YUM BRANDS INC, 10-K filed on 2/16/2016
Annual Report
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Document and Entity Information - USD ($)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Feb. 09, 2016
Jun. 13, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]      
Entity Registrant Name YUM BRANDS INC    
Document Type 10-K    
Amendment Flag false    
Document Period End Date Dec. 26, 2015    
Entity Central Index Key 0001041061    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-26    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Yes    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Filer Category Large Accelerated Filer    
Entity Public Float     $ 39,200,000,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   408,711,522  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2015    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
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Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Revenues      
Company sales $ 11,145 $ 11,324 $ 11,184
Franchise and license fees and income 1,960 1,955 1,900
Total revenues 13,105 13,279 13,084
Company restaurants      
Food and paper 3,507 3,678 3,669
Payroll and employee benefits 2,517 2,579 2,499
Occupancy and other operating expenses 3,335 3,425 3,333
Company restaurant expenses 9,359 9,682 9,501
General and administrative expenses 1,504 1,419 1,412
Franchise and license expenses 242 160 158
Closures and impairment (income) expenses 79 535 331
Refranchising (gain) loss 10 (33) (100)
Other (income) expense (10) (41) (16)
Total costs and expenses, net 11,184 11,722 11,286
Operating Profit 1,921 [1] 1,557 [2] 1,798
Interest expense, net [3] 134 130 247 [4]
Income Before Income Taxes 1,787 1,427 1,551
Income tax provision 489 406 487
Net income - including noncontrolling interests 1,298 1,021 1,064
Net Income (loss) - noncontrolling interests 5 (30) (27)
Net Income (loss) - YUM! Brands, Inc. $ 1,293 $ 1,051 $ 1,091
Basic Earnings Per Common Share (in dollars per share) $ 2.97 $ 2.37 $ 2.41
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (in dollars per share) 2.92 2.32 2.36
Dividends Declared Per Common Share (in dollars per share) $ 1.74 $ 1.56 $ 1.41
[1] Includes losses associated with refranchising of equity markets outside of the U.S. of $73 million, $20 million and $3 million in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement of $2 million, $8 million, $21 million and $41 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, and net U.S. refranchising gains of $7 million, $1 million, $16 million and $51 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. See Note 4.
[2] Includes a non-cash charge of $463 million in the fourth quarter related primarily to the impairment of Little Sheep intangible assets. See Note 4.
[3] Amounts have not been allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes.
[4] 2013 includes $118 million of premiums and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt. See Note 4.
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Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Net income - including noncontrolling interests $ 1,298 $ 1,021 $ 1,064
Adjustments and gains (losses) arising during the year (259) (149) 10
Reclassifications of adjustments and (gains) losses into Net Income 115 2 0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, before Tax (144) (147) 10
Tax (expense) benefit 0 4 (2)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax (144) (143) 8
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year 101 (209) 221
Reclassification of (gains) losses into Net Income 53 27 83
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Unrealized Gains (Losses), before Tax 154 (182) 304
Tax (expense) benefit (57) 69 (115)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax 97 (113) 189
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year 32 23 6
Reclassification of (gains) losses into Net Income (41) (23) (2)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, before Tax (9) 0 4
Tax (expense) benefit 1 0 (1)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax (8) 0 3
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (55) (256) 200
Comprehensive income - including noncontrolling interests 1,243 765 1,264
Comprehensive income (loss) - noncontrolling interests (1) (32) (23)
Comprehensive Income - Yum! Brands, Inc. $ 1,244 $ 797 $ 1,287
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Cash Flows - Operating Activities      
Net Income- including noncontrolling interests $ 1,298 $ 1,021 $ 1,064
Depreciation and amortization 747 739 721
Closures and impairment (income) expenses 79 535 331
Refranchising (gain) loss 10 (33) (100)
Contributions to defined benefit pension plans (98) (18) (23)
Losses and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt 0 0 120
Deferred income taxes (89) (172) (24)
Equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates (41) (30) (26)
Distributions of income received from unconsolidated affiliates 21 28 43
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation (50) (42) (44)
Share-based compensation expense 57 55 49
Changes in accounts and notes receivable (54) (21) (12)
Changes in inventories 58 (22) 18
Changes in prepaid expenses and other current assets (22) 12 (21)
Changes in accounts payable and other current liabilities 128 60 (102)
Changes in income taxes payable 20 (143) 14
Other, net 75 80 131
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 2,139 2,049 2,139
Cash Flows - Investing Activities      
Capital spending (973) (1,033) (1,049)
Proceeds from refranchising of restaurants 246 114 260
Acquisitions (9) (28) (99)
Other, net 54 11 2
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (682) (936) (886)
Cash Flows - Financing Activities      
Proceeds from long-term debt 0 0 599
Repayments of long-term debt (263) (66) (666)
Revolving credit facilities, three months or less, net 285 416 0
Short-term borrowings by original maturity      
More than three months - proceeds 609 2 56
More than three months - payments 0 (2) (56)
Three months or less, net 0 0 0
Repurchase shares of Common Stock (1,200) (820) (770)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation 50 42 44
Employee stock option proceeds 12 29 37
Dividends paid on Common Stock (730) (669) (615)
Other, net (55) (46) (80)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (1,292) (1,114) (1,451)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents (6) 6 (5)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents 159 5 (203)
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Year 578 573 776
Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Year $ 737 $ 578 $ 573
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Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Current Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 737 $ 578
Accounts and notes receivable, net 377 325
Inventories 229 301
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 242 254
Advertising cooperative assets, restricted 103 95
Total Current Assets 1,688 1,553
Property, plant and equipment, net 4,189 4,498
Goodwill 656 700
Intangible assets, net 271 318
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates 61 52
Other assets 534 560
Deferred income taxes 676 653
Total Assets 8,075 8,334
Current Liabilities    
Accounts payable and other current liabilities 1,985 1,970
Income taxes payable 77 77
Short-term borrowings 923 267
Advertising cooperative liabilities 103 95
Total Current Liabilities 3,088 2,409
Long-term debt 3,054 3,077
Other liabilities and deferred credits 958 1,235
Total Liabilities 7,100 6,721
Redeemable noncontrolling interest 6 9
Shareholders' Equity    
Common stock, no par value, 750 shares authorized; 420 shares and 434 shares issued in 2015 and 2014, respectively 0 0
Retained earnings 1,150 1,737
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (239) (190)
Total Shareholders' Equity - YUM! Brands, Inc. 911 1,547
Noncontrolling interests 58 57
Total Shareholders' Equity 969 1,604
Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Shareholders' Equity $ 8,075 $ 8,334
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Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares
shares in Millions, $ / shares in Millions
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)    
Common Stock, par value $ 0 $ 0
Common Stock, shares authorized 750 750
Common Stock, shares issued 420 434
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Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($)
shares in Thousands, $ in Millions
Total
Common Stock
Retained Earnings
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Noncontrolling Interest
Total Permanent Equity
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 29, 2012   $ 0 $ 2,286 $ (132) $ 99 $ 2,253 $ 59
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2012   451,000          
Net Income (loss) - YUM! Brands, Inc. $ 1,091   1,091        
Net Income (loss) - noncontrolling interests (27)       (5)    
Net Income (loss) - including noncontrolling interest           1,086 (22)
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature (net of tax impact)       4      
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature - noncontrolling interest (net of tax impact)         2    
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature - including noncontrolling interest (net of tax impact)           6 2
Reclassifications of adjustments and (gains) losses into Net Income 0            
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans (net of tax impact) 189     189   189  
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax impact)       3   3  
Comprehensive income - including noncontrolling interests 1,264         1,284 (20)
Dividends declared     (635)   (18) (653)  
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests         (15) (15)  
Repurchase of shares of Common Stock $ (750) [1] $ (110) (640)     (750)  
Repurchase of shares of Common Stock (in shares) (10,922) [1] (11,000)          
Employee stock option and SARs exercises (includes tax impact)   $ 49       49  
Employee stock option and SARs exercises (in shares)   3,000          
Compensation-related events (includes tax impact)   $ 61       61  
Balance at Dec. 28, 2013   $ 0 2,102 64 63 2,229 39
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2013   443,000          
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax $ (2)            
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans (tax impact) (115)            
Employee Stock Option And SARs Exercises Value, Tax (42)            
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share Based Compensation, Tax (8)            
Other Comprehensive income (los), Reclassification Adjustment from AOIC on Derivatives, Tax (1)            
Net Income (loss) - YUM! Brands, Inc. 1,051   1,051        
Net Income (loss) - noncontrolling interests (30)       (1)    
Net Income (loss) - including noncontrolling interest           1,050 (29)
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature (net of tax impact)       (143)      
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature - noncontrolling interest (net of tax impact)         (1)    
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature - including noncontrolling interest (net of tax impact)           (144) (1)
Reclassifications of adjustments and (gains) losses into Net Income 2     2   2  
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans (net of tax impact) (113)     (113)   (113)  
Comprehensive income - including noncontrolling interests 765         795 (30)
Dividends declared     (691)   (4) (695)  
Repurchase of shares of Common Stock $ (820) $ (95) (725)     (820)  
Repurchase of shares of Common Stock (in shares) (11,225) (11,000)          
Employee stock option and SARs exercises (includes tax impact)   $ 33       33  
Employee stock option and SARs exercises (in shares)   2,000          
Compensation-related events (includes tax impact)   $ 62       62  
Balance at Dec. 27, 2014 $ 1,604 $ 0 1,737 (190) 57 1,604 9
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2014   434,000          
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax 4            
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans (tax impact) 69            
Employee Stock Option And SARs Exercises Value, Tax (37)            
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share Based Compensation, Tax (5)            
Other Comprehensive income (los), Reclassification Adjustment from AOIC on Derivatives, Tax 0            
Net Income (loss) - YUM! Brands, Inc. 1,293   1,293        
Net Income (loss) - noncontrolling interests 5       6    
Net Income (loss) - including noncontrolling interest           1,299 (1)
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature (net of tax impact)       (250)      
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature - noncontrolling interest (net of tax impact)         (4)    
Translation adjustments and gains (losses) from intra-entity transactions of a long-term investment nature - including noncontrolling interest (net of tax impact)           (254) (2)
Reclassifications of adjustments and (gains) losses into Net Income 115     112   112  
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans (net of tax impact) 97     97   97  
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax impact)       (8)   (8)  
Comprehensive income - including noncontrolling interests 1,243         1,246 (3)
Dividends declared     (756)     (756)  
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests   $ (1)     1 0  
Repurchase of shares of Common Stock $ (1,200) $ (76) (1,124)     (1,200)  
Repurchase of shares of Common Stock (in shares) (15,942) (16,000)          
Employee stock option and SARs exercises (includes tax impact)   $ 11       11  
Employee stock option and SARs exercises (in shares)   2,000          
Compensation-related events (includes tax impact)   $ 64       64  
Balance at Dec. 26, 2015 $ 969 $ 0 $ 1,150 $ (239) $ 58 $ 969 $ 6
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 26, 2015   420,000          
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax 0            
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans (tax impact) (57)            
Employee Stock Option And SARs Exercises Value, Tax (43)            
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share Based Compensation, Tax (7)            
Other Comprehensive income (los), Reclassification Adjustment from AOIC on Derivatives, Tax $ 1            
[1] 2013 amount excludes the effect of $20 million in share repurchases (0.3 million shares) with trade dates prior to the 2012 fiscal year end but with settlement dates subsequent to the 2012 fiscal year end.
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Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]      
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax $ 0 $ 4 $ (2)
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans (tax impact) (57) 69 (115)
Employee Stock Option And SARs Exercises Value, Tax (43) (37) (42)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share Based Compensation, Tax (7) (5) (8)
Other Comprehensive income (los), Reclassification Adjustment from AOIC on Derivatives, Tax $ 1 $ 0 $ (1)
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Description of Business
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Description of Business
Description of Business

YUM! Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as “YUM” or the “Company”) comprise primarily the worldwide operations of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (collectively the “Concepts”).  YUM has over 42,000 units of which 57% are located outside the U.S. in more than 130 countries and territories.  YUM was created as an independent, publicly-owned company on October 6, 1997 via a tax-free distribution by our former parent, PepsiCo, Inc., of our Common Stock to its shareholders.  References to YUM throughout these Consolidated Financial Statements are made using the first person notations of “we,” “us” or “our.”

Through our widely-recognized Concepts, we develop, operate, franchise and license a system of both traditional and non-traditional quick service restaurants.  Each Concept has proprietary menu items and emphasizes the preparation of food with high quality ingredients as well as unique recipes and special seasonings to provide appealing, convenient, tasty and attractive food at competitive prices.  Our traditional restaurants feature dine-in, carryout and, in some instances, drive-thru or delivery service.  Non-traditional units, which are principally licensed outlets, include express units and kiosks which have a more limited menu and operate in non-traditional locations like malls, airports, gasoline service stations, train stations, subways, convenience stores, stadiums, amusement parks and colleges, where a full-scale traditional outlet would not be practical or efficient.  We also operate multibrand units, where two or more of our Concepts are operated in a single unit.  

As of December 26, 2015, YUM consisted of five operating segments:  

YUM China (“China” or “China Division”) which includes all operations in mainland China
YUM India ("India" or "India Division") which includes all operations in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka
The KFC Division which includes all operations of the KFC concept outside of China Division and India Division
The Pizza Hut Division which includes all operations of the Pizza Hut concept outside of China Division and India Division
The Taco Bell Division which includes all operations of the Taco Bell concept outside of India Division

Effective January, 2016 the Company's India Division was segmented by brand, integrated into the global KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions, and is no longer a separate operating segment. While our consolidated results will not be impacted, we will restate our historical segment information during 2016 for consistent presentation.

In October, 2015 we announced our intent to separate YUM’s China business from YUM into an independent, publicly-traded company by the end of 2016. This transaction, which is expected to be a tax-free spin-off of our China business, will create two powerful, independent, focused growth companies with distinct strategies, financial profiles and investment characteristics.

Completion of the spin-off will be subject to certain conditions, including, among others, receiving final approval from the YUM Board of Directors, receipt of various regulatory approvals, receipt of an opinion of counsel with respect to certain tax matters, the effectiveness of filings related to public listing and applicable securities laws, and other terms and conditions as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Our preparation of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from these estimates. 

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Preparation.  Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  We consolidate entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, the usual condition of which is ownership of a majority voting interest.  We also consider for consolidation an entity, in which we have certain interests, where the controlling financial interest may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting interests.  Such an entity, known as a variable interest entity (“VIE”), is required to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary.  The primary beneficiary is the entity that possesses the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that are significant to it.

Our most significant variable interests are in entities that operate restaurants under our Concepts’ franchise and license arrangements.  We do not generally have an equity interest in our franchisee or licensee businesses with the exception of certain entities in China as discussed below.  Additionally, we do not typically provide significant financial support such as loans or guarantees to our franchisees and licensees.  However, we do have variable interests in certain franchisees through real estate lease arrangements to which we are a party.  At the end of 2015, YUM has future lease payments due from franchisees, on a nominal basis, of approximately $345 million, and we are contingently liable on certain other lease agreements that have been assigned to franchisees. See Lease Guarantees, Franchise Loan Pool and Equipment Guarantees and Unconsolidated Affiliate Guarantees sections in Note 18. As our franchise and license arrangements provide our franchisee and licensee entities the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact their economic performance, we do not consider ourselves the primary beneficiary of any such entity that might otherwise be considered a VIE.

See Note 18 for additional information on an entity that operates a franchise lending program that is a VIE in which we have a variable interest but for which we are not the primary beneficiary and thus do not consolidate.

Certain investments in entities that operate KFCs in China are accounted for by the equity method.  These entities are not VIEs and our lack of majority voting rights precludes us from controlling these affiliates.  Thus, we do not consolidate these affiliates, instead accounting for them under the equity method.  Our Little Sheep brand, a casual dining concept that is part of our China Division, holds an investment in a meat processing entity that is also accounted for by the equity method. Our share of the net income or loss of those unconsolidated affiliates is included in Other (income) expense.  

We report Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, which includes the minority shareholders of the entities that operate the KFCs in Beijing and Shanghai, China and the minority shareholders of Little Sheep, separately on the face of our Consolidated Statements of Income.  The portion of equity not attributable to the Company for KFC Beijing and KFC Shanghai is reported within equity, separately from the Company’s equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The shareholder that owns the remaining 7% ownership interest in Little Sheep holds an option that, if exercised, requires us to redeem their non-controlling interest. This Redeemable non-controlling interest is classified outside permanent equity and recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as the greater of the initial carrying amount adjusted for the non-controlling interest's share of net income (loss), or its redemption value.

We participate in various advertising cooperatives with our franchisees and licensees established to collect and administer funds contributed for use in advertising and promotional programs designed to increase sales and enhance the reputation of the Company and its franchise owners. Contributions to the advertising cooperatives are required for both Company-owned and franchise restaurants and are generally based on a percentage of restaurant sales.  We maintain certain variable interests in these cooperatives. As the cooperatives are required to spend all funds collected on advertising and promotional programs, total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the cooperatives to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support. Therefore, these cooperatives are VIEs. As a result of our voting rights, we consolidate certain of these cooperatives for which we are the primary beneficiary.  Advertising cooperative assets, consisting primarily of cash received from the Company and franchisees and accounts receivable from franchisees, can only be used to settle obligations of the respective cooperative.  Advertising cooperative liabilities represent the corresponding obligation arising from the receipt of the contributions to purchase advertising and promotional programs for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company as the primary beneficiary.  Therefore, we report all assets and liabilities of these advertising cooperatives that we consolidate as Advertising cooperative assets, restricted and Advertising cooperative liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  As the contributions to these cooperatives are designated and segregated for advertising, we act as an agent for the franchisees and licensees with regard to these contributions.  Thus, we do not reflect franchisee and licensee contributions to these cooperatives in our Consolidated Statements of Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Fiscal Year.  Our fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December and, as a result, a 53rd week is added every five or six years.  The first three quarters of each fiscal year consist of 12 weeks and the fourth quarter consists of 16 weeks in fiscal years with 52 weeks and 17 weeks in fiscal years with 53 weeks.  Our subsidiaries operate on similar fiscal calendars except that China, India and certain other international subsidiaries operate on a monthly calendar, and thus never have a 53rd week, with two months in the first quarter, three months in the second and third quarters and four months in the fourth quarter.  International businesses within our KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell divisions close approximately one month earlier to facilitate consolidated reporting. Our next fiscal year scheduled to include a 53rd week is 2016.

Foreign Currency.  The functional currency of our foreign entities is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. Functional currency determinations are made based upon a number of economic factors, including but not limited to cash flows and financing transactions. The operations, assets and liabilities of our entities outside the United States are initially measured using the functional currency of that entity. Income and expense accounts for our operations of these foreign entities are then translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities of these foreign entities are then translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. As of December 26, 2015, net cumulative translation adjustment losses of $109 million are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The majority of our foreign currency net asset exposure is in countries where we have company-owned restaurants. As we manage and share resources at the individual brand level within a country, cumulative translation adjustments are recorded and tracked at the foreign-entity level that represents the operations of our individual brands within that country. Translation adjustments recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are subsequently recognized as income or expense generally only upon sale of the related investment in a foreign entity, or upon a sale of assets and liabilities within a foreign entity that represents a complete or substantially complete liquidation of that entity. For purposes of determining whether a sale or complete or substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foreign entity has occurred, we consider those same foreign entities for which we record and track cumulative translation adjustments. See Note 4 for information on the liquidation of our Mexico foreign entities and related Income Statement recognition of translation adjustments.

