Fourth-Quarter Core Operating Profit Growth of +5%; On Track with Strategic Transformation to Accelerate Growth
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - February 07, 2019 - Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today reported results for the fourth-quarter and year ended December 31, 2018. Fourth-quarter GAAP EPS was $1.04, a decrease of (17)%. Full-year GAAP EPS was $4.69, an increase of 24%. Fourth-quarter EPS excluding Special Items was $0.40, a decrease of (58)%. Full-year EPS excluding Special Items was $3.17, an increase of 7%.
Greg Creed & David Gibbs Comments
Greg Creed, CEO, said, “I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish in just two short years since we announced the transformation of Yum!. In 2018, our diverse portfolio of iconic brands generated over $49 billion in system sales and ended the year with over 48,000 restaurants. Focus on our four growth drivers, increased collaboration and a new mindset are fueling strong results. During 2018, system sales grew 5% with same store sales growth of 2%, and net unit growth of 4%, excluding the impact of Telepizza. Combined across our brands and led by over 2,000 world-class franchisees, we opened a record 8 gross new restaurants per day across the globe in 2018. As we move into 2019, we will continue to pursue even more growth, leverage our unprecedented scale, and maximize value for all Yum! stakeholders.”
David Gibbs, President, COO and CFO, continued, “Fourth-quarter results were a strong finish to a solid year, and serve as a healthy foundation for our 2019 guidance. I am also pleased that we made significant progress on our transformation commitments in 2018, having achieved our goal of becoming at least 98% franchised. Our commitment to being more focused, more franchised and more efficient is strengthening our enviable business model. Yum! is well positioned to leverage our massive scale and expand our capabilities in order to improve franchise unit economics and accelerate growth.”
SUMMARY FINANCIAL TABLE
FOURTH-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
FULL-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
KFC DIVISION
PIZZA HUT DIVISION
TACO BELL DIVISION
Other Items
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted the new accounting standard on revenue recognition. As a result, we are now required to recognize upfront fees, such as initial and renewal fees we receive from franchisees, as revenue over the term of the related franchise agreement. We also record incentive payments we may make to franchisees (e.g., equipment funding provided under the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement) as a reduction of revenue over the period of expected cash flows from the franchise agreements to which the payment relates. Under our historical accounting, we recognized upfront fees from franchisees in full upon commencement of the related franchise agreements and incentive payments made to franchisees when we were obligated to make the payment.
Additionally, the new accounting standard requires us to begin recording other revenues we receive from franchisees and the related expenses on a gross basis within our Income Statement. Previously, these revenues and expenses, the largest of which relate to franchisee contributions to and subsequent expenditures from advertising cooperatives we consolidate, were reported on a net basis within our Income Statement. We have reported these revenues and expenses in our Income Statement on the two new line items of franchise contributions for advertising and other services and Franchise advertising and other services expense.
Prior results have not been restated for the impact of this accounting change and therefore remain reported as they have been historically. However, the adoption was done on a modified retrospective basis resulting in the current year impact being reported as if the now-required accounting had been in place since the inception of currently active franchise agreements or when Franchise incentive payments were originally made. As a result of the new standard, core operating profit growth was negatively impacted by six percentage points during the fourth quarter and two percentage points on a full-year basis.
Conference Call
Yum! Brands, Inc. will host a conference call to review the company's financial performance and strategies at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time Thursday, February 7, 2019. The number is 877/815-2029 for U.S. callers and 706/645-9271 for international callers, conference ID 6587363.
The call will be available for playback beginning at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time Thursday, February 7, 2019 through Thursday, April 11, 2019. To access the playback, dial 855/859-2056 in the U.S. and 404/537-3406 internationally, conference ID 6587363.
The webcast and playback can be accessed via the internet by visiting Yum! Brands' website, www.yum.com/investors/events-presentations and selecting “Q4 2018 Earnings Conference Call.”
