Franklin Resources Inc. Has $106.78 Million Stake in Yum China $YUMC

Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in Yum China (NYSE:YUMC) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,251,242 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 30,696 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 0.62% of Yum China worth $106,782,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of YUMC. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. raised its stake in Yum China by 526.3% in the 3rd quarter. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. now owns 595 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Yum China in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Yum China in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Cresta Advisors Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Yum China in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Stone House Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Yum China by 106.2% in the 4th quarter. Stone House Investment Management LLC now owns 629 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.58% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

YUMC has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Yum China from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Yum China from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Yum China presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $59.05.

Yum China Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:YUMC opened at $43.90 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $46.73 and a 200-day moving average of $49.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.33 billion, a PE ratio of 16.82, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. Yum China has a 12 month low of $41.69 and a 12 month high of $58.39.

Yum China (NYSE:YUMC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.87. The company had revenue of $3.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.21 billion. Yum China had a net margin of 7.83% and a return on equity of 15.11%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.77 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Yum China will post 2.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Yum China Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 27th. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. Yum China’s payout ratio is 44.44%.

Yum China Profile

Yum China Holdings, Inc operates as the largest quick-service restaurant company in China, through its ownership and franchising of brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. The company’s core business encompasses full-service and fast‐casual dining, takeout and delivery channels, as well as ancillary services including loyalty programs and digital ordering platforms. Yum China’s restaurants offer a diverse menu that adapts global brand concepts to local consumer preferences, featuring items such as soy‐marinated chicken, customized pizzas and region‐inspired side dishes.

In addition to its signature brands, Yum China has expanded its portfolio to include innovative concepts tailored to evolving market trends, such as plant‐based offerings, self‐service kiosks and mobile app integrations.