Gains and losses arising from the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on transactions in foreign currency are included in Other (income) expense in our Consolidated Statement of Income.

Reclassifications. We have reclassified certain items in the Consolidated Financial Statements for prior periods to be comparable with the classification for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported Net Income - YUM! Brands, Inc.

Franchise and License Operations.  We execute franchise or license agreements for each unit operated by third parties which set out the terms of our arrangement with the franchisee or licensee.  Our franchise and license agreements typically require the franchisee or licensee to pay an initial, non-refundable fee and continuing fees based upon a percentage of sales.  Subject to our approval and their payment of a renewal fee, a franchisee may generally renew the franchise agreement upon its expiration.

The internal costs we incur to provide support services to our franchisees and licensees are charged to General and Administrative (“G&A”) expenses as incurred.  Certain direct costs of our franchise and license operations are charged to franchise and license expenses.  These costs include provisions for estimated uncollectible fees, rent or depreciation expense associated with restaurants we lease or sublease to franchisees, franchise and license marketing funding, amortization expense for franchise-related intangible assets and certain other direct incremental franchise and license support costs.

Revenue Recognition.  Revenues from Company-owned restaurants are recognized when payment is tendered at the time of sale.  The Company presents sales net of sales-related taxes.  Income from our franchisees and licensees includes initial fees, continuing fees, renewal fees and rental income from restaurants we lease or sublease to them.  We recognize initial fees received from a franchisee or licensee as revenue when we have performed substantially all initial services required by the franchise or license agreement, which is generally upon the opening of a store.  We recognize continuing fees, which are based upon a percentage of franchisee and licensee sales as those sales occur and rental income is recognized as it is earned.  We recognize renewal fees when a renewal agreement with a franchisee or licensee becomes effective.  We present initial fees collected upon the sale of a company-owned restaurant to a franchisee in Refranchising (gain) loss.

While the majority of our franchise agreements are entered into with terms and conditions consistent with those at a prevailing market rate, there are instances when we enter into franchise agreements with terms that are not at market rates (for example, below-market continuing fees) for a specified period of time. We recognize the estimated value of terms in franchise agreements entered into concurrently with a refranchising transaction that are not consistent with market terms as part of the upfront refranchising gain (loss) and amortize that amount into Franchise and license fees and income over the period such terms are in effect. The value of terms that are not considered to be at market within franchise agreements is estimated based upon the difference between cash expected to be received under the franchise agreement and cash that would have been expected to be received under a franchise agreement with terms substantially consistent with market.

Direct Marketing Costs.  To the extent we participate in advertising cooperatives, we expense our contributions as incurred which are based on a percentage of sales.  We charge direct marketing costs incurred outside of a cooperative to expense ratably in relation to revenues over the year in which incurred and, in the case of advertising production costs, in the year the advertisement is first shown.  Deferred direct marketing costs, which are classified as prepaid expenses, consist of media and related advertising production costs which will generally be used for the first time in the next fiscal year and have historically not been significant.  Our advertising expenses were $581 million, $589 million and $607 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  We report substantially all of our direct marketing costs in Occupancy and other operating expenses.

Research and Development Expenses.  Research and development expenses, which we expense as incurred, are reported in G&A expenses.  Research and development expenses were $28 million, $30 million and $31 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Share-Based Employee Compensation.  We recognize all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), in the Consolidated Financial Statements as compensation cost over the service period based on their fair value on the date of grant.  This compensation cost is recognized over the service period on a straight-line basis for awards that actually vest.  We present this compensation cost consistent with the other compensation costs for the employee recipient in either Payroll and employee benefits or G&A expenses. See Note 14 for further discussion of our share-based compensation plans.

Legal Costs. Settlement costs are accrued when they are deemed probable and reasonably estimable. Anticipated legal fees related to self-insured workers' compensation, employment practices liability, general liability, automobile liability, product liability and property losses (collectively, "property and casualty losses") are accrued when deemed probable and reasonably estimable. Legal fees not related to self-insured property and casualty losses are recognized as incurred. See Note 18 for further discussion of our legal proceedings.

Impairment or Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment.  Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) is tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable.  The assets are not recoverable if their carrying value is less than the undiscounted cash flows we expect to generate from such assets.  If the assets are not deemed to be recoverable, impairment is measured based on the excess of their carrying value over their fair value.

For purposes of impairment testing for our restaurants, we have concluded that an individual restaurant is the lowest level of independent cash flows unless our intent is to refranchise restaurants as a group.  We review our long-lived assets of such individual restaurants (primarily PP&E and allocated intangible assets subject to amortization) semi-annually for impairment, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a restaurant may not be recoverable.  We use two consecutive years of operating losses as our primary indicator of potential impairment for our semi-annual impairment testing of these restaurant assets.  We evaluate the recoverability of these restaurant assets by comparing the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, which are based on our entity-specific assumptions, to the carrying value of such assets.  For restaurant assets that are not deemed to be recoverable, we write-down an impaired restaurant to its estimated fair value, which becomes its new cost basis.  Fair value is an estimate of the price a franchisee would pay for the restaurant and its related assets and is determined by discounting the estimated future after-tax cash flows of the restaurant, which include a deduction for royalties we would receive under a franchise agreement with terms substantially at market.  The after-tax cash flows incorporate reasonable assumptions we believe a franchisee would make such as sales growth and margin improvement.  The discount rate used in the fair value calculation is our estimate of the required rate of return that a franchisee would expect to receive when purchasing a similar restaurant and the related long-lived assets.  The discount rate incorporates rates of returns for historical refranchising market transactions and is commensurate with the risks and uncertainty inherent in the forecasted cash flows.

In executing our refranchising initiatives, we most often offer groups of restaurants for sale.  When we believe it is more likely than not a restaurant or groups of restaurants will be refranchised for a price less than their carrying value, but do not believe the restaurant(s) have met the criteria to be classified as held for sale, we review the restaurants for impairment.  We evaluate the recoverability of these restaurant assets by comparing estimated sales proceeds plus holding period cash flows, if any, to the carrying value of the restaurant or group of restaurants.  For restaurant assets that are not deemed to be recoverable, we recognize impairment for any excess of carrying value over the fair value of the restaurants, which is based on the expected net sales proceeds.  To the extent ongoing agreements to be entered into with the franchisee simultaneous with the refranchising are expected to contain terms, such as royalty rates, not at prevailing market rates, we consider the off-market terms in our impairment evaluation.  We recognize any such impairment charges in Refranchising (gain) loss.  Refranchising (gain) loss includes the gains or losses from the sales of our restaurants to new and existing franchisees, including any impairment charges discussed above, and the related initial franchise fees. We recognize gains on restaurant refranchisings when the sale transaction closes and control of the restaurant operations have transferred to the franchisee.

When we decide to close a restaurant, it is reviewed for impairment and depreciable lives are adjusted based on the expected disposal date.  Other costs incurred when closing a restaurant such as costs of disposing of the assets as well as other facility-related expenses from previously closed stores are generally expensed as incurred.  Additionally, at the date we cease using a property under an operating lease, we record a liability for the net present value of any remaining lease obligations, net of estimated sublease income, if any.  Any costs recorded upon store closure as well as any subsequent adjustments to liabilities for remaining lease obligations as a result of lease termination or changes in estimates of sublease income are recorded in Closures and impairment (income) expenses.   To the extent we sell assets, primarily land, associated with a closed store, any gain or loss upon that sale is also recorded in Closures and impairment (income) expenses.

Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate future cash flows, including cash flows from continuing use, terminal value, sublease income and refranchising proceeds.  Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from our estimates.

Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates.  We record impairment charges related to an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate whenever events or circumstances indicate that a decrease in the fair value of an investment has occurred which is other than temporary.  In addition, we evaluate our investments in unconsolidated affiliates for impairment when they have experienced two consecutive years of operating losses. 

Guarantees.  We recognize, at inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of certain obligations undertaken.  The majority of our guarantees are issued as a result of assigning our interest in obligations under operating leases as a condition to the refranchising of certain Company restaurants.  We recognize a liability for the fair value of such lease guarantees upon refranchising and upon subsequent renewals of such leases when we remain contingently liable.  The related expense and any subsequent changes are included in Refranchising (gain) loss.  Any expense and subsequent changes in the guarantees for other franchise support guarantees not associated with a refranchising transaction are included in Franchise and license expense.

Income Taxes.  We record deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases as well as operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences or carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Additionally, in determining the need for recording a valuation allowance against the carrying amount of deferred tax assets, we consider the amount of taxable income and periods over which it must be earned, actual levels of past taxable income and known trends and events or transactions that are expected to affect future levels of taxable income.  Where we determine that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of an asset will not be realized, we record a valuation allowance.

In November, 2015 the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (ASU 2015-17) to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 requires organizations that present a classified balance sheet to classify all deferred taxes as noncurrent assets or noncurrent liabilities. We have elected to early adopt this guidance as of December 26, 2015 and restate our 2014 comparable balances. This resulted in $93 million of current deferred tax assets and $2 million of current deferred tax liabilities being reclassified at December 27, 2014, resulting in an increase to Deferred income taxes - long term of $82 million and a corresponding decrease to Other liabilities and deferred credits of $9 million.

We recognize the benefit of positions taken or expected to be taken in our tax returns in our Income tax provision when it is more likely than not (i.e. a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities.  A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon settlement.  We evaluate these amounts on a quarterly basis to ensure that they have been appropriately adjusted for audit settlements and other events we believe may impact the outcome. Changes in judgment that result in subsequent recognition, derecognition or a change in measurement of a tax position taken in a prior annual period (including any related interest and penalties) are recognized as a discrete item in the interim period in which the change occurs. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as components of our Income tax provision.

We do not record a U.S. deferred tax liability for the excess of the book basis over the tax basis of our investments in foreign subsidiaries to the extent that the basis difference results from earnings that meet the indefinite reversal criteria. This criteria is met if the foreign subsidiary has invested, or will invest, the undistributed earnings indefinitely. The decision as to the amount of undistributed earnings that we intend to maintain in non-U.S. subsidiaries considers items including, but not limited to, forecasts and budgets of financial needs of cash for working capital, liquidity plans and expected cash requirements in the United States.

See Note 16 for a further discussion of our income taxes.

Fair Value Measurements.  Fair value is the price we would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants.  For those assets and liabilities we record or disclose at fair value, we determine fair value based upon the quoted market price, if available.  If a quoted market price is not available for identical assets, we determine fair value based upon the quoted market price of similar assets or the present value of expected future cash flows considering the risks involved, including counterparty performance risk if appropriate, and using discount rates appropriate for the duration.  The fair values are assigned a level within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the source of the inputs into the calculation.

Level 1
Inputs based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
 
 
Level 2
Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly.
 
 
Level 3
Inputs that are unobservable for the asset.


Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Cash equivalents represent funds we have temporarily invested (with original maturities not exceeding three months), including short-term, highly liquid debt securities. Cash and overdraft balances that meet the criteria for right of setoff are presented net on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Receivables.  The Company’s receivables are primarily generated from ongoing business relationships with our franchisees and licensees as a result of franchise, license and lease agreements.  Trade receivables consisting of royalties from franchisees and licensees are generally due within 30 days of the period in which the corresponding sales occur and are classified as Accounts and notes receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Our provision for uncollectible franchisee and licensee receivable balances is based upon pre-defined aging criteria or upon the occurrence of other events that indicate that we may not collect the balance due.  Additionally, we monitor the financial condition of our franchisees and licensees and record provisions for estimated losses on receivables when we believe it probable that our franchisees or licensees will be unable to make their required payments.  While we use the best information available in making our determination, the ultimate recovery of recorded receivables is also dependent upon future economic events and other conditions that may be beyond our control.   We recorded $6 million, $3 million and $2 million in net provisions within Franchise and license expenses in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to uncollectible franchise and license trade receivables.  Trade receivables that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible, and for which collection efforts have been exhausted, are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts.
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Accounts and notes receivable
 
$
393

 
$
337

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
(16
)
 
(12
)
Accounts and notes receivable, net
 
$
377

 
$
325


 
Our financing receivables primarily consist of notes receivables and direct financing leases with franchisees which we enter into from time to time.  As these receivables primarily relate to our ongoing business agreements with franchisees and licensees, we consider such receivables to have similar risk characteristics and evaluate them as one collective portfolio segment and class for determining the allowance for doubtful accounts.  We monitor the financial condition of our franchisees and licensees and record provisions for estimated losses on receivables when we believe it is probable that our franchisees or licensees will be unable to make their required payments.  Balances of notes receivable and direct financing leases due within one year are included in Accounts and notes receivable while amounts due beyond one year are included in Other assets.  Amounts included in Other assets totaled $23 million (net of an allowance of $4 million) and $21 million (net of an allowance of $1 million) at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively.  Financing receivables that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible, and for which collection efforts have been exhausted, are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts.  Interest income recorded on financing receivables has historically been insignificant.

Inventories.  We value our inventories at the lower of cost (computed on the first-in, first-out method) or market.

Property, Plant and Equipment.  We state PP&E at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization.  We calculate depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:  5 to 25 years for buildings and leasehold improvements, 3 to 20 years for machinery and equipment and 3 to 7 years for capitalized software costs.  We suspend depreciation and amortization on assets related to restaurants that are held for sale.

Leases and Leasehold Improvements.  The Company leases land, buildings or both for certain of its restaurants worldwide.  The length of our lease terms, which vary by country and often include renewal options, are an important factor in determining the appropriate accounting for leases including the initial classification of the lease as capital or operating and the timing of recognition of rent expense over the duration of the lease.  We include renewal option periods in determining the term of our leases when failure to renew the lease would impose a penalty on the Company in such an amount that a renewal appears to be reasonably assured at the inception of the lease.  The primary penalty to which we are subject is the economic detriment associated with the existence of leasehold improvements which might be impaired if we choose not to continue the use of the leased property.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the lease term.  We generally do not receive leasehold improvement incentives upon opening a store that is subject to a lease.

We expense rent associated with leased land or buildings while a restaurant is being constructed whether rent is paid or we are subject to a rent holiday.  Additionally, certain of the Company's operating leases contain predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent during the lease term.  For leases with fixed escalating payments and/or rent holidays, we record rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including any option periods considered in the determination of that lease term.  Contingent rentals are generally based on sales levels in excess of stipulated amounts, and thus are not considered minimum lease payments and are included in rent expense when attainment of the contingency is considered probable (e.g. when Company sales occur).

Internal Development Costs and Abandoned Site Costs.  We capitalize direct costs associated with the site acquisition and construction of a Company unit on that site, including direct internal payroll and payroll-related costs.  Only those site-specific costs incurred subsequent to the time that the site acquisition is considered probable are capitalized.  If we subsequently make a determination that it is probable a site for which internal development costs have been capitalized will not be acquired or developed, any previously capitalized internal development costs are expensed and included in G&A expenses.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets.  From time to time, the Company acquires restaurants from one of our Concept’s franchisees or acquires another business.  Goodwill from these acquisitions represents the excess of the cost of a business acquired over the net of the amounts assigned to assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed.  Goodwill is not amortized and has been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing.  Our reporting units are business units (which are aligned based on geography) in our KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions and individual brands in our India and China Divisions.  

We evaluate goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or more often if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate impairment might exist.  We have selected the beginning of our fourth quarter as the date on which to perform our ongoing annual impairment test for goodwill. We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment for our reporting units to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value. If a qualitative assessment is not performed, or if as a result of a qualitative assessment it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then the reporting unit’s fair value is compared to its carrying value. Fair value is the price a willing buyer would pay for a reporting unit, and is generally estimated using discounted expected future after-tax cash flows from Company-owned restaurant operations and franchise royalties.  The discount rate is our estimate of the required rate of return that a third-party buyer would expect to receive when purchasing a business from us that constitutes a reporting unit.  We believe the discount rate is commensurate with the risks and uncertainty inherent in the forecasted cash flows.  If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is written down to its implied fair value.  

If we record goodwill upon acquisition of a restaurant(s) from a franchisee and such restaurant(s) is then sold within two years of acquisition, the goodwill associated with the acquired restaurant(s) is written off in its entirety.  If the restaurant is refranchised two years or more subsequent to its acquisition, we include goodwill in the carrying amount of the restaurants disposed of based on the relative fair values of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of in the refranchising and the portion of the reporting unit that will be retained.  The fair value of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of in a refranchising is determined by reference to the discounted value of the future cash flows expected to be generated by the restaurant and retained by the franchisee, which includes a deduction for the anticipated, future royalties the franchisee will pay us associated with the franchise agreement entered into simultaneously with the refranchising transition.  The fair value of the reporting unit retained is based on the price a willing buyer would pay for the reporting unit and includes the value of franchise agreements.  Appropriate adjustments are made if a franchise agreement includes terms that are determined to not be at prevailing market rates.  As such, the fair value of the reporting unit retained can include expected cash flows from future royalties from those restaurants currently being refranchised, future royalties from existing franchise businesses and company restaurant operations.  As a result, the percentage of a reporting unit’s goodwill that will be written off in a refranchising transaction will be less than the percentage of the reporting unit’s Company-owned restaurants that are refranchised in that transaction and goodwill can be allocated to a reporting unit with only franchise restaurants.

We evaluate the remaining useful life of an intangible asset that is not being amortized each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life.  If an intangible asset that is not being amortized is subsequently determined to have a finite useful life, we amortize the intangible asset prospectively over its estimated remaining useful life.  Intangible assets that are deemed to have a definite life are amortized on a straight-line basis to their residual value.

We evaluate our indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis or more often if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate impairments might exist.  We perform our annual test for impairment of our indefinite-lived intangible assets at the beginning of our fourth quarter. We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying value. If a qualitative assessment is not performed, or if as a result of a qualitative assessment it is not more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its carrying value, then the asset's fair value is compared to its carrying value. Fair value is an estimate of the price a willing buyer would pay for the intangible asset and is generally estimated by discounting the expected future after-tax cash flows associated with the intangible asset.  

Our definite-lived intangible assets that are not allocated to an individual restaurant are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible asset may not be recoverable.  An intangible asset that is deemed not recoverable on an undiscounted basis is written down to its estimated fair value, which is our estimate of the price a willing buyer would pay for the intangible asset based on discounted expected future after-tax cash flows.  For purposes of our impairment analysis, we update the cash flows that were initially used to value the definite-lived intangible asset to reflect our current estimates and assumptions over the asset’s future remaining life.

Derivative Financial Instruments. We use derivative instruments primarily to hedge interest rate and foreign currency risks. These derivative contracts are entered into with financial institutions. We do not use derivative instruments for trading purposes and we have procedures in place to monitor and control their use.

We record all derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in the results of operations. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a net investment hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported in the foreign currency translation component of other comprehensive income (loss). Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument for a cash flow hedge or net investment hedge is recorded in the results of operations immediately. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss is recognized in the results of operations immediately.

As a result of the use of derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to risk that the counterparties will fail to meet their contractual obligations. To mitigate the counterparty credit risk, we only enter into contracts with carefully selected major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors, and continually assess the creditworthiness of counterparties. At December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, all of the counterparties to our interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps and foreign currency forwards had investment grade ratings according to the three major ratings agencies. To date, all counterparties have performed in accordance with their contractual obligations.

Common Stock Share Repurchases.  From time to time, we repurchase shares of our Common Stock under share repurchase programs authorized by our Board of Directors.  Shares repurchased constitute authorized, but unissued shares under the North Carolina laws under which we are incorporated.  Additionally, our Common Stock has no par or stated value.  Accordingly, we record the full value of share repurchases, upon the trade date, against Common Stock on our Consolidated Balance Sheet except when to do so would result in a negative balance in such Common Stock account.  In such instances, on a period basis, we record the cost of any further share repurchases as a reduction in retained earnings.  Due to the large number of share repurchases of our stock over the past several years, our Common Stock balance is frequently zero at the end of any period.  Accordingly, $1,124 million, $725 million and $640 million in share repurchases were recorded as a reduction in Retained Earnings in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. See Note 15 for additional information on our share repurchases.

