KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut 4Q same-store sales increaseKFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut 4Q same-store sales increase

Same-store sales at KFC increased 3 percent in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 26, parent company Yum! Brands Inc. said Wednesday, as all three of the company’s concepts ended 2015 on a positive note.

Same-store sales growth at Pizza Hut increased 1 percent in the quarter, the company said, including 2 percent in the U.S., while Taco Bell continued its momentum with 4-percent same-store sales growth.

In addition, same-store sales at Yum’s China division increased 2 percent in the quarter, while system sales in the country grew 7 percent.

“I’m pleased with the positive momentum we generated across the majority of Yum in the fourth quarter,” Yum CEO Greg Creed said in a statement. He noted that KFC in China saw same-store sales growth of 6 percent in the fourth quarter as the chain recovers from steep declines there after food safety concerns.

“Our U.S. results were particularly strong on a two-year basis,” Creed said, adding that two-year same-store sales increased 2 percent at Pizza Hut, 8 percent at KFC and 10 percent at Taco Bell.

Revenue for the Louisville, Ky.-based quick-service giant fell 1 percent in the quarter, to $3.95 billion, from nearly $4 billion the previous year. For the year, revenue fell 1 percent, to $13.1 billion, from $13.3 billion.

Net income in the quarter increased to $275 million, or 64 cents per share, from a loss of $86 million the period before, or 20 cents per share. For the full year, net income increased 23 percent, to $1.3 billion, or $2.97 per share, from $1.1 billion, or $2.37 per share, the year before.

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