Yum Brands said on Tuesday it would sell its Pizza Hut chain for $2.7 billion, at a time when the unit struggles to keep pace with rivals in an increasingly competitive fast-food market and amid cautious consumer spending.
Yum Brands is selling Pizza Hut, capping off years of struggles for the pizza chain. Rival Domino's Pizza has gobbled up market share from Pizza Hut for years.
"As the global appetite for chicken grows, KFC is answering the call," KFC Global CEO Scott Mezvinsky said.
The Yum Brands-owned chain is introducing new menu items, sauces, beverages and restaurant concepts as part of a global strategy to strengthen its position in the chicken market.
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KFC unveiled a new strategy that prioritizes boneless chicken options, adds a new drink sub-brand and aims to make the in-person dining experience more immersive. The Yum Brands chain is facing competition from upstart chicken chains and legacy giants like McDonald's that are betting big on the growing popularity of chicken.
Yum Brands is reportedly discussing a potential sale of Pizza Hut to LongRange Capital, a deal that could reshape the restaurant sector amid weaker demand.
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Yum! Brands is in exclusive talks to sell Pizza Hut to LongRange Capital, with potential deal value estimated at $3.6–$4.3 billion. Proceeds from the sale could reduce YUM's net LT debt from ~$9.3B to ~$5.3B, lowering leverage to ~1.7x TTM EBITDA and enabling M&A, buybacks, and dividends. Post-sale, YUM's pro forma EBITDA is projected at ~$2.8B, supporting a price target of $173 and an upside of nearly 18% at $147 per share.
Yum (YUM) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock?
A Pizza Hut franchisee alleged in a lawsuit that the chain's AI system damaged its business. The suit alleges that the system led to delays and cratering sales at over 100 restaurants.
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