Additional Information Online
Quarter end dates for each division, restaurant count details, definitions of terms and Restricted Group financial information are available at www.yum.com/investors. Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP results are included within this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as “expect,” “expectation,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “belief,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “predict,” “likely,” “seek,” “project,” “model,” “ongoing,” “will,” “should,” “forecast,” “outlook” or similar terminology. These statements are based on and reflect our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and/ or projections, our perception of historical trends and current conditions, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events, circumstances or performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. There can be no assurance that our expectations, estimates, assumptions and/or projections, including with respect to the future earnings and performance or capital structure of Yum! Brands, will prove to be correct or that any of our expectations, estimates or projections will be achieved.
Numerous factors could cause our actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: food safety and food borne-illness issues; health concerns arising from outbreaks of viruses or other diseases; the success of our franchisees and licensees, and the success of our transformation initiatives, including our refranchising strategy; our significant exposure to the Chinese market; changes in economic and political conditions in countries and territories outside of the U.S. where we operate; our ability to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of our customers and employees; our increasing dependence on digital commerce platforms and information technology systems; the impact of social media; our ability to secure and maintain distribution and adequate supply to our restaurants; the success of our development strategy in emerging markets; changes in commodity, labor and other operating costs; pending or future litigation and legal claims or proceedings; changes in or noncompliance with government regulations, including labor standards and anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; recent Tax Legislation (defined below) and other tax matters, including disagreements with taxing authorities; consumer preferences and perceptions of our brands; changes in consumer discretionary spending and general economic conditions; competition within the retail food industry; and risks relating to our significant amount of indebtedness. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty.
Information regarding the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Legislation”) consists of preliminary estimates which are forward-looking statements and are subject to change. Information regarding the impact of Tax Legislation is based on our current calculations, as well our current interpretations, assumptions and expectations relating to Tax Legislation, which are subject to further ongoing change.
The forward-looking statements included in this announcement are only made as of the date of this announcement and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 48,000 restaurants in more than 140 countries. The company’s restaurant brands - KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell - are global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. Worldwide, the Yum! Brands system opens over eight new restaurants per day on average, making it a leader in global retail development. In 2018, Yum! Brands was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index and ranked among the top 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine. In 2019, Yum! Brands was named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the second consecutive year.
2019 EPS GUIDANCE
We have also provided certain forward-looking guidance using non-GAAP measurements. Specifically, in connection with the announcement of our strategic transformation initiatives in 2016, we announced a 2019 Diluted EPS target of at least $3.75 (“2019 Adjusted EPS Target”). This 2019 Adjusted EPS Target was intended to exclude:
Additionally, we acquired an interest in Grubhub common stock subsequent to our original determination of the 2019 Adjusted EPS Target and thus are excluding any resulting mark-to-market adjustment for that investment from the 2019 Adjusted EPS target.
At this time, we are unable to forecast any Special Items or Grubhub mark-to-market adjustments for 2019, and therefore cannot provide an estimate of 2019 EPS on a GAAP basis. The forecasted impacts of FX and the 53rd week on our 2019 Adjusted EPS Target are shown below. This impact of FX has been determined as the difference in translating our current local currency forecasts for 2019 at current FX forward rates and FX rates at the time the 2019 Adjusted EPS target was determined in 2016.
The above tables reconcile segment information, which is based on management responsibility, with our Consolidated Summary of Results. Corporate and unallocated expenses comprise items that are not allocated to segments for performance reporting purposes.
The Corporate and Unallocated column in the above tables includes, among other amounts, all amounts that we have deemed Special Items. See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measurements to GAAP Results.
Notes to the Consolidated Summary of Results, Consolidated Balance Sheets
and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(amounts in millions)
(unaudited)
(a)
Amounts presented as of and for the quarters and years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are preliminary.
(b) In connection with our previously announced plans to have at least 98% franchise restaurant ownership by the end of 2018, we recorded net refranchising gains during the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 of $255 million and $752 million, respectively, that have been reflected as Special Items. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded net refranchising gains of $540 million and $1.1 billion, respectively, that have been reflected as Special Items.
