Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) exceeded first-quarter financial expectations. The company reported GAAP earnings per share of $1.55. Adjusted earnings per share rose 15% year-over-year. This adjusted figure reached $1.50 for the quarter.
Taco Bell same-store sales grew 8%. This performance outperformed the broader fast-food industry. Worldwide system sales increased 6% excluding foreign currency translation.
The company expanded its global restaurant count by 5%. Gross new openings totaled 1,030 restaurants during the quarter. Digital sales reached a record 63% of all system sales. These digital transactions totaled nearly $11 billion.
The results provide a constructive indicator for the health of global consumer spending.