Pension and Post-retirement Medical Benefits. We measure and recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our pension and post-retirement plans as an asset or liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of our fiscal year end. The funded status represents the difference between the projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets, which is calculated on a plan-by-plan basis. The projected benefit obligation and related funded status are determined using assumptions as of the end of each year. The projected benefit obligation is the present value of benefits earned to date by plan participants, including the effect of future salary increases, as applicable. The difference between the projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets that has not previously been recognized in our Consolidated Statement of Income is recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The net periodic benefit costs associated with the Company's defined benefit pension and post-retirement medical plans are determined using assumptions regarding the projected benefit obligation and, for funded plans, the market-related value of plan assets as of the beginning of each year. We have elected to use a market-related value of plan assets to calculate the expected return on assets in net periodic benefit costs. We recognize differences in the fair value versus the market-related value of plan assets evenly over five years. For each individual plan we amortize into pension expense the net amounts in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), as adjusted for the difference between the fair value and market-related value of plan assets, to the extent that such amounts exceed 10% of the greater of a plan’s projected benefit obligation or market-related value of assets, over the remaining service period of active participants in the plan or, for plans with no active participants, over the expected average life expectancy of the inactive participants in the plan. We record a curtailment when an event occurs that significantly reduces the expected years of future service or eliminates the accrual of defined benefits for the future services of a significant number of employees. We record a curtailment gain when the employees who are entitled to the benefits terminate their employment; we record a curtailment loss when it becomes probable a loss will occur.

We recognize settlement gains or losses only when we have determined that the cost of all settlements in a year will exceed the sum of the service and interest costs within an individual plan.
v3.3.1.900
Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS")
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Earnings Per Common Share (EPS)
Earnings Per Common Share (“EPS”)

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net Income – YUM! Brands, Inc.
 
$
1,293


$
1,051


$
1,091

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (for basic calculation)
 
436

 
444

 
452

Effect of dilutive share-based employee compensation
 
7

 
9

 
9

Weighted-average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding (for diluted calculation)
 
443

 
453

 
461

Basic EPS
 
$
2.97


$
2.37


$
2.41

Diluted EPS
 
$
2.92


$
2.32


$
2.36

Unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights (in millions) excluded from the diluted EPS computation(a)
 
4.5

 
5.5

 
4.9


(a)
These unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive for the periods presented.
v3.3.1.900
Items Affecting Comparability of Net Income and Cash Flows
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Items Affecting Comparability Of Net Income And Cash Flows Disclosure [Abstract]  
Items Affecting Comparability of Net Income and Cash Flows
Items Affecting Comparability of Net Income and Cash Flows

Little Sheep Impairment

On February 1, 2012 we acquired an additional 66% interest in Little Sheep Group Limited (“Little Sheep”) for $540 million, net of cash acquired of $44 million, increasing our ownership to 93%. The primary assets recorded as a result of the acquisition and resulting consolidation of Little Sheep were the Little Sheep trademark and goodwill of approximately $400 million and $375 million, respectively.

Sustained declines in sales and profits in 2013 resulted in a determination that the Little Sheep trademark, goodwill and certain restaurant level PP&E were impaired during the quarter ended September 7, 2013. As a result, we recorded impairment charges to the trademark, goodwill and PP&E of $69 million, $222 million and $4 million, respectively, during the quarter ended September 7, 2013.

The Little Sheep business continued to underperform during 2014 with actual average-unit sales volumes and profit levels significantly below those assumed in our 2013 estimation of the Little Sheep trademark and reporting unit fair values. As a result, a significant number of Company-operated restaurants were closed or refranchised during 2014 with future plans calling for further focus on franchise-ownership for the Concept. We tested the Little Sheep trademark and goodwill for impairment in the fourth quarter of 2014 pursuant to our accounting policy. As a result of comparing the trademark’s 2014 fair value estimate of $58 million to its carrying value of $342 million, we recorded a $284 million impairment charge. Additionally, after determining the 2014 fair value estimate of the Little Sheep reporting unit was less than its carrying value we wrote off Little Sheep’s remaining goodwill balance of $160 million. The Company also evaluated other Little Sheep long-lived assets for impairment and recorded $14 million of restaurant-level PP&E impairment and a $5 million impairment of our equity method investment in a meat processing business that supplies lamb to Little Sheep.

The losses related to Little Sheep that have occurred concurrent with our trademark and goodwill impairments in 2014 and 2013, none of which have been allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes, are summarized below:
 
2014
 
2013
 
Income Statement Classification
Impairment of Goodwill
$
160

 
$
222

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Impairment of Trademark
284

 
69

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Impairment of PP&E
14

 
4

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Impairment of Investment in Little Sheep Meat
5

 

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Tax Benefit
(76
)
 
(18
)
 
Income tax provision
Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest
(26
)
 
(19
)
 
Net Income (loss) noncontrolling interests
Net loss
$
361

 
$
258

 
Net Income - YUM! Brands, Inc.


Losses Related to the Extinguishment of Debt

During the fourth quarter of 2013, we completed a cash tender offer to repurchase $550 million of our Senior Unsecured Notes due either March 2018 or November 2037.  This transaction resulted in $120 million of losses as a result of premiums paid and other costs, $118 million of which was classified as Interest expense, net in our Consolidated Statement of Income.  The repurchase of the Senior Unsecured Notes was funded primarily by proceeds of $599 million received from the issuance of new Senior Unsecured Notes. 

Refranchising (Gain) Loss

The Refranchising (gain) loss by reportable segment is presented below. We do not allocate such gains and losses to our segments for performance reporting purposes.

 
 
Refranchising (gain) loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
China
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(17
)
 
$
(5
)
 
 
 
 
 
KFC Division(a)
 
30

 
(18
)
 
(8
)
 
 
 
 
 
Pizza Hut Division(a)(b)
 
55

 
4

 
(3
)
 
 
 
 
 
Taco Bell Division
 
(65
)
 
(4
)
 
(84
)
 
 
 
 
 
India
 
3

 
2

 

 
 
 
 
 
Worldwide
 
$
10

 
$
(33
)
 
$
(100
)
 
 
 
 
 

(a)
In 2010 we refranchised our then-remaining Company-operated restaurants in Mexico. To the extent we owned it, we did not sell the real estate related to certain of these restaurants, instead leasing it to the franchisee. During 2015, we sold the real estate for approximately $58 million. While these proceeds exceeded the book value of the real estate, the sale represented a substantial liquidation of our Mexican foreign entities under GAAP. As such, the accumulated translation losses associated with our Mexican business were included in our loss on the sale. We recorded charges of $80 million representing the excess of the sum of the book value of the real estate and other related assets and our accumulated translation losses over the sales price. Consistent with the classification of the original market refranchising transaction, these charges were classified as Refranchising (gain) loss. Refranchising losses of $40 million were associated with both the KFC and Pizza Hut Divisions.

Our KFC and Pizza Hut Divisions earned approximately $2 million and $1 million, respectively, of rental income in 2015 and $3 million and $1 million, respectively, of rental income in 2014 related to this real estate that transferred to the buyer subsequent to the sale of the real estate. We continue to earn U.S. dollar-denominated franchise fees, most of which are sales-based royalties, under our existing franchise contracts with our Mexico franchisee.

(b)
During 2015 we recognized charges of $16 million within Refranchising (gain) loss associated with the refranchising of our company-owned Pizza Hut restaurants in Korea. While additional gains or losses may occur as the refranchising plans move forward, such amounts are not expected to be material at this time.

KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement

During 2015 we reached an agreement with our KFC U.S. franchisees that gave us brand marketing control as well as an accelerated path to expanded menu offerings, improved assets and enhanced customer experience. In connection with this agreement we anticipate investing a total of approximately $125 million through 2017 primarily to fund new back-of-house equipment for franchisees and to provide incentives to accelerate franchisee store remodels. We recorded expenses for the portion of these investments made in 2015 of $71 million and $1 million within Franchise and license expense and Occupancy and other operating expenses, respectively, with the remaining investments to occur in 2016 and 2017. These charges are not being allocated to the KFC Division for performance reporting purposes due to their unique and long-term brand-building nature.

In addition to the investments above we have agreed to fund incremental system advertising dollars of $60 million. We funded approximately $10 million of such advertising in 2015 with the remaining funding to occur in 2016 and 2017. These amounts are being recorded in the KFC Division segment operating results.

Store Closure and Impairment Activity

Store closure (income) costs and Store impairment charges by reportable segment are presented below. These tables exclude $463 million and $295 million of Little Sheep impairment losses in 2014 and 2013, respectively which were not allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes.
 
 
2015
 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Store closure (income) costs(a)
 
$
(6
)
 
$
1

 
$
(2
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
(8
)
Store impairment charges
 
70

 
7

 
5

 
4

 
1

 
87

Closure and impairment (income) expenses
 
$
64

 
$
8

 
$
3

 
3

 
$
1

 
$
79


 
 
2014
 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Store closure (income) costs(a)
 
$

 
$
2

 
$
1

 
$

 
$

 
$
3

Store impairment charges
 
54

 
7

 
4

 
3

 
1

 
69

Closure and impairment (income) expenses
 
$
54

 
$
9

 
$
5

 
$
3

 
$
1

 
$
72


 
 
2013
 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Store closure (income) costs(a)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(5
)
Store impairment charges
 
31

 
4

 
3

 
1

 
2

 
41

Closure and impairment (income) expenses
 
$
30

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
36


(a)
Store closure (income) costs include the net gain or loss on sales of real estate on which we formerly operated a Company-owned restaurant that was closed, lease reserves established when we cease using a property under an operating lease and subsequent adjustments to those reserves and other facility-related expenses from previously closed stores. Remaining lease obligations for closed stores were not material at December 26, 2015 or December 27, 2014.
v3.3.1.900
Supplemental Cash Flow Data
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]  
Supplemental Cash Flow Data
Supplemental Cash Flow Data
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Cash Paid For:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest(a)
 
$
154

 
$
149

 
$
269

Income taxes(b)
 
535

 
684

 
489

Significant Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital lease obligations incurred
 
$
28

 
$
24

 
$
15


 
(a)
2013 includes $109 million of cash premiums and fees paid related to the extinguishment of debt, which is the primary component of the $120 million loss on debt extinguishment. See Note 4.

(b)
2014 includes $200 million of cash paid related to the resolution of a valuation issue with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") related to years 2004 through 2008. See Note 16.
v3.3.1.900
Franchise and License Fees and Income
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Franchise And License Fees And Income Disclosure [Abstract]  
Franchise and license fees and income
Franchise and License Fees and Income

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Initial fees, including renewal fees
 
$
88

 
$
83

 
$
90

Initial franchise fees included in Refranchising (gain) loss
 
(10
)
 
(5
)
 
(13
)
 
 
78

 
78

 
77

Continuing fees and rental income
 
1,882

 
1,877

 
1,823

Franchise and license fees and income
 
$
1,960


$
1,955


$
1,900

v3.3.1.900
Other (Income) Expense
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]  
Other (Income) Expense
Other (Income) Expense

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Equity (income) loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliates
 
$
(41
)
 
$
(30
)
 
$
(26
)
China poultry supply insurance recovery(a)
 
(5
)
 
(25
)
 

Loss associated with planned sale of aircraft(b)
 
15

 

 

Foreign exchange net (gain) loss and other
 
21

 
14

 
10

Other (income) expense
 
$
(10
)

$
(41
)

$
(16
)


(a)
Recoveries related to lost profits associated with a 2012 poultry supply incident.

(b)
During 2015, we made the decision to dispose of a corporate aircraft in China. The loss associated with this planned sale reflects the shortfall of the expected proceeds, less any selling costs, over the carrying value of the aircraft.
v3.3.1.900
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Disclosure [Abstract]  
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
 
2015
 
2014
Income tax receivable
 
$
41

 
$
55

Assets held for sale(a)
 
28

 
14

Other prepaid expenses and current assets
 
173

 
185

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
242


$
254



(a)
Reflects the carrying value of a corporate aircraft in China (See Note 7) as well as restaurants we have offered for sale to franchisees and excess properties that we do not intend to use for restaurant operations in the future.

Property, Plant and Equipment
 
2015
 
2014
Land
 
$
480

 
$
506

Buildings and improvements
 
4,462

 
4,549

Capital leases, primarily buildings
 
203

 
210

Machinery and equipment
 
2,687

 
2,817

Property, plant and equipment, gross
 
7,832

 
8,082

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
(3,643
)
 
(3,584
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
$
4,189


$
4,498



Depreciation and amortization expense related to property, plant and equipment was $712 million, $702 million and $686 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities
 
2015
 
2014
Accounts payable
 
$
616

 
$
694

Accrued capital expenditures
 
174

 
250

Accrued compensation and benefits
 
465

 
419

Dividends payable
 
197

 
178

Accrued taxes, other than income taxes
 
116

 
100

Other current liabilities
 
417

 
329

Accounts payable and other current liabilities
 
$
1,985


$
1,970

v3.3.1.900
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:

 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Balance as of December 28, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross
 
$
478

 
$
338

 
204

 
$
106

 
2

 
$
1,128

Accumulated impairment losses(a)
 
(222
)
 

 
(17
)
 

 

 
(239
)
Goodwill,net
 
256

 
338

 
187

 
106

 
2

 
889

Acquisitions
 

 
2

 

 
8

 

 
10

Impairment Losses(a)
 
(160
)
 

 

 

 

 
(160
)
Disposals and other, net(b)
 
(7
)
 
(28
)
 
(4
)
 

 

 
(39
)
Balance as of December 27, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross
 
471

 
312

 
200

 
114

 
2

 
1,099

Accumulated impairment losses(a)
 
(382
)
 

 
(17
)
 

 

 
(399
)
Goodwill, net
 
89

 
312

 
183

 
114

 
2

 
700

Acquisitions
 

 
1

 

 
1

 

 
2

Disposals and other, net(b)
 
(4
)
 
(32
)
 
(7
)
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(46
)
Balance as of December 26, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross
 
467

 
281

 
193

 
113

 
1

 
1,055

Accumulated impairment losses(a)
 
(382
)
 

 
(17
)
 

 

 
(399
)
Goodwill, net
 
$
85

 
$
281

 
$
176

 
$
113

 
$
1

 
$
656


(a)
China Accumulated impairment losses represent Little Sheep impairment, of which $160 million was recorded in 2014. See Note 4.

(b)
Disposals and other, net includes the impact of foreign currency translation on existing balances and goodwill write-offs associated with refranchising.



Intangible assets, net for the years ended 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
Definite-lived intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reacquired franchise rights
 
$
168

 
$
(91
)
 
$
186

 
$
(81
)
Franchise contract rights
 
123

 
(94
)
 
126

 
(92
)
Lease tenancy rights
 
57

 
(10
)
 
67

 
(12
)
Favorable operating leases
 
11

 
(7
)
 
15

 
(9
)
Other
 
54

 
(27
)
 
52

 
(25
)
 
 
$
413

 
$
(229
)
 
$
446

 
$
(219
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KFC trademark
 
$
31

 
 
 
$
31

 
 
Little Sheep trademark
 
56

 
 
 
60

 
 
 
 
$
87

 
 
 
$
91

 
 


Amortization expense for all definite-lived intangible assets was $26 million in 2015, $27 million in 2014 and $28 million in 2013.  Amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets will approximate $21 million in 2016, $21 million in 2017, $19 million in 2018, $18 million in 2019 and $17 million in 2020.

v3.3.1.900
Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt
Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt

 
 
2015
 
2014
Short-term Borrowings
 
 
 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
 
$
313

 
$
264

Current portion of fair value hedge accounting adjustment
 
1

 
3

Unsecured Short-Term Loan Credit Facility, expires June 2016
 
600

 

Other
 
9

 

 
 
$
923

 
$
267

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term Debt
 
 
 
 
Senior Unsecured Notes
 
$
2,497

 
$
2,746

Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility, expires March 2017
 
701

 
416

Capital lease obligations (See Note 11)
 
169

 
175

 
 
3,367

 
3,337

Less current maturities of long-term debt
 
(313
)
 
(264
)
Long-term debt excluding long-term portion of hedge accounting adjustment
 
3,054

 
3,073

Long-term portion of fair value hedge accounting adjustment
 

 
4

Long-term debt including hedge accounting adjustment
 
$
3,054


$
3,077



Our primary bank credit agreement comprises a $1.3 billion syndicated senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") which matures in March 2017. The Credit Facility includes 24 participating banks with commitments ranging from $23 million to $115 million.  Under the terms of the Credit Facility, we may borrow up to the maximum borrowing limit, less outstanding letters of credit or banker’s acceptances, where applicable.  At December 26, 2015, our unused Credit Facility totaled $594 million net of outstanding letters of credit of $5 million.  There were borrowings of $701 million and $416 million outstanding under the Credit Facility at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively.  The interest rate for most borrowings under the Credit Facility ranges from 1.00% to 1.75% over the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).  The exact spread over LIBOR under the Short-Term Loan Credit Facility depends upon our performance against specified financial criteria.  Interest on any outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility is payable at least quarterly.

On December 8, 2015, we executed a credit agreement providing for an unsecured term loan facility (the “Short-Term Loan Credit Facility”) in an amount up to $1.5 billion which matures in June 2016 with an option for us to extend maturity for an additional three months and includes three participating banks. Under the terms of the Short-Term Loan Credit Facility, we may borrow up to the full amount of the facility in up to three draws. At December 26, 2015, our unused Short-Term Loan Credit Facility totaled $900 million net of outstanding borrowings of $600 million. The interest rate for most borrowings under the Short-Term Loan Credit Facility ranges from 1.00% to 1.75% over LIBOR. The exact spread over LIBOR under the Short-Term Loan Credit Facility depends upon our performance against specified financial criteria. Interest on any outstanding borrowings under the Short-Term Loan Credit Facility is payable at least quarterly.

Both the Credit Facility and the Short-Term Loan Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by our principal domestic subsidiaries and contain financial covenants relating to the maintenance of leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios. The agreements for both facilities also contain affirmative and negative covenants including, among other things, limitations on certain additional indebtedness and liens, and certain other transactions specified in the agreement. Given the Company’s strong balance sheet and cash flows we were able to comply with all debt covenant requirements at December 26, 2015 with a considerable amount of cushion. Additionally, both facilities contain cross-default provisions whereby our failure to make any payment on our indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $125 million, or the acceleration of the maturity of any such indebtedness, will constitute a default under such agreement.

The majority of our remaining long-term debt primarily comprises Senior Unsecured Notes with varying maturity dates from 2016 through 2043 and stated interest rates ranging from 3.75% to 6.88%.  The Senior Unsecured Notes represent senior, unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness. Our Senior Unsecured Notes contain cross-default provisions whereby the acceleration of the maturity of any of our indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $50 million will constitute a default under the Senior Unsecured Notes unless such indebtedness is discharged, or the acceleration of the maturity of that indebtedness is annulled, within 30 days after notice.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, we repaid $250 million of Senior Unsecured Notes upon their maturity.

