Yum Sees Strong Growth

Thanks to Foreign Growth

Despite broadcasts of rats in its New York City restaurants, E coli outbreaks and the world's concern on obesity, things look great for Yum Brands, thanks largely to rising international sales. Yum's operating profits plummeted 11% for the first quarter in the U.S. Its international revenues ended up saving the firm, rising some 25% year over year, with its China stores seeing over 31%. In the end, Yum revenues rose to $2.2 billion, some 7% year over year during the March quarter.

BusinessWeek observes, "Yum appears to have weathered the latest bout of bad news with aplomb."

Yum Brands' stocks were up 6%.