<div id="subtitle">Yum Brands reiterates full-year adjusted earnings forecast; gives 2010 profit guidance</div><div><p>Yum Brands Inc. maintained its full-year adjusted earnings forecast Friday, helped by strong performances from its Yum Restaurants International business and operations in China.</p><p>The restaurant operator — whose brands include Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC — anticipates 12 percent growth in earnings per share for the year, excluding special items. It posted 2008 earnings of $1.96 per share, which would imply a 2009 profit of about $2.20 per share.</p><p>Chairman and CEO David Novak said in a statement that the company's performance has benefited from favorable commodity costs, a lower tax rate and improved productivity.</p><p>Yum anticipates 10 percent growth in earnings per share for next year.</p><p>On average, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters forecast earnings per share of $2.16 per share for 2009 and $2.38 per share in 2010, implying year-over-year growth of 10 percent.</p><p>The company has more than 36,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories.</p><p>In morning trading, Yum shares fell $1.04, or 3 percent, to $34.09.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=64756328&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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