The following table summarizes all Senior Unsecured Notes issued that remain outstanding at December 26, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate
Issuance Date(a)
 
Maturity Date
 
Principal Amount (in millions)
 
Stated
 
Effective(b)
April 2006
 
April 2016
 
$
300

 
6.25%
 
6.03%
October 2007
 
March 2018
 
$
325

 
6.25%
 
6.36%
October 2007
 
November 2037
 
$
325

 
6.88%
 
7.45%
August 2009
 
September 2019
 
$
250

 
5.30%
 
5.59%
August 2010
 
November 2020
 
$
350

 
3.88%
 
4.01%
August 2011
 
November 2021
 
$
350

 
3.75%
 
3.88%
October 2013
 
November 2023
 
$
325

 
3.88%
 
4.01%
October 2013
 
November 2043
 
$
275

 
5.35%
 
5.42%

(a)
Interest payments commenced approximately six months after issuance date and are payable semi-annually thereafter.

(b)
Includes the effects of the amortization of any (1) premium or discount; (2) debt issuance costs; and (3) gain or loss upon settlement of related treasury locks and forward-starting interest rate swaps utilized to hedge the interest rate risk prior to the debt issuance.  Excludes the effect of any swaps that remain outstanding.

The annual maturities of short-term borrowings and long-term debt as of December 26, 2015, excluding capital lease obligations of $169 million and fair value hedge accounting adjustments of $1 million, are as follows:
 
Year ended:
 
2016
$
909

2017
701

2018
325

2019
250

2020
350

Thereafter
1,275

Total
$
3,810



Interest expense on short-term borrowings and long-term debt was $155 million, $152 million and $270 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. 2013 included $118 million in losses recorded in Interest expense, net as a result of premiums paid and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt. See Losses Related to the Extinguishment of Debt section of Note 4 for further discussion.
v3.3.1.900
Leases
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Leases [Abstract]  
Leases
Leases

At December 26, 2015 we operated more than 8,900 restaurants, leasing the underlying land and/or building in approximately 8,025 of those restaurants with the vast majority of our commitments expiring within 20 years from the inception of the lease.  In addition, the Company leases or subleases approximately 825 units to franchisees, principally in the U.S., UK and China.  

We also lease office space for headquarters and support functions, as well as certain office and restaurant equipment.  We do not consider any of these individual leases material to our operations.  Most leases require us to pay related executory costs, which include property taxes, maintenance and insurance.

Future minimum commitments and amounts to be received as lessor or sublessor under non-cancelable leases are set forth below:
 
 
Commitments
 
Lease Receivables
 
 
 
Capital
 
 
Operating
 
Direct
 Financing
 
 
Operating
2016
 
$
20

 
$
672

 
$
2

 
$
55

2017
 
20

 
620

 
2

 
50

2018
 
20

 
569

 
2

 
47

2019
 
20

 
516

 
2

 
40

2020
 
19

 
457

 
1

 
33

Thereafter
 
188

 
2,123

 
3

 
125

 
 
$
287

 
$
4,957

 
$
12

 
$
350



At December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, the present value of minimum payments under capital leases was $169 million and $175 million, respectively.  At December 26, 2015, unearned income associated with direct financing lease receivables was $3 million.

The details of rental expense and income are set forth below:
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Rental expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minimum
 
$
737

 
$
766

 
$
759

Contingent
 
294

 
302

 
293

 
 
$
1,031

 
$
1,068

 
$
1,052

Rental income
 
$
97

 
$
103

 
$
94

v3.3.1.900
Fair Value Disclosures
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Disclosures
Fair Value Disclosures

As of December 26, 2015 the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximated their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of notes receivable net of allowances and lease guarantees less subsequent amortization approximates their carrying value. The Company’s debt obligations, excluding capital leases, were estimated to have a fair value of $3.7 billion (Level 2), compared to their carrying value of $3.8 billion. We estimated the fair value of debt using market quotes and calculations based on market rates.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company has interest rate swaps accounted for as fair value hedges, foreign currency forwards and swaps accounted for as cash flow hedges and other investments, all of which are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Interest rate swaps are used to reduce our exposure to interest rate risk and lower interest expense for a portion of our fixed-rate debt and our interest rate swaps meet the shortcut method requirements and thus no ineffectiveness has been recorded. Our foreign currency forwards and swaps are used to reduce our exposure to cash flow volatility arising from foreign currency fluctuations associated with certain foreign currency denominated intercompany short-term receivables and payables. The notional amount, maturity date and currency of these forwards and swaps match those of the underlying receivables or payables and we measure ineffectiveness by comparing the cumulative change in the fair value of the forward or swap contract with the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedged item. The following table presents fair values for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the measurements fall. No transfers among the levels within the fair value hierarchy occurred during the years ended December 26, 2015 or December 27, 2014.

 
 
Fair Value
 
 
Level
 
2015
 
2014
Foreign Currency Forwards and Swaps, net
 
2

 
$
19

 
$
24

Interest Rate Swaps, net
 
2

 
2

 
10

Other Investments
 
1

 
21

 
21

Total
 
 
 
$
42

 
$
55


The fair value of the Company’s foreign currency forwards and swaps and interest rate swaps were determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows considering the risks involved, including nonperformance risk, and using discount rates appropriate for the duration based upon observable inputs. The other investments include investments in mutual funds, which are used to offset fluctuations in deferred compensation liabilities that employees have chosen to invest in phantom shares of a Stock Index Fund or Bond Index Fund. The other investments are classified as trading securities in Other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheet and their fair value is determined based on the closing market prices of the respective mutual funds as of December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014.

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents expense recognized from all non-recurring fair value measurements during the years ended December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014. Other than the Little Sheep impairments (See Note 4), these amounts relate to restaurants or groups of restaurants that were impaired either as a result of our semi-annual impairment review or when it was more likely than not a restaurant or restaurant group would be refranchised and exclude fair value measurements made for restaurants that were subsequently closed or refranchised prior to those respective year-end dates.

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Little Sheep impairments(a)
 
$

 
$
463

 
Refranchising related impairment(b)
 

 
9

 
Restaurant-level impairment(c)
 
61

 
46

 
Total
 
$
61

 
$
518

 

(a)
Except for the Little Sheep trademark, which had a carrying value of $56 million at December 26, 2015, the remaining carrying value of assets measured at fair value due to the 2014 Little Sheep impairments (Level 3) is insignificant. See Note 4 for further discussion. Our 2014 fair value estimate of the Little Sheep trademark was determined using a relief-from-royalty valuation approach that included future revenues as a significant input and a discount rate of 13% as our estimate of the required rate-of-return that a third party buyer would expect to receive when purchasing the trademark. The primary drivers of the trademark’s fair value are franchise revenue growth and revenues associated with a wholly-owned business that sells seasoning to retail customers. Franchise revenue growth reflected annual same store sales growth of 4% and approximately 35 new franchise units per year, partially offset by approximately 25 franchise closures per year. The retail seasoning business was forecasted to generate sales growth consistent with historical results. Our 2015 fair value estimate exceeded its carrying value using similar assumptions and methods as those used in 2014.

(b)
Refranchising related impairment results from writing down the assets of restaurants or restaurant groups offered for refranchising. The fair value measurements used in our impairment evaluation are based on either actual bids received from potential buyers (Level 2), or on estimates of the sales prices we anticipated receiving from a buyer for the restaurant or restaurant groups (Level 3).

(c)
Restaurant-level impairment charges are recorded in Closures and impairment (income) expenses and resulted primarily from our semi-annual impairment evaluation of long-lived assets of individual restaurants that were being operated at the time of impairment and had not been offered for refranchising. The fair value measurements used in these impairment evaluations were based on discounted cash flow estimates using unobservable inputs (Level 3). The remaining net book value of assets measured at fair value during the years ended December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 is insignificant.
v3.3.1.900
Pension, Retiree Medical and Retiree Savings Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Retiree Medical Benefits
Pension, Retiree Medical and Retiree Savings Plans

U.S. Pension Plans

We sponsor qualified and supplemental (non-qualified) noncontributory defined benefit plans covering certain full-time salaried and hourly U.S. employees. The qualified plan meets the requirements of certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code and provides benefits to a broad group of employees with restrictions on discriminating in favor of highly compensated employees with regard to coverage, benefits and contributions. The supplemental plans provide additional benefits to certain employees. We fund our supplemental plans as benefits are paid.

The most significant of our U.S. plans is the YUM Retirement Plan (the “Plan”), which is a qualified plan. Our funding policy with respect to the Plan is to contribute amounts necessary to satisfy minimum pension funding requirements, including requirements of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, plus additional amounts from time to time as are determined to be necessary to improve the Plan’s funded status. We do not expect to make any significant contributions to the Plan in 2016. We currently expect to make $13 million in benefit payments from our primary unfunded U.S. non-qualified plan in 2016. Our two significant U.S. plans were previously amended such that any salaried employee hired or rehired by YUM after September 30, 2001 is not eligible to participate in those plans.

We do not anticipate any plan assets being returned to the Company during 2016 for any U.S. plans.

Obligation and Funded Status at Measurement Date:

The following chart summarizes the balance sheet impact, as well as benefit obligations, assets, and funded status associated with our two significant U.S. pension plans.  The actuarial valuations for all plans reflect measurement dates coinciding with our fiscal year end.

 
 
2015
 
2014
Change in benefit obligation
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
 
$
1,301

 
$
1,025

Service cost
 
18

 
17

Interest cost
 
55

 
54

Plan amendments
 
28

 
1

Curtailments
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Special termination benefits
 
1

 
3

Benefits paid
 
(50
)
 
(65
)
Settlements(a)
 
(16
)
 
(17
)
Actuarial (gain) loss
 
(196
)
 
290

Administrative expense
 
(5
)
 
(5
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
 
$
1,134

 
$
1,301

 
 
 
 
 
Change in plan assets
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
 
$
991

 
$
933

Actual return on plan assets
 
(10
)
 
124

Employer contributions
 
94

 
21

Settlement payments(a)
 
(16
)
 
(17
)
Benefits paid
 
(50
)
 
(65
)
Administrative expenses
 
(5
)
 
(5
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
 
$
1,004

 
$
991

 Funded status at end of year
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(310
)


(a)
For discussion of the settlement payments and settlement losses, see Components of net periodic benefit cost below.

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Accrued benefit liability - current
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(11
)
Accrued benefit liability - non-current
 
(117
)
 
(299
)
 
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(310
)


The accumulated benefit obligation was $1,088 million and $1,254 million at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively.

Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Projected benefit obligation
 
$
101

 
$
1,301

Accumulated benefit obligation
 
88

 
1,254

Fair value of plan assets
 

 
991



Information for pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Projected benefit obligation
 
$
1,134

 
$
1,301

Accumulated benefit obligation
 
1,088

 
1,254

Fair value of plan assets
 
1,004

 
991



Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Service cost
 
$
18

 
$
17

 
$
21

Interest cost
 
55

 
54

 
54

Amortization of prior service cost(a)
 
1


1


2

Expected return on plan assets
 
(62
)
 
(56
)
 
(59
)
Amortization of net loss
 
45

 
17

 
48

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
57

 
$
33

 
$
66


Additional (gain) loss recognized due to:

Settlements(b)
 
$
5

 
$
6

 
$
30

Special termination benefits
 
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
5


(a)
Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits.

(b)
Settlement losses result when benefit payments exceed the sum of the service cost and interest cost within a plan during the year. During 2013 the Company allowed certain former employees with deferred vested balances an opportunity to voluntarily elect an early payout of their pension benefits. The majority of these payouts were funded from existing pension plan assets.

Pension gains (losses) in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning of year
 
$
(319
)
 
$
(124
)
Net actuarial (gain) loss
 
124

 
(220
)
Curtailments
 
2

 
2

Amortization of net loss
 
45

 
17

Amortization of prior service cost
 
1

 
1

Prior service cost
 
(28
)
 
(1
)
Settlement charges
 
5

 
6

End of year
 
$
(170
)
 
$
(319
)


Accumulated pre-tax losses recognized within Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Actuarial net loss
 
$
(138
)
 
$
(314
)
Prior service cost
 
(32
)
 
(5
)
 
 
$
(170
)
 
$
(319
)


The estimated net loss that will be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic pension cost in 2016 is $6 million.  The estimated prior service cost that will be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic pension cost in 2016 is $5 million.

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at the measurement dates:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Discount rate
 
4.90
%
 
4.30
%
Rate of compensation increase
 
3.75
%
 
3.75
%

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for fiscal years:
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Discount rate
 
4.30
%
 
5.40
%
 
4.40
%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets
 
6.75
%
 
6.90
%
 
7.25
%
Rate of compensation increase
 
3.75
%
 
3.75
%
 
3.75
%


Our estimated long-term rate of return on plan assets represents the weighted-average of expected future returns on the asset categories included in our target investment allocation based primarily on the historical returns for each asset category.

Plan Assets

The fair values of our pension plan assets at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 by asset category and level within the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 
 
2015
 
2014
Level 1:
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
$
3

 
$

Level 2:
 
 
 
 
Cash Equivalents(a)
 
9

 
5

Equity Securities – U.S. Large cap(b)
 
310

 
298

Equity Securities – U.S. Mid cap(b)
 
50

 
50

Equity Securities – U.S. Small cap(b)
 
51

 
50

Equity Securities – Non-U.S.(b)
 
100

 
91

Fixed Income Securities – U.S. Corporate(d)
 
289

 
305

Fixed Income Securities – U.S. Government and Government Agencies(c)
 
195

 
178

Fixed Income Securities – Other(d)
 
17

 
11

Total fair value of plan assets(e)
 
$
1,024

 
$
988


(a)
Short-term investments in money market funds

(b)
Securities held in common trusts

(c)
Investments held directly by the Plan

(d)
Includes securities held in common trusts and investments held directly by the Plan

(e)
2015 and 2014 exclude net unsettled trades (payable) receivable of $(20) million and $3 million, respectively.

Our primary objectives regarding the investment strategy for the Plan’s assets are to reduce interest rate and market risk and to provide adequate liquidity to meet immediate and future payment requirements.  To achieve these objectives, we are using a combination of active and passive investment strategies.  Our equity securities, currently targeted to be 50% of our investment mix, consist primarily of low-cost index funds focused on achieving long-term capital appreciation.  We diversify our equity risk by investing in several different U.S. and foreign market index funds.  Investing in these index funds provides us with the adequate liquidity required to fund benefit payments and plan expenses.  The fixed income asset allocation, currently targeted to be 50% of our mix, is actively managed and consists of long-duration fixed income securities that help to reduce exposure to interest rate variation and to better correlate asset maturities with obligations. The fair values of all pension plan assets are determined based on closing market prices or net asset values.

A mutual fund held as an investment by the Plan includes shares of YUM Common Stock valued at $0.5 million at both December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 (less than 1% of total plan assets in each instance).

Benefit Payments

The benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter are set forth below:

Year ended:
 
 
2016
 
$
61

2017
 
50

2018
 
55

2019
 
56

2020
 
56

2021 - 2025
 
331


Expected benefits are estimated based on the same assumptions used to measure our benefit obligation on the measurement date and include benefits attributable to estimated future employee service.

International Pension Plans

We also sponsor various defined benefit plans covering certain of our non-U.S. employees, the most significant of which are in the UK. During 2013, one of our UK plans was frozen such that existing participants can no longer earn future service credits. Our other UK plan was previously frozen to future service credits in 2011.

At the end of 2015 and 2014, the projected benefit obligations of these UK plans totaled $233 million and $231 million, respectively and plan assets totaled $291 million and $288 million, respectively. These plans were both in a net overfunded position at the end of 2015 and 2014 and related expense amounts recorded in each of 2015, 2014 and 2013 were not significant.

The funding rules for our pension plans outside of the U.S. vary from country to country and depend on many factors including discount rates, performance of plan assets, local laws and regulations. We do not plan to make significant contributions to either of our UK plans in 2016.

Retiree Medical Benefits

Our post-retirement plan provides health care benefits, principally to U.S. salaried retirees and their dependents, and includes retiree cost-sharing provisions.  This plan was previously amended such that any salaried employee hired or rehired by YUM after September 30, 2001 is not eligible to participate in this plan.  Employees hired prior to September 30, 2001 are eligible for benefits if they meet age and service requirements and qualify for retirement benefits.  We fund our post-retirement plan as benefits are paid.

At the end of 2015 and 2014, the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation was $59 million and $69 million, respectively.  Actuarial gains of $8 million and $2 million were recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss at the end of 2015 and 2014, respectively. The net periodic benefit cost recorded was $3 million in 2015 and $5 million in both 2014 and 2013, the majority of which is interest cost on the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation.  The weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost for the post-retirement medical plan are identical to those as shown for the U.S. pension plans.  Our assumed heath care cost trend rates for the following year as of 2015 and 2014 are 6.8% and 7.1%, respectively, with expected ultimate trend rates of 4.5% reached in 2038.

There is a cap on our medical liability for certain retirees.  The cap for Medicare-eligible retirees was reached in 2000 and the cap for non-Medicare eligible retirees was reached in 2014; with the cap, our annual cost per retiree will not increase.  A one-percentage-point increase or decrease in assumed health care cost trend rates would have less than a $1 million impact on total service and interest cost and on the post-retirement benefit obligation.  The benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years are approximately $5 million and in aggregate for the five years thereafter are $22 million.

Retiree Savings Plan

We sponsor a contributory plan to provide retirement benefits under the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “401(k) Plan”) for eligible U.S. salaried and hourly employees.  Participants are able to elect to contribute up to 75% of eligible compensation on a pre-tax basis.  Participants may allocate their contributions to one or any combination of multiple investment options or a self-managed account within the 401(k) Plan.  We match 100% of the participant’s contribution to the 401(k) Plan up to 6% of eligible compensation.  We recognized as compensation expense our total matching contribution of $13 million in 2015 and $12 million in both 2014 and 2013.
v3.3.1.900
Share-based and Deferred Compensation Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]  
Share-based and Deferred Compensation Plans
Share-based and Deferred Compensation Plans

Overview

At year end 2015, we had four stock award plans in effect: the YUM! Brands, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan (collectively the “LTIPs”), the YUM! Brands, Inc. Restaurant General Manager Stock Option Plan (“RGM Plan”) and the YUM! Brands, Inc. SharePower Plan (“SharePower”).  Under all our plans, the exercise price of stock options and SARs granted must be equal to or greater than the average market price or the ending market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.

Potential awards to employees and non-employee directors under the LTIPs include stock options, incentive stock options, SARs, restricted stock, stock units, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance restricted stock units, performance share units (“PSUs”) and performance units.  We have issued only stock options, SARs, RSUs and PSUs under the LTIPs.  While awards under the LTIPs can have varying vesting provisions and exercise periods, outstanding awards under the LTIPs vest in periods ranging from immediate to five years. Stock options and SARs expire ten years after grant.

Potential awards to employees under the RGM Plan include stock options, SARs, restricted stock and RSUs.  We have issued only stock options and SARs under this plan.  RGM Plan awards granted have a four-year cliff vesting period and expire ten years after grant.  Certain RGM Plan awards are granted upon attainment of performance conditions in the previous year.  Expense for such awards is recognized over a period that includes the performance condition period.

Potential awards to employees under SharePower include stock options, SARs, restricted stock and RSUs.  We have issued only stock options and SARs under this plan.  These awards generally vest over a period of four years and expire ten years after grant.

At year end 2015, approximately 13 million shares were available for future share-based compensation grants under the above plans.

