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Yum! Brands served up better-than-expected earnings Wednesday, fueled by Taco Bell\u2019s sizzling 8% same-store sales growth \u2014 nearly double Wall Street\u2019s 5.6% forecast.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaco Bell delivered an outstanding 8% same-store sales growth<\/a>, meaningfully ahead of the quick-service restaurant industry,\u201d Yum! CEO Chris Turner said in a statement. The chain credits AI for the growth. It\u2019s expanding AI-driven A\/B testing for drive-thru lanes, allowing it to change layouts, visuals and content shown to customers to learn what messages resonate.<\/p>\n But Yum!\u2019s other brands didn\u2019t fare as well. KFC U.S. system sales fell 2% during the quarter, and Pizza Hut\u2019s U.S. same-store sales shrank 4%. Yum! announced in November that it is exploring strategic options for Pizza Hut, which has long been the laggard of its portfolio. Private equity firms, including Apollo Global Management and Sycamore Partners, are among potential buyers, Reuters reported<\/a>. Yum!\u2019s earnings release even included a bullet point showing results excluding Pizza Hut \u2014 a clear signal of where things stand.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Yum! Brands served up better-than-expected earnings Wednesday, fueled by Taco Bell\u2019s sizzling 8% same-store sales growth \u2014 nearly double Wall Street\u2019s 5.6% forecast.<\/p>\n \u201cTaco Bell delivered an outstanding 8% same-store sales growth<\/a>, meaningfully ahead of the quick-service restaurant industry,\u201d Yum! CEO Chris Turner said in a statement. The chain credits AI for the growth. It\u2019s expanding AI-driven A\/B testing for drive-thru lanes, allowing it to change layouts, visuals and content shown to customers to learn what messages resonate.<\/p>\n But Yum!\u2019s other brands didn\u2019t fare as well. KFC U.S. system sales fell 2% during the quarter, and Pizza Hut\u2019s U.S. same-store sales shrank 4%. Yum! announced in November that it is exploring strategic options for Pizza Hut, which has long been the laggard of its portfolio. Private equity firms, including Apollo Global Management and Sycamore Partners, are among potential buyers, Reuters reported<\/a>. Yum!\u2019s earnings release even included a bullet point showing results excluding Pizza Hut \u2014 a clear signal of where things stand.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n