Report
Valens Research

YUM - Embedded Expectations Analysis - 2020 01 09

Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM:USA) currently trades near recent averages relative to UAFRS-based (Uniform) Earnings, with a 25.1x Uniform P/E. At these levels, markets have bullish expectations for the firm, but management has concerns about Taco Bell International development, franchisee transitions, and KFC unit and sales growth
Specifically, management may be concerned about the pace of their Taco Bell International development, and they may lack confidence in their ability to transition stores to more committed and capable franchisees. Moreover, they may be exaggerating the quality of their technology teams, the potential of their Grubhub and QuikOrder transactions, and their ability to sustain KFC new unit and same-store sales growth, particularly in Eastern Europe. Lastly, they may be concerned about their plant-based meat alternative test launches and about their ability to improve communication for their Recipe for Good initiative
Underlying
Yum! Brands Inc.

Yum! Brands franchises or operates a system of quick service restaurants through its KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands. The company's operating segments consist of the KFC Division, the Pizza Hut Division and the Taco Bell Division. KFC restaurants provides fried and non-fried chicken products such as sandwiches, chicken strips, chicken-on-the-bone and other chicken products marketed under a variety of names. Pizza Hut is engaged in the sale of ready-to-eat pizza products. Pizza Hut operates in the delivery, carryout and casual dining segments. Taco Bell is engaged in Mexican-style food products, including various types of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salads, nachos and other related items.

Provider
Valens Research
Valens Research

In 2009, just as the dust was settling from the last major equity and credit market crises, we launched a boutique research firm with the intention of breaking Wall Street’s biases and broken incentives:

  • GAAP and IFRS have failed to provide rules for reliable financial statement reporting
  • Stock analyst recommendations are not grounded in disciplined financial analysis
  • Credit agencies have been set up to grossly fail in their responsibilities to investors and the public markets
  • Utter lack of willingness of major research firms to employ the the most advanced forensic analysis available

We sought to provide investors and company analysts with a source of information that changed all that.
Many years later, our business model remains because little has changed on Wall Street.

  • Corporate credit ratings remain years behind the fundamental underpinnings of company performance
  • Stock analysts continue to make recommendations with deeply inherent biases
  • Research firms have failed to break down the walls between credit, equity, and macroeconomic research
  • The governing accounting bodies have created more leeway for mis-estimates and mis-classifications as financials have become unwieldy and overwhelming

The integrity of Valens Research is founded in our disciplined processes and analytics. No “star” analysts. No corporate advisory relationships. No-nonsense opinions and recommendations.

Analysts
Valens Research

Other Reports on these Companies
Other Reports from Valens Research

ResearchPool Subscriptions

Get the most out of your insights

Get in touch