Our Executive Income Deferral (“EID”) Plan allows participants to defer receipt of a portion of their annual salary and all or a portion of their incentive compensation.  As defined by the EID Plan, we credit the amounts deferred with earnings based on the investment options selected by the participants.  These investment options are limited to cash, phantom shares of our Common Stock, phantom shares of a Stock Index Fund and phantom shares of a Bond Index Fund.  Investments in cash and phantom shares of both index funds will be distributed in cash at a date as elected by the employee and therefore are classified as a liability on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recognize compensation expense for the appreciation or the depreciation, if any, of investments in cash and both of the index funds.  Deferrals into the phantom shares of our Common Stock will be distributed in shares of our Common Stock, under the LTIPs,  at a date as elected by the employee and therefore are classified in Common Stock on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We do not recognize compensation expense for the appreciation or the depreciation, if any, of investments in phantom shares of our Common Stock.  Our EID plan also allows certain participants to defer incentive compensation to purchase phantom shares of our Common Stock and receive a 33% Company match on the amount deferred.  Deferrals receiving a match are similar to a RSU award in that participants will generally forfeit both the match and incentive compensation amounts deferred if they voluntarily separate from employment during a vesting period that is two years from the date of deferral.  We expense the intrinsic value of the match and the incentive compensation over the requisite service period which includes the vesting period.

Historically, the Company has repurchased shares on the open market in excess of the amount necessary to satisfy award exercises and expects to continue to do so in 2016.

Award Valuation

We estimated the fair value of each stock option and SAR award as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Risk-free interest rate
 
1.3
%
 
1.6
%
 
0.8
%
Expected term (years)
 
6.4

 
6.2

 
6.2

Expected volatility
 
26.9
%
 
29.7
%
 
29.9
%
Expected dividend yield
 
2.2
%
 
2.1
%
 
2.1
%


We believe it is appropriate to group our stock option and SAR awards into two homogeneous groups when estimating expected term.  These groups consist of grants made primarily to restaurant-level employees under the RGM Plan, which cliff-vest after four years and expire ten years after grant, and grants made to executives under our other stock award plans, which typically have a graded vesting schedule of 25% per year over four years and expire ten years after grant.  We use a single weighted-average term for our awards that have a graded vesting schedule.  Based on analysis of our historical exercise and post-vesting termination behavior, we have determined that our restaurant-level employees and our executives exercised the awards on average after 4.75 years and 6.5 years, respectively.

When determining expected volatility, we consider both historical volatility of our stock as well as implied volatility associated with our publicly traded options.  The expected dividend yield is based on the annual dividend yield at the time of grant.

The fair values of RSU awards are based on the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of grant. The fair values of PSU awards granted prior to 2013 are based on the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of grant. Beginning in 2013, the Company grants PSU awards with market-based conditions which have been valued based on the outcome of a Monte Carlo simulation.

Award Activity

Stock Options and SARs

 
 
Shares
(in thousands)
 
Weighted-Average Exercise
Price
 
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding at the beginning of the year
 
27,172

 
 
 
$
46.68

 
 
 
 
Granted
 
3,811

 
 
 
74.32

 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
(4,089
)
 
 
 
35.25

 
 
 
 
Forfeited or expired
 
(961
)
 
 
 
65.86

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at the end of the year
 
25,933

(a) 
 
 
$
51.79

 
5.41

 
$
577

Exercisable at the end of the year
 
17,084

 
 
 
$
42.49

 
4.03

 
$
538


(a)
Outstanding awards include 1,623 options and 24,310 SARs with weighted average exercise prices of $49.34 and $51.98, respectively.

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock options and SARs granted during 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $15.95, $17.28 and $14.67, respectively.  The total intrinsic value of stock options and SARs exercised during the years ended December 26, 2015, December 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013, was $186 million, $157 million and $176 million, respectively.

As of December 26, 2015, $89 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options and SARs, which will be reduced by any forfeitures that occur, is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of approximately 1.8 years.  The total fair value at grant date of awards that vested during 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $48 million, $41 million and $51 million, respectively.

RSUs and PSUs

As of December 26, 2015, there was $8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to 0.5 million unvested RSUs and PSUs.

Impact on Net Income

The components of share-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefits are shown in the following table:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Options and SARs
 
$
50

 
$
48

 
$
44

Restricted Stock Units
 
4

 
6

 
6

Performance Share Units
 
3

 
1

 
(1
)
Total Share-based Compensation Expense
 
$
57

 
$
55

 
$
49

Deferred Tax Benefit recognized
 
$
18

 
$
17

 
$
15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EID compensation expense not share-based
 
$
1

 
$
8

 
$
11



Cash received from stock option exercises for 2015, 2014 and 2013, was $12 million, $29 million and $37 million, respectively.  Tax benefits realized on our tax returns from tax deductions associated with share-based compensation for 2015, 2014 and 2013 totaled $66 million, $61 million and $65 million, respectively.

v3.3.1.900
Shareholders' Equity
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]  
Shareholders' Equity
Shareholders’ Equity

Under the authority of our Board of Directors, we repurchased shares of our Common Stock during 2015, 2014 and 2013.  All amounts exclude applicable transaction fees.  
 
 
 
Shares Repurchased
(thousands)
 
 
Dollar Value of Shares
Repurchased
 
Authorization Date
 
2015

 
 
2014

 
 
2013

 
 
2015

 
 
2014

 
 
2013

 
December 2015
 
932

 
 

 
 

 
 
$
67

 
 
$

 
 
$

 
November 2014
 
13,231

 
 

 
 

 
 
1,000

 
 

 
 

 
November 2013
 
1,779

 
 
8,488

 
 

 
 
133

 
 
617

 
 

 
November 2012
 

 
 
2,737

 
 
10,922

 
 

 
 
203

 
 
750

 
Total
 
15,942

 
 
11,225

 
 
10,922

(a) 
 
$
1,200

 
 
$
820

 
 
$
750

(a) 

(a)
2013 amount excludes the effect of $20 million in share repurchases (0.3 million shares) with trade dates prior to the 2012 fiscal year end but with settlement dates subsequent to the 2012 fiscal year end.

On December 8, 2015, our Board of Directors authorized share repurchases through December 2016 of up to $1 billion (excluding applicable transaction fees) of our outstanding Common Stock. As of December 26, 2015, we have $933 million available for future repurchases under this authorization.

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI") are presented below.
 
 
Translation Adjustments and Gains (Losses) From Intra-Entity Transactions of a Long-Term Nature
 
Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits(a)
 
Derivative Instruments
 
Total
Balance at December 28, 2013, net of tax
 
$
170

 
$
(97
)
 
$
(9
)
 
64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) arising during the year classified into accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
(143
)
 
(131
)
 
15

 
(259
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
2

 
18

 
(15
)
 
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OCI, net of tax
 
(141
)
 
(113
)
 

 
(254
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 27, 2014, net of tax
$
29

 
$
(210
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(190
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) arising during the year classified into accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
(250
)
 
63
 
28
 
(159
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
112
 
34
 
(36
)
 
110
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OCI, net of tax
 
(138
)
 
97

 
(8
)
 
(49
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 26, 2015, net of tax
$
(109
)
 
(113
)
 
$
(17
)
 
(239
)

(a)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI for pension and post-retirement benefit plan losses during 2015 include amortization of net losses of $46 million, settlement charges of $5 million, amortization of prior service cost of $2 million and related income tax benefit of $20 million. Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI for pension and post-retirement benefit plan losses during 2014 include amortization of net losses of $20 million, settlement charges of $6 million, amortization of prior service cost of $1 million and the related income tax benefit of $9 million. See Note 13.
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

U.S. and foreign income before taxes are set forth below:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
U.S.
 
$
471

 
$
506

 
$
464

Foreign
 
1,316

 
921

 
1,087

 
 
$
1,787

 
$
1,427

 
$
1,551



The details of our income tax provision (benefit) are set forth below:

 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Current:
 
Federal
 
$
287

 
$
255

 
$
159

 
 
Foreign
 
263

 
321

 
330

 
 
State
 
28

 
2

 
22

 
 
 
 
$
578

 
$
578

 
511

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred:
 
Federal
 
$
(143
)
 
$
(67
)
 
42

 
 
Foreign
 
54

 
(106
)
 
(53
)
 
 
State
 

 
1

 
(13
)
 
 
 
 
$
(89
)
 
$
(172
)
 
$
(24
)
 
 
 
 
$
489


$
406


$
487



The reconciliation of income taxes calculated at the U.S. federal statutory rate to our effective tax rate is set forth below:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
U.S. federal statutory rate
 
$
625

 
35.0
 %
 
$
500

 
35.0
 %
 
$
543

 
35.0
 %
State income tax, net of federal tax benefit
 
12

 
0.7

 
8

 
0.6

 
3

 
0.2

Statutory rate differential attributable to foreign operations
 
(210
)
 
(11.8
)
 
(168
)
 
(11.7
)
 
(177
)
 
(11.4
)
Adjustments to reserves and prior years
 
12

 
0.7

 
(5
)
 
(0.3
)
 
49

 
3.1

Change in valuation allowances
 
54

 
3.0

 
35

 
2.4

 
23

 
1.5

Other, net
 
(4
)
 
(0.3
)
 
36

 
2.5

 
46

 
3.0

Effective income tax rate
 
$
489

 
27.3
 %
 
$
406

 
28.5
 %
 
$
487

 
31.4
 %


Statutory rate differential attributable to foreign operations.  This item includes local taxes, withholding taxes, and shareholder-level taxes, net of foreign tax credits.  The favorable impact is primarily attributable to a majority of our income being earned outside of the U.S. where tax rates are generally lower than the U.S. rate.

Adjustments to reserves and prior years.  This item includes: (1) changes in tax reserves, including interest thereon, established for potential exposure we may incur if a taxing authority takes a position on a matter contrary to our position; and (2) the effects of reconciling income tax amounts recorded in our Consolidated Statements of Income to amounts reflected on our tax returns, including any adjustments to the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The impact of certain effects or changes may offset items reflected in the 'Statutory rate differential attributable to foreign operations' line.

In 2014, this item was favorably impacted by the resolution of uncertain tax positions in certain foreign jurisdictions.

In 2013 the Company recorded incremental reserves related to an IRS-proposed adjustment to increase the taxable value of rights to intangibles used outside the U.S. that YUM transferred to certain of its foreign subsidiaries. The Company and the IRS reached a final agreement on this valuation issue, which impacted tax returns for fiscal years 2004 - 2013, during 2014. As a result of this agreement, we closed out our 2004 - 2006 and 2007-2008 audit cycles and made cash payments in 2014 to the IRS of $200 million, which were effectively fully reserved, to settle all issues for these audit cycles. The agreement also resolved the valuation issue for all later impacted years. While additional cash payments related to the valuation issue will be required upon the closure of the examinations of future impacted fiscal years, the amounts will not be significant and have been fully reserved.

Change in valuation allowances.  This item relates to changes for deferred tax assets generated or utilized during the current year and changes in our judgment regarding the likelihood of using deferred tax assets that existed at the beginning of the year.  The impact of certain changes may offset items reflected in the 'Statutory rate differential attributable to foreign operations' line.

In 2015, $54 million of net tax expense was driven by $30 million for valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets generated in the current year and $24 million in net tax expense resulting from a change in judgment regarding the future use of certain deferred tax assets that existed at the beginning of the year.

In 2014, $35 million of net tax expense was driven by $41 million for valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets generated during the current year, partially offset by $6 million in net tax benefit resulting from a change in judgment regarding the future use of certain deferred tax assets that existed at the beginning of the year.

In 2013, $23 million of net tax expense was driven by $32 million for valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets generated during the current year, partially offset by a $9 million net tax benefit resulting from a change in judgment regarding the future use of certain deferred tax assets that existed at the beginning of the year.

Other.  This item primarily includes the impact of permanent differences related to current year earnings as well as U.S. tax credits and deductions.

In years 2014 and 2013, this item was negatively impacted by the $160 million and $222 million, respectively, of non-cash impairments of Little Sheep goodwill, which resulted in no related tax benefit. See Note 4.

The details of 2015 and 2014 deferred tax assets (liabilities) are set forth below:

 
 
2015
 
2014
Operating losses
 
$
239

 
$
271

Tax credit carryforwards
 
282

 
162

Employee benefits
 
154

 
238

Share-based compensation
 
126

 
119

Self-insured casualty claims
 
36

 
42

Lease-related liabilities
 
112

 
119

Various liabilities
 
82

 
73

Property, plant and equipment
 
33

 
39

Deferred income and other
 
86

 
102

Gross deferred tax assets
 
1,150

 
1,165

Deferred tax asset valuation allowances
 
(250
)
 
(228
)
Net deferred tax assets
 
$
900

 
$
937

Intangible assets, including goodwill
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(148
)
Property, plant and equipment
 
(56
)
 
(63
)
Other
 
(70
)
 
(104
)
Gross deferred tax liabilities
 
$
(256
)
 
$
(315
)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
 
$
644


$
622


Reported in Consolidated Balance Sheets as:
 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes
 
$
676


$
653

Other liabilities and deferred credits
 
(32
)
 
(31
)
 
 
$
644


$
622



We have investments in foreign subsidiaries where the carrying values for financial reporting exceed the tax basis.  We have not provided deferred tax on the portion of the excess that we believe is indefinitely reinvested, as we have the ability and intent to indefinitely postpone these basis differences from reversing with a tax consequence.   We estimate that our total temporary difference upon which we have not provided deferred tax is approximately $2.3 billion at December 26, 2015.  A determination of the deferred tax liability on this amount is not practicable. A portion of the above temporary difference relates to carrying value for financial reporting in excess of tax basis for the investment in our China business.

In October, 2015 YUM announced its intent to separate its China business into an independent publicly-traded company by the end of 2016. This transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for U.S. income tax purposes. As such, any reversal of this temporary difference would not result in U.S. tax.

Additionally, the China State Administration of Taxation (SAT) recently issued Bulletin 7 on Income arising from Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-resident Enterprises. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, an "indirect transfer" of People’s Republic of China (PRC) taxable assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by a non-resident enterprise, may be recharacterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have reasonable commercial purpose and the transferor has avoided payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such an indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax of 10%.

We have evaluated the potential applicability of Bulletin 7 to our plan to separate our China business in a tax-free restructuring and believe it is more likely than not that Bulletin 7 does not apply. We believe that the restructuring has reasonable commercial purpose.

If Bulletin 7 is deemed to apply, tax could be assessed on the difference between the fair market value and the tax basis of the separated China business. As our tax basis in the China business is minimal, the amount of such a tax could be significant and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our financial condition.

At December 26, 2015, the Company has foreign operating and capital loss carryforwards of $0.6 billion and U.S. state operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards of $1.0 billion and U.S. federal capital loss and tax credit carryforwards of $0.3 billion.  These losses are being carried forward in jurisdictions where we are permitted to use tax losses from prior periods to reduce future taxable income and will expire as follows:


 
 
Year of Expiration
 
 
 
 
2016
 
2017-2020
 
2021-2035
 
Indefinitely
 
Total
Foreign
 
$
5

 
$
211

 
$
98

 
$
305

 
$
619

U.S. state
 
53

 
26

 
876

 

 
955

U.S. federal
 
64

 

 
277

 

 
341

 
 
$
122

 
$
237

 
$
1,251

 
$
305

 
$
1,915



We recognize the benefit of positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities.  A recognized tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon settlement.

The Company had $98 million and $115 million of unrecognized tax benefits at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively, $89 million and $98 million of which are temporary in nature and if recognized, would not impact the effective income tax rate.  A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits follows:
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning of Year
 
$
115

 
$
243

     Additions on tax positions - current year
 

 
19

     Additions for tax positions - prior years
 
5

 
31

     Reductions for tax positions - prior years
 
(13
)
 
(20
)
     Reductions for settlements
 
(7
)
 
(144
)
     Reductions due to statute expiration
 
(2
)
 
(13
)
     Foreign currency translation adjustment
 

 
(1
)
End of Year
 
$
98

 
$
115



In 2014, the reduction in unrecognized tax benefits was primarily attributable to the resolution of the dispute with the IRS regarding the valuation of rights to intangibles transferred to certain foreign subsidiaries.

The Company believes it is reasonably possible its unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by approximately $6 million in the next 12 months, including approximately $4 million which, if recognized upon audit settlement or statute expiration, would affect the 2016 effective tax rate. Each of these positions is individually insignificant.

The Company’s income tax returns are subject to examination in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and numerous foreign jurisdictions.  

The Company has settled audits with the IRS through fiscal year 2008. Our operations in certain foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination for tax years as far back as 2005, some of which years are currently under audit by local tax authorities. In addition, the Company is subject to various U.S. state income tax examinations, for which, in the aggregate, we had significant unrecognized tax benefits at December 26, 2015, each of which is individually insignificant.

The accrued interest and penalties related to income taxes at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 are set forth below:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Accrued interest and penalties
 
$
15

 
$
5



During 2015, 2014 and 2013, a net expense of $5 million, $11 million and $18 million, respectively, for interest and penalties was recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income as components of its income tax provision.
v3.3.1.900
Reportable Operating Segments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Reportable Operating Segments [Abstract]  
Reportable Operating Segments
Reportable Operating Segments

See Note 1 for a description of our operating segments.
 
 
Revenues
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
6,909


$
6,934


$
6,905

KFC Division(a)
 
2,948


3,193


3,036

Pizza Hut Division(a)
 
1,145


1,148


1,147

Taco Bell Division(a)
 
1,988

 
1,863

 
1,869

India
 
115

 
141

 
127

 
 
$
13,105


$
13,279


$
13,084



 
 
Operating Profit; Interest Expense, Net; and
Income Before Income Taxes
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China (b)
 
$
757


$
713


$
777

KFC Division
 
677


708


649

Pizza Hut Division
 
289


295


339

Taco Bell Division
 
539

 
480

 
456

India
 
(19
)

(9
)

(15
)
Unallocated restaurant costs(c)
 


(1
)


Unallocated Franchise and License expenses(c)(j)
 
(71
)
 

 

Unallocated and corporate expenses(c)
 
(204
)

(189
)

(207
)
Unallocated Closures and impairment expense(c)(d)
 


(463
)

(295
)
Unallocated Refranchising gain (loss)(c)
 
(10
)

33


100

Unallocated Other income (expense)(c)
 
(37
)

(10
)

(6
)
Operating Profit
 
1,921


1,557


1,798

Interest expense, net(c)(e)
 
(134
)

(130
)

(247
)
Income Before Income Taxes
 
$
1,787


$
1,427


$
1,551


 
 
Depreciation and Amortization
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
425

 
$
411

 
$
394

KFC Division
 
176

 
187

 
190

Pizza Hut Division
 
40

 
39

 
36

Taco Bell Division
 
88

 
83

 
84

India
 
10

 
10

 
9

Corporate
 
8

 
9

 
8

 
 
$
747

 
$
739

 
$
721


 
 
Capital Spending
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
512

 
$
525

 
$
568

KFC Division
 
273

 
273

 
294

Pizza Hut Division
 
54

 
62

 
52

Taco Bell Division
 
116

 
143

 
100

India
 
7

 
21

 
31

Corporate
 
11

 
9

 
4

 
 
$
973

 
$
1,033

 
$
1,049


 
 
Identifiable Assets
 
 
2015
 
2014
China (f)
 
$
3,150

 
$
3,202

KFC Division(i)
 
2,181

 
2,328

Pizza Hut Division(i)
 
707

 
710

Taco Bell Division(i)
 
1,127

 
1,084

India
 
84

 
118

Corporate(g)(i)
 
826

 
892

 
 
$
8,075

 
$
8,334


 
 
Long-Lived Assets(h)
 
 
2015
 
2014
China
 
$
2,033

 
$
2,217

KFC Division
 
1,663

 
1,823

Pizza Hut Division
 
419

 
433

Taco Bell Division
 
911

 
920

India
 
35

 
72

Corporate
 
55

 
51

 
 
$
5,116

 
$
5,516



(a)
U.S. revenues included in the combined KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions totaled $3.1 billion in 2015 and $3.0 billion in both 2014 and 2013.

