YUMC

Wondering how to pick strong, market-beating stocks for your investment portfolio? Look no further than the Zacks Style Scores.

Yum China (YUMC) is rated Neutral, as growth is driven by aggressive store expansion rather than organic same-store sales momentum. SSSg declined across both KFC and Pizza Hut, with average ticket sizes falling 5–8%, reflecting persistent macro headwinds and cautious Chinese consumer spending. YUMC's total shareholder yield is attractive at 9.2%, combining a 2.4% dividend and a $1.5bn buyback, appealing more to yield investors than growth-focused ones.

I present 10 high-quality dividend growth stocks with strong total return potential, screened for robust fundamentals and attractive valuations as of November 2026. Key criteria include Investment Score ≥70, future return potential ≥12%, consistent 7%+ dividend growth, and payout ratios below 100%. Top picks such as RMD, NTES, and NVDA offer compelling upside, with future return estimates driven by EPS growth, yield, and potential valuation mean reversion.

Yum China NYSE: YUMC reported third-quarter 2026 revenue growth of 8% in reporting currency, while operating profit rose 13% and diluted earnings per share increased 20%, CEO Joey Wat said during the company's earnings call. Excluding foreign-exchange effects, system sales grew 3%, core operating profit increased 6%, and the company recorded its 10th consecutive quarter of growth in system sales, operating profit and operating-profit margin.

Yum China Holdings, Inc. (YUMC) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Although the revenue and EPS for Yum China (YUMC) give a sense of how its business performed in the quarter ended September 2026, it might be worth considering how some key metrics compare with Wall Street estimates and the year-ago numbers.

Yum China Holdings (YUMC) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.91 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $0.76 per share a year ago.

SHANGHAI, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987) announced today the appointment of Mr. Alexander Dimitrief to the Board of Directors, effective November 4, 2026.

Grew Revenue 8%, Operating Profit 13% and Diluted EPS 20%15th Consecutive Quarter of Same-Store Transaction Growth; Year-over-Year Expansion in Both Restaurant and OP MarginsAchieved Record Net New Store Openings in the First Nine Months, Raising 2026 Full-Year Target to Over 2,400On Track to Return $1.5 Billion to Shareholders in 2026, ~10% of Current Market Capitalization SHANGHAI, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987) today reported unaudited results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026. Third Quarter Highlights Total system sales grew 3% year over year ("YoY"), excluding foreign currency translation ("F/X").

Investors with an interest in Retail - Restaurants stocks have likely encountered both Yum China Holdings (YUMC) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors?