Aug. 5 at 8:47 PM
Yum! Brands shares rose in afternoon trading, extending their recovery from the sharp selloff triggered by the Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell. Investors continued to focus on encouraging commentary from the company's recent Q2 2026 earnings report, where adjusted EPS of
$1.62 topped expectations and management said Taco Bell sales trends have been steadily improving. Executives added that average daily sales have recovered roughly half of the decline from their lowest point, while emphasizing the outbreak is an industry-wide issue rather than one unique to Taco Bell.
JPMorgan reiterated its Overweight rating on Yum! Brands, although it lowered its price target to
$160 from
$170, providing continued institutional support despite the outbreak expanding to 15 states, with Michigan reporting more than 12,000 cases.
$YUM $JPM