YUM! Brands Rises 0.78% as COO Sells 12220 Shares Ranking 284th on 330M Trading Volume

YUM! Brands (YUM) rose 0.78% on August 18, 2025, with a trading volume of $330 million, ranking 284th in the market. The stock's performance came amid mixed second-quarter results and executive transactions that drew market attention.

Chief Operating Officer Tracy L. Skeans sold $1.81 million worth of YUM shares at $148.24 per share, close to the current price of $149.47. The transaction included 12,220 shares and followed a broader set of stock-related activities involving appreciation rights. Skeans now directly owns 16,181 shares and indirectly holds 5,073 shares. Analysts note the stock trades near its fair value with a P/E ratio of 29.23 and a 1.92% dividend yield.

The company reported 2% global comparable sales growth, below expectations, with Taco Bell and KFC International underperforming. Taco Bell's 4% growth lagged its 5% target despite market share gains from product innovations. KFC International saw 5% net unit growth but missed consensus forecasts. Analysts adjusted price targets post-earnings, with TD Cowen cutting its target to $156 and UBS maintaining a $180 Buy rating, citing divergent views on brand resilience.

A strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding for one day from 2022 to 2025 generated a 31.52% total return with a 0.98% average daily gain. This reflects limited short-term momentum capture amid market volatility and timing risks inherent in such strategies.