(b)
Includes equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates of $41 million, $30 million and $26 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(c)
Amounts have not been allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes.

(d)
Represents 2014 and 2013 impairment losses related to Little Sheep. See Note 4.

(e)
2013 includes $118 million of premiums and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt. See Note 4.

(f)
China includes investments in 4 unconsolidated affiliates totaling $61 million and $52 million for 2015 and 2014, respectively.  

(g)
Primarily includes cash, deferred tax assets and property, plant and equipment, net, related to our office facilities.

(h)
Includes property, plant and equipment, net, goodwill, and intangible assets, net.

(i)
U.S. identifiable assets included in the combined Corporate and KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions totaled $2.3 billion and $2.0 billion in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(j)
Represents 2015 costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement. See Note 4.
v3.3.1.900
Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies
Contingencies

Lease Guarantees

As a result of having (a) assigned our interest in obligations under real estate leases as a condition to the refranchising of certain Company restaurants; (b) contributed certain Company restaurants to unconsolidated affiliates; and (c) guaranteed certain other leases, we are frequently contingently liable on lease agreements.  These leases have varying terms, the latest of which expires in 2065.  As of December 26, 2015, the potential amount of undiscounted payments we could be required to make in the event of non-payment by the primary lessee was approximately $575 million.  The present value of these potential payments discounted at our pre-tax cost of debt at December 26, 2015 was approximately $475 million.  Our franchisees are the primary lessees under the vast majority of these leases.  We generally have cross-default provisions with these franchisees that would put them in default of their franchise agreement in the event of non-payment under the lease.  We believe these cross-default provisions significantly reduce the risk that we will be required to make payments under these leases.  Accordingly, the liability recorded for our probable exposure under such leases at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 was not material.

Franchise Loan Pool and Equipment Guarantees

We have agreed to provide financial support, if required, to a variable interest entity that operates a franchisee lending program used primarily to assist franchisees in the development of new restaurants or the upgrade of existing restaurants and, to a lesser extent, in connection with the Company’s refranchising programs in the U.S. We have determined that we are not required to consolidate this entity as we share the power to direct this entity’s lending activity with other parties. We have provided guarantees of 20% of the outstanding loans of the franchisee loan program. As such, at December 26, 2015 our guarantee exposure under this program is approximately $6 million based on total loans outstanding of $29 million.

In addition to the guarantees described above, YUM has agreed to provide guarantees of up to approximately $140 million on behalf of franchisees for several financing programs related to specific initiatives, primarily equipment purchases. At December 26, 2015 our guarantee exposure under these financing programs is approximately $14 million based on total loans outstanding of $38 million.

Unconsolidated Affiliates Guarantees

From time to time we have guaranteed certain lines of credit and loans of unconsolidated affiliates.  At December 26, 2015 there are no guarantees outstanding for unconsolidated affiliates.  Our unconsolidated affiliates had total revenues of approximately $1.1 billion for the year ended December 26, 2015 and assets and debt of approximately $350 million and $50 million, respectively, at December 26, 2015.

Insurance Programs

We are self-insured for a substantial portion of our current and prior years’ coverage including property and casualty losses.  To mitigate the cost of our exposures for certain property and casualty losses, we self-insure the risks of loss up to defined maximum per occurrence retentions on a line-by-line basis.  The Company then purchases insurance coverage, up to a certain limit, for losses that exceed the self-insurance per occurrence retention.  The insurers’ maximum aggregate loss limits are significantly above our actuarially determined probable losses; therefore, we believe the likelihood of losses exceeding the insurers’ maximum aggregate loss limits is remote.

The following table summarizes the 2015 and 2014 activity related to our net self-insured property and casualty reserves as of December 26, 2015.

 
 
Beginning Balance
 
Expense
 
Payments
 
Ending Balance
2015 Activity
 
$
116

 
39

 
(53
)
 
$
102

2014 Activity
 
$
128

 
42

 
(54
)
 
$
116



Due to the inherent volatility of actuarially determined property and casualty loss estimates, it is reasonably possible that we could experience changes in estimated losses which could be material to our growth in quarterly and annual Net income.  We believe that we have recorded reserves for property and casualty losses at a level which has substantially mitigated the potential negative impact of adverse developments and/or volatility.

In the U.S. and in certain other countries, we are also self-insured for healthcare claims and long-term disability for eligible participating employees subject to certain deductibles and limitations.  We have accounted for our retained liabilities for property and casualty losses, healthcare and long-term disability claims, including reported and incurred but not reported claims, based on information provided by independent actuaries.

Legal Proceedings

We are subject to various claims and contingencies related to lawsuits, real estate, environmental and other matters arising in the normal course of business. An accrual is recorded with respect to claims or contingencies for which a loss is determined to be probable and reasonably estimable.

In early 2013, four putative class action complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the Company and certain executive officers alleging claims under sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants made false and misleading statements concerning the Company’s current and future business and financial condition. The four complaints were subsequently consolidated and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. On August 5, 2013, lead plaintiff, Frankfurt Trust Investment GmbH, filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint (“Amended Complaint”) on behalf of a putative class of all persons who purchased the Company’s stock between February 6, 2012 and February 4, 2013 (the “Class Period”). The Amended Complaint no longer included allegations relating to misstatements regarding the Company’s business or financial condition and instead alleged that, during the Class Period, defendants purportedly omitted information about the Company’s supply chain in China, thereby inflating the prices at which the Company’s securities traded. On October 4, 2013, the Company and individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint. On December 24, 2014, the District Court granted that motion to dismiss in its entirety and dismissed the Amended Complaint with prejudice. On January 16, 2015, lead plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeal for the Sixth Circuit. Oral argument of plaintiff’s appeal took place on August 4, 2015. On August 20, 2015, a three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeal for the Sixth Circuit unanimously affirmed dismissal of all claims against the Company and the individual defendants. Lead plaintiff did not file a petition for panel rehearing, a petition for hearing en banc, or a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court before the applicable deadlines.

On January 24, 2013, Bert Bauman, a purported shareholder of the Company, submitted a letter demanding that the Board of Directors initiate an investigation of alleged breaches of fiduciary duties by directors, officers and employees of the Company. The breaches of fiduciary duties were alleged to have arisen primarily as a result of the failure to implement proper controls in connection with the Company’s purchases of poultry from suppliers to the Company’s China operations. Subsequently, similar demand letters by other purported shareholders were submitted. Those letters were referred to a special committee of the Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”) for consideration. The Special Committee, upon conclusion of an independent inquiry of the matters described in the letters, unanimously determined that it is not in the best interests of the Company to pursue the claims described in the letters and, accordingly, rejected each shareholder’s demand.

On May 9, 2013, Mr. Bauman filed a putative derivative action in Jefferson Circuit Court, Commonwealth of Kentucky against certain current and former officers and directors of the Company asserting breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment in connection with an alleged failure to implement proper controls in the Company’s purchases of poultry from suppliers to the Company’s China operations and with an alleged scheme to mislead investors about the Company’s growth prospects in China. On November 11, 2015, the parties filed a joint motion to dismiss the action with prejudice. On November 24, 2015, the Circuit Court granted the parties’ motion and dismissed the action with prejudice. The matter has been closed.

On February 14, 2013, Jennifer Zona, another purported shareholder of the Company, submitted a demand letter similar to the demand letters described above. On May 21, 2013, Ms. Zona filed a putative derivative action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky against certain officers and directors of the Company asserting claims similar to those asserted by Mr. Bauman. The case was subsequently reassigned to the same judge that the securities class action is before. On October 14, 2013, the Company filed a motion to dismiss on the basis of the Special Committee’s findings. On October 14, 2015, the parties filed a joint stipulation to dismiss the action with prejudice. On October 22, 2015, the District Court granted the parties’ stipulation and dismissed the action with prejudice. The matter has been closed.

On May 17, 2013, Sandra Wollman, another purported shareholder of the Company, submitted a demand letter similar to the demand letters described above. On December 9, 2013, Ms. Wollman filed a putative derivative action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky against certain current and former officers and directors of the Company asserting claims similar to those asserted by Mr. Bauman and Ms. Zona. This matter was consolidated with the Zona action, and on October 14, 2015 the parties filed a joint stipulation to dismiss the action with prejudice. On October 22, 2015, the District Court granted the parties’ stipulation and dismissed the action with prejudice. The matter has been closed.

The Company and Taco Bell were named as defendants in a number of putative class action suits filed in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 alleging violations of California labor laws including unpaid overtime, failure to timely pay wages on termination, failure to pay accrued vacation wages, failure to pay minimum wage, denial of meal and rest breaks, improper wage statements, unpaid business expenses, wrongful termination, discrimination, conversion and unfair or unlawful business practices in violation of California Business & Professions Code §17200. Some plaintiffs also seek penalties for alleged violations of California’s Labor Code under California’s Private Attorneys General Act as well as statutory “waiting time” penalties and allege violations of California’s Unfair Business Practices Act. Plaintiffs seek to represent a California state-wide class of hourly employees.

These matters were consolidated, and the consolidated case is styled In Re Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions. The In Re Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint in June 2009, and in March 2010 the court approved the parties’ stipulation to dismiss the Company from the action, leaving Taco Bell as the sole defendant. Plaintiffs filed their motion for class certification on the vacation and final pay claims in December 2010, and on September 26, 2011 the court issued its order denying the certification of the vacation and final pay claims. Plaintiffs then sought to certify four separate meal and rest break classes. On January 2, 2013, the court rejected three of the proposed classes but granted certification with respect to the late meal break class. The parties thereafter agreed on a list of putative class members, and the class notice and opt out forms were mailed on January 21, 2014.

Per order of the court, plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint to clarify the class claims. Plaintiffs also filed a motion for partial summary judgment. Taco Bell filed motions to strike and to dismiss, as well as a motion to alter or amend the second amended complaint. On August 29, 2014, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment. On that same date, the court granted Taco Bell’s motion to dismiss all but one of the California Private Attorney General Act claims. On October 29, 2014, plaintiffs filed a motion to amend the operative complaint and a motion to amend the class certification order. On December 16, 2014, the court partially granted both motions, rejecting plaintiffs’ proposed on-duty meal period class but certifying a limited rest break class and certifying an underpaid meal premium class, and allowing the plaintiffs to amend the complaint to reflect those certifications. On December 30, 2014, plaintiffs filed the third amended complaint. On February 26, 2015, the court denied a motion by Taco Bell to dismiss or strike the underpaid meal premium class. Class notice was issued to the two recently-certified classes, and discovery and expert discovery commenced. On October 5, 2015, Taco Bell filed a motion to decertify the classes. The same day, Plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment. In December, 2015, the court denied both motions. All motion and discovery practice is complete and trial is set to begin on February 22, 2016.

Taco Bell denies liability and intends to vigorously defend against all claims in this lawsuit. We have provided for a reasonable estimate of the possible loss relating to this lawsuit. However, in view of the inherent uncertainties of litigation, there can be no assurance that this lawsuit will not result in losses in excess of those currently provided for in our Consolidated Financial Statements. A reasonable estimate of the amount of any possible loss or range of loss in excess of that currently provided for in our Consolidated Financial Statements cannot be made at this time.

On May 16, 2013, a putative class action styled Bernardina Rodriguez v. Taco Bell Corp. was filed in California Superior Court. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of current and former California hourly restaurant employees alleging various violations of California labor laws including failure to provide meal and rest periods, failure to pay hourly wages, failure to provide accurate written wage statements, failure to timely pay all final wages, and unfair or unlawful business practices in violation of California Business & Professions Code §17200. This case appears to be duplicative of the In Re Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions case described above. Taco Bell removed the case to federal court and, on June 25, 2013, plaintiff filed a first amended complaint to include a claim seeking penalties for alleged violations of California’s Labor Code under California’s Private Attorneys General Act. Taco Bell’s motion to dismiss or stay the action in light of the In Re Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions case was denied on October 30, 2013. In April 2014 the parties stipulated to address the sufficiency of plaintiff’s legal theory as to her discount meal break claim before conducting full discovery. A hearing on the parties’ cross-summary judgment motions was held on October 22, 2014, and on October 23, 2014, the court granted Taco Bell’s motion for summary judgment on the discount meal break claim and denied plaintiff’s motion. Plaintiff is no longer actively pursuing this matter, and Taco Bell expects the matter to be dismissed.

Taco Bell denies liability and intends to vigorously defend against all claims in this lawsuit. A reasonable estimate of the amount of any possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time.

We are engaged in various other legal proceedings and have certain unresolved claims pending, the ultimate liability for which, if any, cannot be determined at this time. However, based upon consultation with legal counsel, we are of the opinion that such proceedings and claims are not expected to have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
v3.3.1.900
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Abstract]  
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 
 
2015
 
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company sales
 
$
2,179

 
$
2,659

 
$
2,968

 
$
3,339

 
$
11,145

Franchise and license fees and income
 
443

 
446

 
459

 
612

 
1,960

Total revenues
 
2,622

 
3,105

 
3,427

 
3,951

 
13,105

Restaurant profit
 
382

 
411

 
539

 
454

 
1,786

Operating Profit(a)
 
506

 
371

 
603

 
441

 
1,921

Net Income – YUM! Brands, Inc.
 
362

 
235

 
421

 
275

 
1,293

Basic earnings per common share
 
0.83

 
0.54

 
0.97

 
0.64

 
2.97

Diluted earnings per common share
 
0.81

 
0.53

 
0.95

 
0.63

 
2.92

Dividends declared per common share
 

 
0.82

 

 
0.92

 
1.74


 
 
2014
 
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company sales
 
$
2,292

 
$
2,758

 
$
2,891

 
$
3,383

 
$
11,324

Franchise and license fees and income
 
432

 
446

 
463

 
614

 
1,955

Total revenues
 
2,724

 
3,204

 
3,354

 
3,997

 
13,279

Restaurant profit
 
441

 
428

 
429

 
344

 
1,642

Operating Profit(b)
 
571

 
479

 
550

 
(43
)
 
1,557

Net Income – YUM! Brands, Inc.
 
399

 
334

 
404

 
(86
)
 
1,051

Basic earnings per common share
 
0.89

 
0.75

 
0.91

 
(0.20
)
 
2.37

Diluted earnings per common share
 
0.87

 
0.73

 
0.89

 
(0.20
)
 
2.32

Dividends declared per common share
 
0.37

 
0.37

 

 
0.82

 
1.56


(a)
Includes losses associated with refranchising of equity markets outside of the U.S. of $73 million, $20 million and $3 million in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement of $2 million, $8 million, $21 million and $41 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, and net U.S. refranchising gains of $7 million, $1 million, $16 million and $51 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. See Note 4.

(b)
Includes a non-cash charge of $463 million in the fourth quarter related primarily to the impairment of Little Sheep intangible assets. See Note 4.
v3.3.1.900
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Preparation
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Preparation.  Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  We consolidate entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, the usual condition of which is ownership of a majority voting interest.  We also consider for consolidation an entity, in which we have certain interests, where the controlling financial interest may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting interests.  Such an entity, known as a variable interest entity (“VIE”), is required to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary.  The primary beneficiary is the entity that possesses the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that are significant to it.

Our most significant variable interests are in entities that operate restaurants under our Concepts’ franchise and license arrangements.  We do not generally have an equity interest in our franchisee or licensee businesses with the exception of certain entities in China as discussed below.  Additionally, we do not typically provide significant financial support such as loans or guarantees to our franchisees and licensees.  However, we do have variable interests in certain franchisees through real estate lease arrangements to which we are a party.  At the end of 2015, YUM has future lease payments due from franchisees, on a nominal basis, of approximately $345 million, and we are contingently liable on certain other lease agreements that have been assigned to franchisees. See Lease Guarantees, Franchise Loan Pool and Equipment Guarantees and Unconsolidated Affiliate Guarantees sections in Note 18. As our franchise and license arrangements provide our franchisee and licensee entities the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact their economic performance, we do not consider ourselves the primary beneficiary of any such entity that might otherwise be considered a VIE.

See Note 18 for additional information on an entity that operates a franchise lending program that is a VIE in which we have a variable interest but for which we are not the primary beneficiary and thus do not consolidate.

Certain investments in entities that operate KFCs in China are accounted for by the equity method.  These entities are not VIEs and our lack of majority voting rights precludes us from controlling these affiliates.  Thus, we do not consolidate these affiliates, instead accounting for them under the equity method.  Our Little Sheep brand, a casual dining concept that is part of our China Division, holds an investment in a meat processing entity that is also accounted for by the equity method. Our share of the net income or loss of those unconsolidated affiliates is included in Other (income) expense.  

We report Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, which includes the minority shareholders of the entities that operate the KFCs in Beijing and Shanghai, China and the minority shareholders of Little Sheep, separately on the face of our Consolidated Statements of Income.  The portion of equity not attributable to the Company for KFC Beijing and KFC Shanghai is reported within equity, separately from the Company’s equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The shareholder that owns the remaining 7% ownership interest in Little Sheep holds an option that, if exercised, requires us to redeem their non-controlling interest. This Redeemable non-controlling interest is classified outside permanent equity and recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as the greater of the initial carrying amount adjusted for the non-controlling interest's share of net income (loss), or its redemption value.

We participate in various advertising cooperatives with our franchisees and licensees established to collect and administer funds contributed for use in advertising and promotional programs designed to increase sales and enhance the reputation of the Company and its franchise owners. Contributions to the advertising cooperatives are required for both Company-owned and franchise restaurants and are generally based on a percentage of restaurant sales.  We maintain certain variable interests in these cooperatives. As the cooperatives are required to spend all funds collected on advertising and promotional programs, total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the cooperatives to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support. Therefore, these cooperatives are VIEs. As a result of our voting rights, we consolidate certain of these cooperatives for which we are the primary beneficiary.  Advertising cooperative assets, consisting primarily of cash received from the Company and franchisees and accounts receivable from franchisees, can only be used to settle obligations of the respective cooperative.  Advertising cooperative liabilities represent the corresponding obligation arising from the receipt of the contributions to purchase advertising and promotional programs for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company as the primary beneficiary.  Therefore, we report all assets and liabilities of these advertising cooperatives that we consolidate as Advertising cooperative assets, restricted and Advertising cooperative liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  As the contributions to these cooperatives are designated and segregated for advertising, we act as an agent for the franchisees and licensees with regard to these contributions.  Thus, we do not reflect franchisee and licensee contributions to these cooperatives in our Consolidated Statements of Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Fiscal Year
Fiscal Year.  Our fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December and, as a result, a 53rd week is added every five or six years.  The first three quarters of each fiscal year consist of 12 weeks and the fourth quarter consists of 16 weeks in fiscal years with 52 weeks and 17 weeks in fiscal years with 53 weeks.  Our subsidiaries operate on similar fiscal calendars except that China, India and certain other international subsidiaries operate on a monthly calendar, and thus never have a 53rd week, with two months in the first quarter, three months in the second and third quarters and four months in the fourth quarter.  International businesses within our KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell divisions close approximately one month earlier to facilitate consolidated reporting. Our next fiscal year scheduled to include a 53rd week is 2016.
Foreign Currency
Foreign Currency.  The functional currency of our foreign entities is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. Functional currency determinations are made based upon a number of economic factors, including but not limited to cash flows and financing transactions. The operations, assets and liabilities of our entities outside the United States are initially measured using the functional currency of that entity. Income and expense accounts for our operations of these foreign entities are then translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities of these foreign entities are then translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. As of December 26, 2015, net cumulative translation adjustment losses of $109 million are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The majority of our foreign currency net asset exposure is in countries where we have company-owned restaurants. As we manage and share resources at the individual brand level within a country, cumulative translation adjustments are recorded and tracked at the foreign-entity level that represents the operations of our individual brands within that country. Translation adjustments recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are subsequently recognized as income or expense generally only upon sale of the related investment in a foreign entity, or upon a sale of assets and liabilities within a foreign entity that represents a complete or substantially complete liquidation of that entity. For purposes of determining whether a sale or complete or substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foreign entity has occurred, we consider those same foreign entities for which we record and track cumulative translation adjustments. See Note 4 for information on the liquidation of our Mexico foreign entities and related Income Statement recognition of translation adjustments.

