Led by Robust China Profit Growth of 32%; Raises Full-Year EPS Growth Forecast to 12%, Excluding Special Items
Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today reported Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $0.69, or $0.70 excluding special items, for the third quarter ended September 5, 2009.
THIRD-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• International development continued at a strong pace with 267 new restaurants including 88 new units in mainland China and 165 new units in Yum! Restaurants International (YRI).
• System sales growth of +11% in mainland China and +4% in YRI was offset by a 5% decline in the U.S. resulting in flat worldwide system sales in local currency terms; worldwide system sales declined 4% after foreign currency translation.
• Worldwide restaurant margin improved over 3 percentage points driven by significant gains in both the U.S. and China.
• Worldwide operating profit growth of 15% was driven by China, +32%, and the U.S., +18%. YRI profit declined 13% due to negative foreign currency translation. Worldwide operating profit growth was 19% prior to foreign currency translation.
Foreign currency translation negatively impacted EPS by $0.02 per share.
FULL-YEAR OUTLOOK
The Company raised its full-year 2009 EPS forecast from $2.10 to $2.14 per share or 12% growth prior to special items, driven by stronger-than-expected full year performance in China and a lower-than-expected full year effective tax rate.
David C. Novak, Chairman and CEO, said, 'I'm pleased to report we are raising our full year 2009 EPS growth forecast to 12% based on our strong year-to-date profit performance. Our global portfolio delivered an impressive 15% operating profit growth this quarter, driven by 32% growth in China and 18% growth in our U.S. business. China and Yum! Restaurants International are on track to open over 1,400 international new units this year. We are confident our industry leading international new unit development will continue to be a key factor in our ability to drive future sales and profit growth.
'Our China business generated extraordinary operating profit growth of 32% in the third quarter. We leveraged our high-return, new unit development and increased restaurant margin over two points. We are especially pleased that our China team achieved margins near record levels with high average unit volumes. We are on track to open over 475 new units in mainland China. Importantly, KFC is the only Western QSR brand in the vast majority of the 600 cities in which we have a presence. Our U.S. business achieved strong operating profit growth of 18%. This can be attributed to substantial improvement to restaurant margin and significant G&A savings which offset a 6% same-store-sales decline. There's no question the overall worldwide environment continues to be challenging. However, we are more confident than ever in the consistent earnings power of our global portfolio. We also continue to make major progress developing our significant, new sales layers which will better leverage our assets and drive future growth.
'Looking to 2010, we expect to deliver 10% EPS growth. This would be the ninth consecutive year we meet or exceed our annual target of at least 10% EPS growth. Our fundamental opportunities remain intact. We continue to have the unique ability to generate unparalleled international growth, increase sales in our existing assets and drive significant free cash flow while continuing to be an industry leader in return on invested capital.'
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