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Compared to Estimates, Yum China (YUMC) Q3 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

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For the quarter ended September 2026, Yum China Holdings (YUMC - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.48 billion, up 8.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.91, compared to $0.76 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -1.14% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.52 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.91, the company has not delivered EPS surprise.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Yum China performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • No of Restaurants - Pizza Hut: 4,740 versus 4,685 estimated by three analysts on average.
  • No of Restaurants - KFC: 14,307 compared to the 14,184 average estimate based on three analysts.
  • Same-store sales - Pizza Hut: -3% compared to the 1.7% average estimate based on three analysts.
  • Same-store sales - KFC: -3% compared to the 1% average estimate based on three analysts.
  • Revenues- Franchise fees and income: $32 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $34.38 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +14.3%.
  • Revenues- Company sales: $3.21 billion compared to the $3.28 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.2% year over year.
  • Revenues- Revenues from transactions with franchisees: $183 million versus $160.5 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +30.7% change.
  • Revenues- Other revenues: $48 million versus $43.01 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +20% change.
  • Revenue- All Other Segments: $307 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $254.34 million.
  • Revenues- KFC: $2.6 billion versus $2.61 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +8% change.
  • Revenues- KFC- Franchise fees and income: $26 million compared to the $24.51 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +18.2% year over year.
  • Revenues- KFC- Revenues from transactions with franchisees: $23 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $20.68 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +27.8%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Yum China here>>>

Shares of Yum China have returned +17% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

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