Insider Trading February 26, 2026

KFC Division CEO Executes Multiple Transactions as Yum Brands Posts Mixed Q4 Results

Scott Mezvinsky sold shares near the stock's 52-week high while exercising appreciation rights; Yum Brands reports revenue beat but EPS miss for Q4 2025

By Caleb Monroe YUM
KFC Division CEO Executes Multiple Transactions as Yum Brands Posts Mixed Q4 Results
YUM

Scott Mezvinsky, CEO of the KFC division at Yum Brands (NYSE:YUM), completed a set of stock transactions on February 26, 2026, including a sale of 284 shares for $47,149 and the exercise of stock appreciation rights. The company reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that beat revenue expectations but fell short on earnings per share.

Key Points

  • KFC Division CEO Scott Mezvinsky sold 284 shares on February 26, 2026, for $47,149 at $166.02 per share, close to the 52-week high of $169.39.
  • On the same day Mezvinsky exercised stock appreciation rights to acquire 483 shares at $68.00 (total value $32,844) and sold an additional 199 shares for $32,880 at $165.23.
  • Yum! Brands reported Q4 2025 revenue of $2.51 billion, beating expectations by 2.45%, while EPS of $1.73 missed forecasts by 2.26%.

Scott Mezvinsky, who serves as CEO of the KFC division at Yum Brands (NYSE:YUM), recorded multiple equity transactions on February 26, 2026. In one transaction, Mezvinsky sold 284 shares of Yum common stock at $166.02 per share, generating proceeds of $47,149. That sale occurred near the stock’s 52-week high of $169.39.

On the same date, Mezvinsky also exercised stock appreciation rights to acquire 483 shares at a strike price of $68.00, representing a notional value of $32,844 for those shares. In addition to the larger sale, he disposed of 199 shares for $32,880 at a price of $165.23 per share.

Separately, third-party analysis from InvestingPro indicates that Yum Brands appears overvalued at its current market level based on the service’s Fair Value assessment. The analysis cites a company market valuation of $45.66 billion and places Yum Brands among more than 1,400 U.S. equities covered in comprehensive Pro Research Reports.

These insider transactions and valuation commentary come amid Yum! Brands’ release of fourth-quarter 2025 financial results. The company reported earnings per share of $1.73, missing analyst expectations of $1.77 and amounting to a negative surprise of 2.26%. Revenue, however, came in ahead of estimates at $2.51 billion versus an anticipated $2.45 billion, a positive surprise of 2.45%.

The quarterly figures present a mixed financial picture: revenue exceeded forecasts while EPS fell short by a modest margin. The company’s overall results were noted by analysts across firms, although specific analyst upgrades or downgrades were not disclosed in the report.

Investors and market observers continue to track both company valuation signals and insider activity to assess sentiment and potential implications for Yum Brands’ stock. The juxtaposition of insider selling activity, the InvestingPro valuation view, and the mixed quarterly results form the basis of current market attention toward the stock.

Risks

  • Valuation risk - InvestingPro’s Fair Value assessment indicates Yum Brands appears overvalued at current levels, which may influence investor sentiment and market pricing.
  • Earnings shortfall - The company’s Q4 2025 EPS missed analyst expectations, introducing uncertainty about near-term profitability trends.
  • Insider transactions - Significant insider selling, including the CEO of a major division, can raise questions among investors about managerial confidence despite the lack of additional context.

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