• System Sales Growth: 4% year-over-year.
• Same-Store Sales Index: Improved to 97% of prior year's level.
• Delivery Sales Growth: 18% year-over-year.
• Core Operating Profit Growth: 18% year-over-year.
• Diluted EPS Growth: 32% year-over-year.
• Restaurant Margin Improvement: 50 basis points year-over-year.
• Core Operating Profit Margin Expansion: 140 basis points year-over-year.
• Revenue for First Nine Months: $8.7 billion.
• Operating Profit for First Nine Months: Over $1 billion.
• Net New Stores Year-to-Date: 1,200.
• Capital Returned to Shareholders Year-to-Date: Over $1.2 billion.
• KFC System Sales Growth: 6% year-over-year.
• Pizza Hut System Sales Growth: 2% year-over-year.
• Net Income Growth: 21% year-over-year.
• Cash Position: $3.1 billion as of the end of the quarter.
• Planned Capital Return Increase: $4.5 billion from 2024 to 2026.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Signs with YUMC.

Release Date: November 04, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Yum China Holdings Inc (NYSE:YUMC) achieved strong Q3 2024 results with a 4% year-over-year system sales growth and an 18% increase in core operating profit.
• The company expanded its restaurant and operating profit margins year-over-year, with core OP margin rising by 140 basis points.
• Yum China's innovative business models, such as KCOFFEE Cafe and Pizza Hut WOW, are gaining momentum and capturing new customer demand.
• The company opened 1,200 net new stores in the first nine months of 2024 and returned over $1.2 billion to shareholders.
• Yum China plans to increase its capital returns to shareholders by 50% to $4.5 billion from 2024 to 2026, demonstrating confidence in its cash-generating capabilities.

Negative Points

• Despite strong results, Yum China Holdings Inc (NYSE:YUMC) faces a challenging consumer environment with cautious spending post-holidays.
• Pizza Hut's same-store sales were at 94% of prior year levels, indicating a need for continued strategic adjustments to drive growth.
• The company acknowledges ongoing top-line pressure in Q4 2024, with no significant changes in consumer sentiment or macroeconomic conditions.
• Yum China is still in the early stages of refining its Pizza Hut WOW model, which requires further operational efficiency improvements.
• The company's increased focus on franchising may lead to lower capital expenditures but could also impact short-term return on invested capital.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you elaborate on the importance of system sales versus same-store sales, and how you plan to drive margin resilience through transaction volume? A: Joey Wat, CEO: Both system sales and same-store sales are crucial for our strategy. We focus on transaction growth as a key driver, supported by our dual focus on operational efficiency and innovation. This includes projects like Fresh Eye and Red Eye, which improve margins and allow reinvestment in innovations like KCOFFEE and Pizza Hut WOW. Our strategy also involves opening new stores and accelerating franchise development to manage capital returns effectively.

Q: What is your pricing strategy for KFC and Pizza Hut in the near term, considering the competitive landscape? A: Joey Wat, CEO: For KFC, we aim for stable pricing, slightly lower than the previous quarter but higher than 2019 levels. Pizza Hut's strategy is to lower pricing to enhance mass market appeal, which has been effective since 2017. We continue to focus on making Pizza Hut more accessible while maintaining KFC's pricing stability.

Q: With the increased focus on franchising, how will this impact CapEx and future growth? A: Adrian Ding, Acting CFO: We are ready to accelerate franchising due to improved store models and franchisee quality. This will gradually increase the franchise mix for KFC to 40-50% and Pizza Hut to 20-30% over the next few years. This strategy will lower CapEx and enhance ROIC over the long term, although the near-term impact will be minimal.

Q: How do you balance cost control with maintaining product quality and safety, especially in light of recent food safety cases overseas? A: Joey Wat, CEO: Food safety is our top priority, and we have a comprehensive quality assurance system in place. We invest in digital supply chain technologies for visibility and have over 300 QA employees across China. Our focus is on maintaining high standards without compromising on cost control.

Q: Can you provide insights into the performance and potential of KCOFFEE and its impact on existing KFC stores? A: Joey Wat, CEO: KCOFFEE has shown a single-digit sales uplift and incremental profit for KFC stores. We've opened 500 KCOFFEE cafes, with plans to exceed 600 by year-end. The cross-sell from KFC to KCOFFEE is promising, and we see significant growth potential as many of our members have yet to try KCOFFEE.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.