Gains and losses arising from the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on transactions in foreign currency are included in Other (income) expense in our Consolidated Statement of Income.
Reclassifications
Reclassifications. We have reclassified certain items in the Consolidated Financial Statements for prior periods to be comparable with the classification for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2015. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported Net Income - YUM! Brands, Inc.
Franchise and License Operations
Franchise and License Operations.  We execute franchise or license agreements for each unit operated by third parties which set out the terms of our arrangement with the franchisee or licensee.  Our franchise and license agreements typically require the franchisee or licensee to pay an initial, non-refundable fee and continuing fees based upon a percentage of sales.  Subject to our approval and their payment of a renewal fee, a franchisee may generally renew the franchise agreement upon its expiration.

The internal costs we incur to provide support services to our franchisees and licensees are charged to General and Administrative (“G&A”) expenses as incurred.  Certain direct costs of our franchise and license operations are charged to franchise and license expenses.  These costs include provisions for estimated uncollectible fees, rent or depreciation expense associated with restaurants we lease or sublease to franchisees, franchise and license marketing funding, amortization expense for franchise-related intangible assets and certain other direct incremental franchise and license support costs.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition.  Revenues from Company-owned restaurants are recognized when payment is tendered at the time of sale.  The Company presents sales net of sales-related taxes.  Income from our franchisees and licensees includes initial fees, continuing fees, renewal fees and rental income from restaurants we lease or sublease to them.  We recognize initial fees received from a franchisee or licensee as revenue when we have performed substantially all initial services required by the franchise or license agreement, which is generally upon the opening of a store.  We recognize continuing fees, which are based upon a percentage of franchisee and licensee sales as those sales occur and rental income is recognized as it is earned.  We recognize renewal fees when a renewal agreement with a franchisee or licensee becomes effective.  We present initial fees collected upon the sale of a company-owned restaurant to a franchisee in Refranchising (gain) loss.

While the majority of our franchise agreements are entered into with terms and conditions consistent with those at a prevailing market rate, there are instances when we enter into franchise agreements with terms that are not at market rates (for example, below-market continuing fees) for a specified period of time. We recognize the estimated value of terms in franchise agreements entered into concurrently with a refranchising transaction that are not consistent with market terms as part of the upfront refranchising gain (loss) and amortize that amount into Franchise and license fees and income over the period such terms are in effect. The value of terms that are not considered to be at market within franchise agreements is estimated based upon the difference between cash expected to be received under the franchise agreement and cash that would have been expected to be received under a franchise agreement with terms substantially consistent with market.
Direct Marketing Costs
Direct Marketing Costs.  To the extent we participate in advertising cooperatives, we expense our contributions as incurred which are based on a percentage of sales.  We charge direct marketing costs incurred outside of a cooperative to expense ratably in relation to revenues over the year in which incurred and, in the case of advertising production costs, in the year the advertisement is first shown.  Deferred direct marketing costs, which are classified as prepaid expenses, consist of media and related advertising production costs which will generally be used for the first time in the next fiscal year and have historically not been significant.  Our advertising expenses were $581 million, $589 million and $607 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  We report substantially all of our direct marketing costs in Occupancy and other operating expenses.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and Development Expenses.  Research and development expenses, which we expense as incurred, are reported in G&A expenses.  Research and development expenses were $28 million, $30 million and $31 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Share-Based Employee Compensation
Share-Based Employee Compensation.  We recognize all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), in the Consolidated Financial Statements as compensation cost over the service period based on their fair value on the date of grant.  This compensation cost is recognized over the service period on a straight-line basis for awards that actually vest.  We present this compensation cost consistent with the other compensation costs for the employee recipient in either Payroll and employee benefits or G&A expenses. See Note 14 for further discussion of our share-based compensation plans.
Legal Costs
Legal Costs. Settlement costs are accrued when they are deemed probable and reasonably estimable. Anticipated legal fees related to self-insured workers' compensation, employment practices liability, general liability, automobile liability, product liability and property losses (collectively, "property and casualty losses") are accrued when deemed probable and reasonably estimable. Legal fees not related to self-insured property and casualty losses are recognized as incurred. See Note 18 for further discussion of our legal proceedings.

Impairment or Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment
Impairment or Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment.  Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) is tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable.  The assets are not recoverable if their carrying value is less than the undiscounted cash flows we expect to generate from such assets.  If the assets are not deemed to be recoverable, impairment is measured based on the excess of their carrying value over their fair value.

For purposes of impairment testing for our restaurants, we have concluded that an individual restaurant is the lowest level of independent cash flows unless our intent is to refranchise restaurants as a group.  We review our long-lived assets of such individual restaurants (primarily PP&E and allocated intangible assets subject to amortization) semi-annually for impairment, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a restaurant may not be recoverable.  We use two consecutive years of operating losses as our primary indicator of potential impairment for our semi-annual impairment testing of these restaurant assets.  We evaluate the recoverability of these restaurant assets by comparing the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, which are based on our entity-specific assumptions, to the carrying value of such assets.  For restaurant assets that are not deemed to be recoverable, we write-down an impaired restaurant to its estimated fair value, which becomes its new cost basis.  Fair value is an estimate of the price a franchisee would pay for the restaurant and its related assets and is determined by discounting the estimated future after-tax cash flows of the restaurant, which include a deduction for royalties we would receive under a franchise agreement with terms substantially at market.  The after-tax cash flows incorporate reasonable assumptions we believe a franchisee would make such as sales growth and margin improvement.  The discount rate used in the fair value calculation is our estimate of the required rate of return that a franchisee would expect to receive when purchasing a similar restaurant and the related long-lived assets.  The discount rate incorporates rates of returns for historical refranchising market transactions and is commensurate with the risks and uncertainty inherent in the forecasted cash flows.

In executing our refranchising initiatives, we most often offer groups of restaurants for sale.  When we believe it is more likely than not a restaurant or groups of restaurants will be refranchised for a price less than their carrying value, but do not believe the restaurant(s) have met the criteria to be classified as held for sale, we review the restaurants for impairment.  We evaluate the recoverability of these restaurant assets by comparing estimated sales proceeds plus holding period cash flows, if any, to the carrying value of the restaurant or group of restaurants.  For restaurant assets that are not deemed to be recoverable, we recognize impairment for any excess of carrying value over the fair value of the restaurants, which is based on the expected net sales proceeds.  To the extent ongoing agreements to be entered into with the franchisee simultaneous with the refranchising are expected to contain terms, such as royalty rates, not at prevailing market rates, we consider the off-market terms in our impairment evaluation.  We recognize any such impairment charges in Refranchising (gain) loss.  Refranchising (gain) loss includes the gains or losses from the sales of our restaurants to new and existing franchisees, including any impairment charges discussed above, and the related initial franchise fees. We recognize gains on restaurant refranchisings when the sale transaction closes and control of the restaurant operations have transferred to the franchisee.

When we decide to close a restaurant, it is reviewed for impairment and depreciable lives are adjusted based on the expected disposal date.  Other costs incurred when closing a restaurant such as costs of disposing of the assets as well as other facility-related expenses from previously closed stores are generally expensed as incurred.  Additionally, at the date we cease using a property under an operating lease, we record a liability for the net present value of any remaining lease obligations, net of estimated sublease income, if any.  Any costs recorded upon store closure as well as any subsequent adjustments to liabilities for remaining lease obligations as a result of lease termination or changes in estimates of sublease income are recorded in Closures and impairment (income) expenses.   To the extent we sell assets, primarily land, associated with a closed store, any gain or loss upon that sale is also recorded in Closures and impairment (income) expenses.

Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate future cash flows, including cash flows from continuing use, terminal value, sublease income and refranchising proceeds.  Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from our estimates.

Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates
Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates.  We record impairment charges related to an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate whenever events or circumstances indicate that a decrease in the fair value of an investment has occurred which is other than temporary.  In addition, we evaluate our investments in unconsolidated affiliates for impairment when they have experienced two consecutive years of operating losses. 
Guarantees
Guarantees.  We recognize, at inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of certain obligations undertaken.  The majority of our guarantees are issued as a result of assigning our interest in obligations under operating leases as a condition to the refranchising of certain Company restaurants.  We recognize a liability for the fair value of such lease guarantees upon refranchising and upon subsequent renewals of such leases when we remain contingently liable.  The related expense and any subsequent changes are included in Refranchising (gain) loss.  Any expense and subsequent changes in the guarantees for other franchise support guarantees not associated with a refranchising transaction are included in Franchise and license expense.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes.  We record deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases as well as operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences or carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Additionally, in determining the need for recording a valuation allowance against the carrying amount of deferred tax assets, we consider the amount of taxable income and periods over which it must be earned, actual levels of past taxable income and known trends and events or transactions that are expected to affect future levels of taxable income.  Where we determine that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of an asset will not be realized, we record a valuation allowance.

In November, 2015 the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (ASU 2015-17) to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 requires organizations that present a classified balance sheet to classify all deferred taxes as noncurrent assets or noncurrent liabilities. We have elected to early adopt this guidance as of December 26, 2015 and restate our 2014 comparable balances. This resulted in $93 million of current deferred tax assets and $2 million of current deferred tax liabilities being reclassified at December 27, 2014, resulting in an increase to Deferred income taxes - long term of $82 million and a corresponding decrease to Other liabilities and deferred credits of $9 million.

We recognize the benefit of positions taken or expected to be taken in our tax returns in our Income tax provision when it is more likely than not (i.e. a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities.  A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon settlement.  We evaluate these amounts on a quarterly basis to ensure that they have been appropriately adjusted for audit settlements and other events we believe may impact the outcome. Changes in judgment that result in subsequent recognition, derecognition or a change in measurement of a tax position taken in a prior annual period (including any related interest and penalties) are recognized as a discrete item in the interim period in which the change occurs. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as components of our Income tax provision.

We do not record a U.S. deferred tax liability for the excess of the book basis over the tax basis of our investments in foreign subsidiaries to the extent that the basis difference results from earnings that meet the indefinite reversal criteria. This criteria is met if the foreign subsidiary has invested, or will invest, the undistributed earnings indefinitely. The decision as to the amount of undistributed earnings that we intend to maintain in non-U.S. subsidiaries considers items including, but not limited to, forecasts and budgets of financial needs of cash for working capital, liquidity plans and expected cash requirements in the United States.

See Note 16 for a further discussion of our income taxes.

Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements.  Fair value is the price we would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants.  For those assets and liabilities we record or disclose at fair value, we determine fair value based upon the quoted market price, if available.  If a quoted market price is not available for identical assets, we determine fair value based upon the quoted market price of similar assets or the present value of expected future cash flows considering the risks involved, including counterparty performance risk if appropriate, and using discount rates appropriate for the duration.  The fair values are assigned a level within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the source of the inputs into the calculation.

Level 1
Inputs based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
 
 
Level 2
Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly.
 
 
Level 3
Inputs that are unobservable for the asset.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Cash equivalents represent funds we have temporarily invested (with original maturities not exceeding three months), including short-term, highly liquid debt securities. Cash and overdraft balances that meet the criteria for right of setoff are presented net on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Receivables
Receivables.  The Company’s receivables are primarily generated from ongoing business relationships with our franchisees and licensees as a result of franchise, license and lease agreements.  Trade receivables consisting of royalties from franchisees and licensees are generally due within 30 days of the period in which the corresponding sales occur and are classified as Accounts and notes receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Our provision for uncollectible franchisee and licensee receivable balances is based upon pre-defined aging criteria or upon the occurrence of other events that indicate that we may not collect the balance due.  Additionally, we monitor the financial condition of our franchisees and licensees and record provisions for estimated losses on receivables when we believe it probable that our franchisees or licensees will be unable to make their required payments.  While we use the best information available in making our determination, the ultimate recovery of recorded receivables is also dependent upon future economic events and other conditions that may be beyond our control.   We recorded $6 million, $3 million and $2 million in net provisions within Franchise and license expenses in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to uncollectible franchise and license trade receivables.  Trade receivables that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible, and for which collection efforts have been exhausted, are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts.
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Accounts and notes receivable
 
$
393

 
$
337

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
(16
)
 
(12
)
Accounts and notes receivable, net
 
$
377

 
$
325


 
Our financing receivables primarily consist of notes receivables and direct financing leases with franchisees which we enter into from time to time.  As these receivables primarily relate to our ongoing business agreements with franchisees and licensees, we consider such receivables to have similar risk characteristics and evaluate them as one collective portfolio segment and class for determining the allowance for doubtful accounts.  We monitor the financial condition of our franchisees and licensees and record provisions for estimated losses on receivables when we believe it is probable that our franchisees or licensees will be unable to make their required payments.  Balances of notes receivable and direct financing leases due within one year are included in Accounts and notes receivable while amounts due beyond one year are included in Other assets.  Amounts included in Other assets totaled $23 million (net of an allowance of $4 million) and $21 million (net of an allowance of $1 million) at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively.  Financing receivables that are ultimately deemed to be uncollectible, and for which collection efforts have been exhausted, are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts.  Interest income recorded on financing receivables has historically been insignificant.
Inventories
Inventories.  We value our inventories at the lower of cost (computed on the first-in, first-out method) or market.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment.  We state PP&E at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization.  We calculate depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:  5 to 25 years for buildings and leasehold improvements, 3 to 20 years for machinery and equipment and 3 to 7 years for capitalized software costs.  We suspend depreciation and amortization on assets related to restaurants that are held for sale.
Leases and Leasehold Improvements
Leases and Leasehold Improvements.  The Company leases land, buildings or both for certain of its restaurants worldwide.  The length of our lease terms, which vary by country and often include renewal options, are an important factor in determining the appropriate accounting for leases including the initial classification of the lease as capital or operating and the timing of recognition of rent expense over the duration of the lease.  We include renewal option periods in determining the term of our leases when failure to renew the lease would impose a penalty on the Company in such an amount that a renewal appears to be reasonably assured at the inception of the lease.  The primary penalty to which we are subject is the economic detriment associated with the existence of leasehold improvements which might be impaired if we choose not to continue the use of the leased property.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the lease term.  We generally do not receive leasehold improvement incentives upon opening a store that is subject to a lease.

We expense rent associated with leased land or buildings while a restaurant is being constructed whether rent is paid or we are subject to a rent holiday.  Additionally, certain of the Company's operating leases contain predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent during the lease term.  For leases with fixed escalating payments and/or rent holidays, we record rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including any option periods considered in the determination of that lease term.  Contingent rentals are generally based on sales levels in excess of stipulated amounts, and thus are not considered minimum lease payments and are included in rent expense when attainment of the contingency is considered probable (e.g. when Company sales occur).

Internal Development Costs and Abandoned Site Costs
Internal Development Costs and Abandoned Site Costs.  We capitalize direct costs associated with the site acquisition and construction of a Company unit on that site, including direct internal payroll and payroll-related costs.  Only those site-specific costs incurred subsequent to the time that the site acquisition is considered probable are capitalized.  If we subsequently make a determination that it is probable a site for which internal development costs have been capitalized will not be acquired or developed, any previously capitalized internal development costs are expensed and included in G&A expenses.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Intangible Assets.  From time to time, the Company acquires restaurants from one of our Concept’s franchisees or acquires another business.  Goodwill from these acquisitions represents the excess of the cost of a business acquired over the net of the amounts assigned to assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed.  Goodwill is not amortized and has been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing.  Our reporting units are business units (which are aligned based on geography) in our KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions and individual brands in our India and China Divisions.  

We evaluate goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or more often if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate impairment might exist.  We have selected the beginning of our fourth quarter as the date on which to perform our ongoing annual impairment test for goodwill. We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment for our reporting units to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value. If a qualitative assessment is not performed, or if as a result of a qualitative assessment it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then the reporting unit’s fair value is compared to its carrying value. Fair value is the price a willing buyer would pay for a reporting unit, and is generally estimated using discounted expected future after-tax cash flows from Company-owned restaurant operations and franchise royalties.  The discount rate is our estimate of the required rate of return that a third-party buyer would expect to receive when purchasing a business from us that constitutes a reporting unit.  We believe the discount rate is commensurate with the risks and uncertainty inherent in the forecasted cash flows.  If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is written down to its implied fair value.  

If we record goodwill upon acquisition of a restaurant(s) from a franchisee and such restaurant(s) is then sold within two years of acquisition, the goodwill associated with the acquired restaurant(s) is written off in its entirety.  If the restaurant is refranchised two years or more subsequent to its acquisition, we include goodwill in the carrying amount of the restaurants disposed of based on the relative fair values of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of in the refranchising and the portion of the reporting unit that will be retained.  The fair value of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of in a refranchising is determined by reference to the discounted value of the future cash flows expected to be generated by the restaurant and retained by the franchisee, which includes a deduction for the anticipated, future royalties the franchisee will pay us associated with the franchise agreement entered into simultaneously with the refranchising transition.  The fair value of the reporting unit retained is based on the price a willing buyer would pay for the reporting unit and includes the value of franchise agreements.  Appropriate adjustments are made if a franchise agreement includes terms that are determined to not be at prevailing market rates.  As such, the fair value of the reporting unit retained can include expected cash flows from future royalties from those restaurants currently being refranchised, future royalties from existing franchise businesses and company restaurant operations.  As a result, the percentage of a reporting unit’s goodwill that will be written off in a refranchising transaction will be less than the percentage of the reporting unit’s Company-owned restaurants that are refranchised in that transaction and goodwill can be allocated to a reporting unit with only franchise restaurants.

We evaluate the remaining useful life of an intangible asset that is not being amortized each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life.  If an intangible asset that is not being amortized is subsequently determined to have a finite useful life, we amortize the intangible asset prospectively over its estimated remaining useful life.  Intangible assets that are deemed to have a definite life are amortized on a straight-line basis to their residual value.

We evaluate our indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis or more often if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate impairments might exist.  We perform our annual test for impairment of our indefinite-lived intangible assets at the beginning of our fourth quarter. We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying value. If a qualitative assessment is not performed, or if as a result of a qualitative assessment it is not more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its carrying value, then the asset's fair value is compared to its carrying value. Fair value is an estimate of the price a willing buyer would pay for the intangible asset and is generally estimated by discounting the expected future after-tax cash flows associated with the intangible asset.  

Our definite-lived intangible assets that are not allocated to an individual restaurant are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible asset may not be recoverable.  An intangible asset that is deemed not recoverable on an undiscounted basis is written down to its estimated fair value, which is our estimate of the price a willing buyer would pay for the intangible asset based on discounted expected future after-tax cash flows.  For purposes of our impairment analysis, we update the cash flows that were initially used to value the definite-lived intangible asset to reflect our current estimates and assumptions over the asset’s future remaining life.
Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative Financial Instruments. We use derivative instruments primarily to hedge interest rate and foreign currency risks. These derivative contracts are entered into with financial institutions. We do not use derivative instruments for trading purposes and we have procedures in place to monitor and control their use.

We record all derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in the results of operations. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a net investment hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported in the foreign currency translation component of other comprehensive income (loss). Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument for a cash flow hedge or net investment hedge is recorded in the results of operations immediately. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss is recognized in the results of operations immediately.

