Yum China posts Q3 earnings beat, revenue miss and raises full‑year store target

Yum China reported third‑quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $0.91 per share, topping the $0.88 consensus, while revenue rose 8% to $3.48 billion, falling short of the $3.50 billion forecast. Same‑store sales declined 3% year‑over‑year, but the company opened a record 692 net new restaurants, bringing the total to 19,989 locations, and lifted its full‑year net‑new store target to over 2,400. CEO Joey Wat highlighted continued margin expansion and a plan to return $1.5 billion to shareholders in 2026.

The earnings beat and margin expansion support the company’s plan to return $1.5 billion to shareholders this year. However, the revenue miss and same‑store sales decline pressured the stock, which fell about 4% in pre‑market trading.

  • 1Adjusted earnings per share were $0.91, beating the $0.88 consensus.
  • 2Revenue increased 8% to $3.48 billion, missing the $3.50 billion analyst forecast.
  • 3Operating profit rose 13% year‑over‑year to $451 million.
  • 4Operating margin expanded to 13.0%, a 50‑basis‑point increase.
  • 5The company opened 692 net new stores, a quarterly record, bringing total locations to 19,989.
  • 6Full‑year net‑new store target raised to over 2,400 for 2026.

Sources