Yum Brands on Thursday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street estimates. Results were fueled by strong sales for KFC's international restaurants and Taco Bell. Net sales climbed 16% to $2.

Yum Brands surpassed Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter comparable sales on Thursday as value offerings from Taco Bell attracted budget-conscious U.S. consumers to the popular Tex-Mex chain, sending its shares up about 7%.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) shares are trading higher on Thursday. The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.61, beating the street view of $1.60. Quarterly sales of $2.362 billion outpaced the analyst consensus estimate of $2.

Yum! Brands' ( NYSE: YUM) core operating profit rose 17% across the company, led by the Taco Bell division. The company's restaurant margin rate of 17.9% was ahead of the consensus estimate of 16.2%. Adjusted EPS was reported at $1.61 vs. $1.60 consensus and $1.26 a year ago.

Yum! Brands Inc. shares had their biggest gain in almost five years after sales surpassed expectations, buoyed by growth at the Taco Bell fast-food chain.

Yum Brands surpassed Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter comparable sales on Thursday, as value offerings from Taco Bell attracted budget-conscious U.S. consumers to the popular Tex-Mex chain. Its shares rose about 3% in premarket trading.

The logo of Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. is seen on a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., February 7, 2022. Reuters / ANDREW KELLY Yum Brands reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year results,