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Yum China Holdings Inc (YUMC) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Highs in Revenue and Net ...

In This Article:

  • Revenue: Record high for Q1 2025.

  • Net Income: Record high for Q1 2025, $292 million, up 3% year over year.

  • Diluted EPS: Increased by 10% year over year to $0.77.

  • Same-Store Sales Index: Reached 100% of prior year level for both KFC and Pizza Hut.

  • Restaurant Margin: Improved by 100 basis points year over year to 18.6%.

  • Operating Profit: Grew by 8% year over year to $399 million.

  • KFC System Sales: Increased by 3% year over year.

  • KFC Restaurant Margin: Expanded to 19.8%.

  • KFC Store Count: Added 295 net new stores, totaling 11,943 stores.

  • Pizza Hut System Sales: Increased by 2% year over year.

  • Pizza Hut Same-Store Transactions: Grew by 17% year over year.

  • Pizza Hut Store Count: Expanded to 3,769 stores with a net addition of 45 stores.

  • Cash Position: Ended the quarter with $2.8 billion in cash.

  • Shareholder Returns: Returned $262 million in Q1 through share repurchases and dividends.

  • New Store Openings: Opened 247 new stores in Q1, with a full-year target of 1,600 to 1,800 net new stores.

Release Date: April 30, 2025

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 record highs in revenue, net income, and diluted EPS for the first quarter of 2025.

  • Same-store sales index reached 100% of the prior year level for both KFC and Pizza Hut, marking nine consecutive quarters of same-store transaction growth.

  • Restaurant margins improved by 100 basis points year over year, with operating profit growing by 8% and diluted EPS increasing by 10%.

  • KFC system sales grew by 3%, and the restaurant margin expanded to 19.8%, with 300 new KCOFFEE cafes opened, reaching a total of 1,000 locations nationwide.

  • Pizza Hut achieved a 29% year-over-year growth in operating profit, with significant improvements in same-store sales index and margins, driven by a new menu and value-for-money proposition.

Negative Points

  • The average ticket for KFC in Q1 was RMB40, lower than the prior year period, indicating potential pricing pressure.

  • Despite improvements, the cost of labor increased by 30 basis points year-over-year due to higher labor costs as a percentage of sales.

  • The effective tax rate increased by 90 basis points year over year to 27.8%, impacting net income growth.

  • There were more temporary store closures during the Chinese New Year, affecting sales growth in Q1.

  • The company faces ongoing pressure from increased delivery costs due to rapid delivery growth, impacting overall rider costs.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you provide an update on the competition and demand trends post-Chinese New Year, especially with JD's push on delivery? A: Joey Wat, CEO: Our April performance aligns with expectations, and we haven't seen significant negative impacts. We remain vigilant and monitor trends closely. Despite a challenging macro environment, we've consistently thrived in various market conditions. We continue to work with all platforms, balancing short-term and long-term considerations. Over 70% of our sales occur outside delivery aggregators, maintaining strong control over our business.