Yum China (YUMC) Misses Q2 EPS by 2c

Yum China (NYSE: YUMC) reported Q2 EPS of $0.42, $0.02 worse than the analyst estimate of $0.44. Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.45 billion versus the consensus estimate of $2.45 billion.

CEO and CFO Comments

Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China, commented, "We delivered another quarter of solid performance. Pizza Hut achieved stellar performance and is expected to become another growth engine. KFC remained resilient and drove robust system sales and operating profit growth. Yum China continues to accelerate store network expansion. In less than one year, we increased total store count from 10,000 to over 11,000 stores. With 719 gross new stores opened in the first half, we now expect to open around 1,300 new stores in 2021. In addition to unit growth, we are focused on driving consumers back to the stores with our great food and compelling value offers. We are also capturing off-premise demand with our hybrid delivery model and increasing network density. Leveraging our vast membership base and digital platform, we are more nimble than ever."

Wat continued, "Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we are well-positioned to capture the market opportunities in China. Consumers love the delicious food and value-for-money that KFC and Pizza Hut offer. COFFii & JOY and Lavazza are also making good progress. Our digital platform and operational excellence help to enhance customer experience. We are committed and confident in achieving sustainable growth for many years to come."

Andy Yeung, CFO of Yum China, added, "We achieved solid system sales and operating profit growth, both comparing to the prior year and to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, even though the recovery trajectory in the quarter was disrupted by the Delta variant outbreak in southern China. On a two-year basis, Pizza Hut\'s system sales growth returned to positive and KFC's system sales grew an impressive 7% led by rapid new store openings. Our strong operating profit growth reflected operational excellence and continued improvement in operating efficiency."

Yeung continued, "With the lingering effects of the pandemic, we continue to expect full recovery of same-store sales to pre-pandemic 2019 levels to take time, with a recovery path that is nonlinear and uneven. We plan to invest more in marketing, value proposition and customer service to drive traffic. In addition, rising commodity prices will become a headwind and likely turn into inflationary pressure in the later part of this year. Recent wage increases will also put more pressure on the margins for the balance of the year. Nevertheless, we are committed to driving long-term returns for our shareholders. After careful deliberations that balanced the COVID-19 risks and our strong liquidity position, the Board of Directors has approved the resumption of share repurchases."

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Yum China (YUMC) click here.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Growth isn't weak enough to truly undercut inflation pressures - BMO
• American International Group (AIG) PT Raised to $89 at Piper Sandler
• Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) Tops Q1 EPS by 2c