While recent results have been varied, major brands on the Franchise Times Scoreboard have experienced steady stock growth year to date.
McDonald’s, as well as the parent companies of large quick-service restaurants such as Restaurant Brands International and Yum Brands, have all shown YTD increases in their closing prices. Yum Brands, which includes KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill, leads the way, with a YTD stock increase of 12 percent, from $133.44 to $150.79.
The closing price marks a rebound from a slight decline in spring. Yum Brands’ stock rose to $162.53, before falling to $147.35 on May 9. Overall, the stock is performing better in 2025, though, than 2024. Last year, the closing price began at $128, reaching a high of $141 in April.
In its report on first quarter data, Yum Brands said it had a 5 percent increase in worldwide sales and 3 percent rise in its unit count. While same-store sales declined by 2 percent at Pizza Hut, they grew by 9 percent for Taco Bell and 2 percent for KFC.
“This quarter, we achieved 8 percent core operating profit growth, demonstrating the strength and resilience of our business model,” Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs said in a release. “Our twin growth engines led the way, with Taco Bell U.S. reporting a remarkable 9 percent same-store sales growth and KFC international accelerating same-store sales growth.”
McDonald’s, meanwhile, had a recent decline, with its stock falling 7 percent from $313.99 on May 9 to $292.60 on July 9. Year to date, the closing price is still up 1 percent, as the current price is higher than when 2025 started at $294.78. It’s still below the high of $316 in October 2024.
The latest financial information on McDonald’s comes from its first quarter numbers. Global comparable sales for the brand decreased 1 percent, and systemwide sales declined 1 percent. However, excluding leap day data in the previous year, sales were flat.
“McDonald’s has a 70-year legacy of innovation, leadership and proven agility, all of which gives us confidence in our ability to navigate even the toughest of market conditions and gain market share,” said CEO Chris Kempczinski.
Like McDonald’s, RBI also had a stock decrease for the period while still gaining YTD. The parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs had a closing price of $67.50 on July 9, down 1 percent from $68.03 in May. But It’s 4 percent above the mark to start the year, at $64.94.
Those numbers are still behind the high of 2024, though, with the stock reaching $79.70 in March of last year. Still, the brand is performing stronger stock-wise overall in the last few years, ranging between $60 and $70, an improvement of its position in 2021 and 2022.
