the year ending December 31, 2024, in accordance with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s listing rules. This report provides insights into the company’s financial performance and strategic positioning, impacting stakeholders by offering a comprehensive overview of its operations and market strategy.

Spark’s Take on YUMC Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, (YUMC) is a Outperform.

Yum China Holdings exhibits strong financial health and positive earnings momentum, driven by consistent revenue growth and strategic expansion. The technical analysis supports an optimistic outlook with upward trends, although the valuation suggests moderate growth expectations. The favorable earnings call reinforces confidence in the company’s strategic direction, despite some challenges in pricing and labor costs.

To see Spark’s full report on (YUMC) stock, click here.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Yum China Holdings Appoints Adrian Ding as CFO
Positive
Mar 10, 2025

On March 6, 2025, Yum China Holdings appointed Adrian Ding as Chief Financial Officer, following his role as Acting CFO since October 2024. With a background in corporate finance and strategic investments, Ding has been instrumental in driving Yum China’s growth and market engagement. His appointment is expected to further strengthen the company’s financial strategies and support its RGM 2.0 strategy, enhancing its industry positioning and growth momentum.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.