Yum China Holdings, Inc. has reported its unaudited results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025. The highlights include a 3% increase in same-store sales for the fourth quarter, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth, and a 7% increase in system sales.
For the full year, operating profit rose by 11%, reaching $1.3 billion, with core operating profit also increasing by 11% year-over-year. Additionally, the company's diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 8%, or 14% when excluding the impact of mark-to-market equity investments.
Looking specifically at KFC, the company reported an 8% year-over-year increase in system sales for the full year, with same-store sales growing by 1%. The operating profit for KFC increased by 8% year-over-year, reaching $1.3 billion for the full year.
For Pizza Hut, the full-year system sales grew by 4% year-over-year, with same-store sales increasing by 1%. The operating profit for Pizza Hut increased by 19% year-over-year, reaching $183 million.
Furthermore, the company has declared a 21% increase in the cash dividend and plans to return $1.5 billion in capital to shareholders in 2026. It has also been named a top employer in China by the Top Employers Institute for the eighth consecutive year.
CEO Joey Wat expressed satisfaction with the company's performance in the fourth quarter, highlighting the growth in same-store sales and transactions. Looking ahead, the company aims to reach over 20,000 stores in 2026 and is targeting more than 30,000 stores by 2030 with an equity-and-franchise hybrid model.
Yum China's management will hold an earnings conference call on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, to discuss these results further. A live webcast of the call will be available, and a replay will be accessible afterward.
Following these announcements, the company's shares moved -1.33%, and are now trading at a price of $47.55. For more information, read the company's full 8-K submission here.
