• Barclays maintains an "Overweight" rating for Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM), with a price target increase from $163 to $175.
• Significant surge in options trading activity, indicating strong investor interest and potential for upward movement.
• Recent insider activity includes sales by CEO David W. Gibbs and CEO Scott Mezvinsky, yet Gibbs still holds a substantial number of shares.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) is a prominent player in the fast-food industry, owning well-known chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. The company competes with other giants such as McDonald's and Domino's. On November 5, 2025, Barclays maintained its "Overweight" rating for YUM, suggesting confidence in its performance, while keeping the action as "hold." The stock was priced at $149.55 during this announcement.

Barclays also raised its price target for YUM from $163 to $175, indicating optimism about the company's future prospects. This comes amid a notable surge in options trading activity, with investors acquiring 10,299 call options, a significant increase of 1,178% compared to the usual daily volume of 806 call options. This heightened activity suggests strong investor interest and potential for upward movement.

In recent insider activity, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 7,176 shares on September 15th at an average price of $149.80, totaling approximately $1.07 million. Despite this sale, Gibbs still holds 102,893 shares valued at around $15.41 million, reflecting a 6.52% decrease in his ownership. Additionally, CEO Scott Mezvinsky sold 275 shares on October 1st, indicating some insider selling activity.

YUM's stock has shown a 7.30% increase, translating to a rise of $10.17. The stock has fluctuated between a low of $143.14 and a high of $149.91 today. Over the past year, YUM reached a high of $163.30 and a low of $122.13. The company's market capitalization is approximately $41.51 billion, with a trading volume of 5.60 million shares, highlighting its significant presence in the market.