- Following its FQ3 miss, NYSE:YUM expects FY15 (ends in early December) EPS growth to be in the low-single digits, below prior guidance of "at least" 10%. Consensus is for EPS to rise 14% to $3.51.
- "[T]he pace of recovery in our China Division is below our expectations," says CEO Greg Creed. Pizza Hut Casual Dining was particularly weak. Yum now expects low-single digit negative FY15 Chinese same-store sales growth, with mid-single digit positive FQ4 growth.
- China division sales rose 8% Y/Y in FQ3 (year-ago sales were weak on account of the OSI scandal), with units rising 7% and same-store sales 2%. Division restaurant margin rose 470 bps to 19.6%, and op. profit 62% to $327M. A new China chief was appointed in August.
- India was also soft: System sales fell 9% as an 18% drop in same-store sales offset 10% unit growth. The India division had an $8M op. loss vs. $3M a year ago.
- Globally, system sales rose 6%, and restaurant margin 330 bps to 18.2%. KFC Division sales +6% (3% same-store growth); Pizza Hut +2% (1% same-store growth); Taco Bell +7% (4% same-store growth).
- Company sales rose 3% to $3B; franchise and license fee revenue fell 1% to $459M. Total costs/expenses fell 1% to $2.8B. $370M has been spent year-to-date in FY15 to repurchase 4.5M shares at an average price of $82.
- Yum has tumbled to $69.41 after hours.
-
FQ3 results, PR