The fourth quarter 2018 net refranchising gains related primarily to refranchising Taco Bell restaurants in the U.S. and KFC restaurants in Russia. The fourth quarter 2017 net refranchising gains related primarily to refranchising KFC restaurants in Thailand, Australia and the UK, and the refranchising of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in the U.S.
(c) In the fourth quarter of 2016, we announced our plan to transform our business. Major features of the Company's strategic transformation plans involve being more focused on development of our three brands, increasing our franchise ownership and creating a leaner, more efficient cost structure (“YUM’s Strategic Transformation Initiatives”). During the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recognized Special Item charges of $6 million and $8 million, respectively, related to these initiatives. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recognized Special Item charges of $8 million and $23 million, respectively. In the fourth quarters of 2018 and 2017, these costs related primarily to contract termination costs that were recorded within G&A. During the remainder of 2018 and 2017, these costs related primarily to severance and relocation costs that were recorded within G&A.
(d) On May 1, 2017, we reached an agreement with our Pizza Hut U.S. franchisees that will improve brand marketing alignment, accelerate enhancements in operations and technology and includes a permanent commitment to incremental advertising contributions by franchisees beginning in 2018. In connection with this agreement, we recognized Special Item charges of $3 million and $11 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we recognized Special Item charges of $6 million and $31 million, respectively. The majority of these costs were recorded within Franchise and property expenses.
(e) During the first quarter of 2015, we reached an agreement with our KFC U.S. franchisees that gave us brand marketing control as well as an accelerated path to improved assets and customer experience. In connection with this agreement, we recognized Special Item charges of less than $1 million and $5 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we recognized Special Item charges of $2 million and $17 million, respectively. The majority of these costs were recorded within Franchise and property expenses.
(f) In connection with the separation of Yum China, we modified certain share-based compensation awards held as part of our Executive Income Deferral Plan in YUM stock to provide one Yum China share-based award for each outstanding YUM share-based award. Through October 31, 2018, these Yum China awards could be settled in cash, as opposed to stock, which requires recognition of the fair value of these awards within G&A in our Consolidated Income Statement. During both the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded a non-cash Special Item change of less than $1 million related to these awards. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded a non-cash Special Item credit of $3 million and a non-cash Special Item charge of $18 million, respectively, related to these awards.
(g) We recorded a non-cash charge of $22 million related to the adjustment of certain historical deferred vested liability balances in our qualified U.S. plan during the first quarter of 2017. Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2016 the Company allowed certain former employees with deferred vested balances in the YUM Retirement Plan an opportunity to voluntarily elect an early payout of their pension benefits. In connection with this program we incurred an additional Special Items settlement charge of $1 million during the third quarter of 2017. These charges are recorded in Other pension (income) expense.
(h) Tax Benefit (Expense) on Special Items was determined based upon the impact of the nature, as well as the jurisdiction of the respective individual components within Special Items. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2018, we recorded a $19 million increase to our Income tax provision for the correction of an error associated with the tax recorded on a prior year divestiture, the effects of which were previously recorded as a Special Item.
(i) During the quarter and year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded $4 million and $66 million decreases, respectively, related to our provisional tax expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("Tax Act") that was reported as a Special Item. These amounts included tax benefit in the quarter and year ended December 31, 2018 related to current year U.S. foreign tax credits that became realizable directly as a result of the impact of deemed repatriation tax expense associated with the Tax Act.
Keith Siegner
Analysts
Vice President, Investor Relations
Corporate Strategy and Treasurer
888/298-6986
Kelly Knybel
Analysts
Director, Investor Relations
888/298-6986
Virginia Ferguson
Media Relations
Director, Public Relations
502/874-8200
SOURCE Yum! Brands, Inc.
Yum! Brands offers consumers more choice and convenience at one restaurant location from a combination of KFC, Taco Bell & Pizza Hut.