As a result of the use of derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to risk that the counterparties will fail to meet their contractual obligations. To mitigate the counterparty credit risk, we only enter into contracts with carefully selected major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors, and continually assess the creditworthiness of counterparties. At December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, all of the counterparties to our interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps and foreign currency forwards had investment grade ratings according to the three major ratings agencies. To date, all counterparties have performed in accordance with their contractual obligations.
Common Stock Share Repurchases
Common Stock Share Repurchases.  From time to time, we repurchase shares of our Common Stock under share repurchase programs authorized by our Board of Directors.  Shares repurchased constitute authorized, but unissued shares under the North Carolina laws under which we are incorporated.  Additionally, our Common Stock has no par or stated value.  Accordingly, we record the full value of share repurchases, upon the trade date, against Common Stock on our Consolidated Balance Sheet except when to do so would result in a negative balance in such Common Stock account.  In such instances, on a period basis, we record the cost of any further share repurchases as a reduction in retained earnings.  Due to the large number of share repurchases of our stock over the past several years, our Common Stock balance is frequently zero at the end of any period.  Accordingly, $1,124 million, $725 million and $640 million in share repurchases were recorded as a reduction in Retained Earnings in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. See Note 15 for additional information on our share repurchases.
Pension and Post-retirement Medical Benefits
Pension and Post-retirement Medical Benefits. We measure and recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our pension and post-retirement plans as an asset or liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of our fiscal year end. The funded status represents the difference between the projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets, which is calculated on a plan-by-plan basis. The projected benefit obligation and related funded status are determined using assumptions as of the end of each year. The projected benefit obligation is the present value of benefits earned to date by plan participants, including the effect of future salary increases, as applicable. The difference between the projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets that has not previously been recognized in our Consolidated Statement of Income is recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The net periodic benefit costs associated with the Company's defined benefit pension and post-retirement medical plans are determined using assumptions regarding the projected benefit obligation and, for funded plans, the market-related value of plan assets as of the beginning of each year. We have elected to use a market-related value of plan assets to calculate the expected return on assets in net periodic benefit costs. We recognize differences in the fair value versus the market-related value of plan assets evenly over five years. For each individual plan we amortize into pension expense the net amounts in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), as adjusted for the difference between the fair value and market-related value of plan assets, to the extent that such amounts exceed 10% of the greater of a plan’s projected benefit obligation or market-related value of assets, over the remaining service period of active participants in the plan or, for plans with no active participants, over the expected average life expectancy of the inactive participants in the plan. We record a curtailment when an event occurs that significantly reduces the expected years of future service or eliminates the accrual of defined benefits for the future services of a significant number of employees. We record a curtailment gain when the employees who are entitled to the benefits terminate their employment; we record a curtailment loss when it becomes probable a loss will occur.

We recognize settlement gains or losses only when we have determined that the cost of all settlements in a year will exceed the sum of the service and interest costs within an individual plan.
v3.3.1.900
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Accounts and notes receivable, net
 
 
2015
 
2014
Accounts and notes receivable
 
$
393

 
$
337

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
(16
)
 
(12
)
Accounts and notes receivable, net
 
$
377

 
$
325

v3.3.1.900
Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS") (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Earnings Per Common Share
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net Income – YUM! Brands, Inc.
 
$
1,293


$
1,051


$
1,091

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (for basic calculation)
 
436

 
444

 
452

Effect of dilutive share-based employee compensation
 
7

 
9

 
9

Weighted-average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding (for diluted calculation)
 
443

 
453

 
461

Basic EPS
 
$
2.97


$
2.37


$
2.41

Diluted EPS
 
$
2.92


$
2.32


$
2.36

Unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights (in millions) excluded from the diluted EPS computation(a)
 
4.5

 
5.5

 
4.9


(a)
These unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive for the periods presented.
v3.3.1.900
Items Affecting Comparability of Net Income and Cash Flows (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Facility Actions [Line Items]  
Details of Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held and Used by Asset
The losses related to Little Sheep that have occurred concurrent with our trademark and goodwill impairments in 2014 and 2013, none of which have been allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes, are summarized below:
 
2014
 
2013
 
Income Statement Classification
Impairment of Goodwill
$
160

 
$
222

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Impairment of Trademark
284

 
69

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Impairment of PP&E
14

 
4

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Impairment of Investment in Little Sheep Meat
5

 

 
Closures and Impairment (income) expense
Tax Benefit
(76
)
 
(18
)
 
Income tax provision
Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest
(26
)
 
(19
)
 
Net Income (loss) noncontrolling interests
Net loss
$
361

 
$
258

 
Net Income - YUM! Brands, Inc.
Refranchising (gain) loss [Member]  
Facility Actions [Line Items]  
Facility Actions
Refranchising (Gain) Loss

The Refranchising (gain) loss by reportable segment is presented below. We do not allocate such gains and losses to our segments for performance reporting purposes.

 
 
Refranchising (gain) loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
China
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(17
)
 
$
(5
)
 
 
 
 
 
KFC Division(a)
 
30

 
(18
)
 
(8
)
 
 
 
 
 
Pizza Hut Division(a)(b)
 
55

 
4

 
(3
)
 
 
 
 
 
Taco Bell Division
 
(65
)
 
(4
)
 
(84
)
 
 
 
 
 
India
 
3

 
2

 

 
 
 
 
 
Worldwide
 
$
10

 
$
(33
)
 
$
(100
)
 
 
 
 
 

(a)
In 2010 we refranchised our then-remaining Company-operated restaurants in Mexico. To the extent we owned it, we did not sell the real estate related to certain of these restaurants, instead leasing it to the franchisee. During 2015, we sold the real estate for approximately $58 million. While these proceeds exceeded the book value of the real estate, the sale represented a substantial liquidation of our Mexican foreign entities under GAAP. As such, the accumulated translation losses associated with our Mexican business were included in our loss on the sale. We recorded charges of $80 million representing the excess of the sum of the book value of the real estate and other related assets and our accumulated translation losses over the sales price. Consistent with the classification of the original market refranchising transaction, these charges were classified as Refranchising (gain) loss. Refranchising losses of $40 million were associated with both the KFC and Pizza Hut Divisions.

Our KFC and Pizza Hut Divisions earned approximately $2 million and $1 million, respectively, of rental income in 2015 and $3 million and $1 million, respectively, of rental income in 2014 related to this real estate that transferred to the buyer subsequent to the sale of the real estate. We continue to earn U.S. dollar-denominated franchise fees, most of which are sales-based royalties, under our existing franchise contracts with our Mexico franchisee.

(b)
During 2015 we recognized charges of $16 million within Refranchising (gain) loss associated with the refranchising of our company-owned Pizza Hut restaurants in Korea. While additional gains or losses may occur as the refranchising plans move forward, such amounts are not expected to be material at this time.
Closures and impairment (income) expenses  
Facility Actions [Line Items]  
Facility Actions
Store Closure and Impairment Activity

Store closure (income) costs and Store impairment charges by reportable segment are presented below. These tables exclude $463 million and $295 million of Little Sheep impairment losses in 2014 and 2013, respectively which were not allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes.
 
 
2015
 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Store closure (income) costs(a)
 
$
(6
)
 
$
1

 
$
(2
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
(8
)
Store impairment charges
 
70

 
7

 
5

 
4

 
1

 
87

Closure and impairment (income) expenses
 
$
64

 
$
8

 
$
3

 
3

 
$
1

 
$
79


 
 
2014
 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Store closure (income) costs(a)
 
$

 
$
2

 
$
1

 
$

 
$

 
$
3

Store impairment charges
 
54

 
7

 
4

 
3

 
1

 
69

Closure and impairment (income) expenses
 
$
54

 
$
9

 
$
5

 
$
3

 
$
1

 
$
72


 
 
2013
 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Store closure (income) costs(a)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(5
)
Store impairment charges
 
31

 
4

 
3

 
1

 
2

 
41

Closure and impairment (income) expenses
 
$
30

 
$
3

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
36


(a)
Store closure (income) costs include the net gain or loss on sales of real estate on which we formerly operated a Company-owned restaurant that was closed, lease reserves established when we cease using a property under an operating lease and subsequent adjustments to those reserves and other facility-related expenses from previously closed stores. Remaining lease obligations for closed stores were not material at December 26, 2015 or December 27, 2014.
v3.3.1.900
Supplemental Cash Flow Data (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]  
Cash paid for interest and income taxes, and significant non-cash investing and financing activities
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Cash Paid For:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest(a)
 
$
154

 
$
149

 
$
269

Income taxes(b)
 
535

 
684

 
489

Significant Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital lease obligations incurred
 
$
28

 
$
24

 
$
15


 
(a)
2013 includes $109 million of cash premiums and fees paid related to the extinguishment of debt, which is the primary component of the $120 million loss on debt extinguishment. See Note 4.

(b)
2014 includes $200 million of cash paid related to the resolution of a valuation issue with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") related to years 2004 through 2008. See Note 16.
v3.3.1.900
Franchise and License Fees and Income (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Franchise And License Fees And Income Disclosure [Abstract]  
Franchise and License Fees and Income
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Initial fees, including renewal fees
 
$
88

 
$
83

 
$
90

Initial franchise fees included in Refranchising (gain) loss
 
(10
)
 
(5
)
 
(13
)
 
 
78

 
78

 
77

Continuing fees and rental income
 
1,882

 
1,877

 
1,823

Franchise and license fees and income
 
$
1,960


$
1,955


$
1,900

v3.3.1.900
Other (Income) Expense (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]  
Other (Income) Expense Table
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Equity (income) loss from investments in unconsolidated affiliates
 
$
(41
)
 
$
(30
)
 
$
(26
)
China poultry supply insurance recovery(a)
 
(5
)
 
(25
)
 

Loss associated with planned sale of aircraft(b)
 
15

 

 

Foreign exchange net (gain) loss and other
 
21

 
14

 
10

Other (income) expense
 
$
(10
)

$
(41
)

$
(16
)


(a)
Recoveries related to lost profits associated with a 2012 poultry supply incident.

(b)
During 2015, we made the decision to dispose of a corporate aircraft in China. The loss associated with this planned sale reflects the shortfall of the expected proceeds, less any selling costs, over the carrying value of the aircraft.

v3.3.1.900
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Disclosure [Abstract]  
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
 
2015
 
2014
Income tax receivable
 
$
41

 
$
55

Assets held for sale(a)
 
28

 
14

Other prepaid expenses and current assets
 
173

 
185

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
242


$
254



(a)
Reflects the carrying value of a corporate aircraft in China (See Note 7) as well as restaurants we have offered for sale to franchisees and excess properties that we do not intend to use for restaurant operations in the future.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment
 
2015
 
2014
Land
 
$
480

 
$
506

Buildings and improvements
 
4,462

 
4,549

Capital leases, primarily buildings
 
203

 
210

Machinery and equipment
 
2,687

 
2,817

Property, plant and equipment, gross
 
7,832

 
8,082

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
(3,643
)
 
(3,584
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
$
4,189


$
4,498



Depreciation and amortization expense related to property, plant and equipment was $712 million, $702 million and $686 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities
 
2015
 
2014
Accounts payable
 
$
616

 
$
694

Accrued capital expenditures
 
174

 
250

Accrued compensation and benefits
 
465

 
419

Dividends payable
 
197

 
178

Accrued taxes, other than income taxes
 
116

 
100

Other current liabilities
 
417

 
329

Accounts payable and other current liabilities
 
$
1,985


$
1,970

v3.3.1.900
Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:

 
 
China
 
KFC
 
Pizza Hut
 
Taco Bell
 
India
 
Worldwide
Balance as of December 28, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross
 
$
478

 
$
338

 
204

 
$
106

 
2

 
$
1,128

Accumulated impairment losses(a)
 
(222
)
 

 
(17
)
 

 

 
(239
)
Goodwill,net
 
256

 
338

 
187

 
106

 
2

 
889

Acquisitions
 

 
2

 

 
8

 

 
10

Impairment Losses(a)
 
(160
)
 

 

 

 

 
(160
)
Disposals and other, net(b)
 
(7
)
 
(28
)
 
(4
)
 

 

 
(39
)
Balance as of December 27, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross
 
471

 
312

 
200

 
114

 
2

 
1,099

Accumulated impairment losses(a)
 
(382
)
 

 
(17
)
 

 

 
(399
)
Goodwill, net
 
89

 
312

 
183

 
114

 
2

 
700

Acquisitions
 

 
1

 

 
1

 

 
2

Disposals and other, net(b)
 
(4
)
 
(32
)
 
(7
)
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(46
)
Balance as of December 26, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross
 
467

 
281

 
193

 
113

 
1

 
1,055

Accumulated impairment losses(a)
 
(382
)
 

 
(17
)
 

 

 
(399
)
Goodwill, net
 
$
85

 
$
281

 
$
176

 
$
113

 
$
1

 
$
656


(a)
China Accumulated impairment losses represent Little Sheep impairment, of which $160 million was recorded in 2014. See Note 4.

(b)
Disposals and other, net includes the impact of foreign currency translation on existing balances and goodwill write-offs associated with refranchising.

Schedule Of Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets By Major Class
Intangible assets, net for the years ended 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
Definite-lived intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reacquired franchise rights
 
$
168

 
$
(91
)
 
$
186

 
$
(81
)
Franchise contract rights
 
123

 
(94
)
 
126

 
(92
)
Lease tenancy rights
 
57

 
(10
)
 
67

 
(12
)
Favorable operating leases
 
11

 
(7
)
 
15

 
(9
)
Other
 
54

 
(27
)
 
52

 
(25
)
 
 
$
413

 
$
(229
)
 
$
446

 
$
(219
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KFC trademark
 
$
31

 
 
 
$
31

 
 
Little Sheep trademark
 
56

 
 
 
60

 
 
 
 
$
87

 
 
 
$
91

 
 


Amortization expense for all definite-lived intangible assets was $26 million in 2015, $27 million in 2014 and $28 million in 2013.  Amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets will approximate $21 million in 2016, $21 million in 2017, $19 million in 2018, $18 million in 2019 and $17 million in 2020.
v3.3.1.900
Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Debt
 
 
2015
 
2014
Short-term Borrowings
 
 
 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
 
$
313

 
$
264

Current portion of fair value hedge accounting adjustment
 
1

 
3

Unsecured Short-Term Loan Credit Facility, expires June 2016
 
600

 

Other
 
9

 

 
 
$
923

 
$
267

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term Debt
 
 
 
 
Senior Unsecured Notes
 
$
2,497

 
$
2,746

Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility, expires March 2017
 
701

 
416

Capital lease obligations (See Note 11)
 
169

 
175

 
 
3,367

 
3,337

Less current maturities of long-term debt
 
(313
)
 
(264
)
Long-term debt excluding long-term portion of hedge accounting adjustment
 
3,054

 
3,073

Long-term portion of fair value hedge accounting adjustment
 

 
4

Long-term debt including hedge accounting adjustment
 
$
3,054


$
3,077

Debt Instrument [Line Items]  
Annual maturities of short-term borrowings and long-term debt excluding capital lease obligations and derivative instrument adjustments
The annual maturities of short-term borrowings and long-term debt as of December 26, 2015, excluding capital lease obligations of $169 million and fair value hedge accounting adjustments of $1 million, are as follows:
 
Year ended:
 
2016
$
909

2017
701

2018
325

2019
250

2020
350

Thereafter
1,275

Total
$
3,810

Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]  
Senior Unsecured Notes issued that remain outstanding
The following table summarizes all Senior Unsecured Notes issued that remain outstanding at December 26, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate
Issuance Date(a)
 
Maturity Date
 
Principal Amount (in millions)
 
Stated
 
Effective(b)
April 2006
 
April 2016
 
$
300

 
6.25%
 
6.03%
October 2007
 
March 2018
 
$
325

 
6.25%
 
6.36%
October 2007
 
November 2037
 
$
325

 
6.88%
 
7.45%
August 2009
 
September 2019
 
$
250

 
5.30%
 
5.59%
August 2010
 
November 2020
 
$
350

 
3.88%
 
4.01%
August 2011
 
November 2021
 
$
350

 
3.75%
 
3.88%
October 2013
 
November 2023
 
$
325

 
3.88%
 
4.01%
October 2013
 
November 2043
 
$
275

 
5.35%
 
5.42%

(a)
Interest payments commenced approximately six months after issuance date and are payable semi-annually thereafter.

(b)
Includes the effects of the amortization of any (1) premium or discount; (2) debt issuance costs; and (3) gain or loss upon settlement of related treasury locks and forward-starting interest rate swaps utilized to hedge the interest rate risk prior to the debt issuance.  Excludes the effect of any swaps that remain outstanding.
v3.3.1.900
Leases (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Leases [Abstract]  
Future minimum commitments and amounts to be received as lessor or sublessor under non-cancelable leases
Future minimum commitments and amounts to be received as lessor or sublessor under non-cancelable leases are set forth below:
 
 
Commitments
 
Lease Receivables
 
 
 
Capital
 
 
Operating
 
Direct
 Financing
 
 
Operating
2016
 
$
20

 
$
672

 
$
2

 
$
55

2017
 
20

 
620

 
2

 
50

2018
 
20

 
569

 
2

 
47

2019
 
20

 
516

 
2

 
40

2020
 
19

 
457

 
1

 
33

Thereafter
 
188

 
2,123

 
3

 
125

 
 
$
287

 
$
4,957

 
$
12

 
$
350

Details of rental expense and income
The details of rental expense and income are set forth below:
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Rental expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minimum
 
$
737

 
$
766

 
$
759

Contingent
 
294

 
302

 
293

 
 
$
1,031

 
$
1,068

 
$
1,052

Rental income
 
$
97

 
$
103

 
$
94

v3.3.1.900
Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring Basis
The Company has interest rate swaps accounted for as fair value hedges, foreign currency forwards and swaps accounted for as cash flow hedges and other investments, all of which are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Interest rate swaps are used to reduce our exposure to interest rate risk and lower interest expense for a portion of our fixed-rate debt and our interest rate swaps meet the shortcut method requirements and thus no ineffectiveness has been recorded. Our foreign currency forwards and swaps are used to reduce our exposure to cash flow volatility arising from foreign currency fluctuations associated with certain foreign currency denominated intercompany short-term receivables and payables. The notional amount, maturity date and currency of these forwards and swaps match those of the underlying receivables or payables and we measure ineffectiveness by comparing the cumulative change in the fair value of the forward or swap contract with the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedged item. The following table presents fair values for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the measurements fall. No transfers among the levels within the fair value hierarchy occurred during the years ended December 26, 2015 or December 27, 2014.

 
 
Fair Value
 
 
Level
 
2015
 
2014
Foreign Currency Forwards and Swaps, net
 
2

 
$
19

 
$
24

Interest Rate Swaps, net
 
2

 
2

 
10

Other Investments
 
1

 
21

 
21

Total
 
 
 
$
42

 
$
55


Fair Value Measurements and Total Losses, Non-Recurring Basis
The following table presents expense recognized from all non-recurring fair value measurements during the years ended December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014. Other than the Little Sheep impairments (See Note 4), these amounts relate to restaurants or groups of restaurants that were impaired either as a result of our semi-annual impairment review or when it was more likely than not a restaurant or restaurant group would be refranchised and exclude fair value measurements made for restaurants that were subsequently closed or refranchised prior to those respective year-end dates.

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Little Sheep impairments(a)
 
$

 
$
463

 
Refranchising related impairment(b)
 

 
9

 
Restaurant-level impairment(c)
 
61

 
46

 
Total
 
$
61

 
$
518

 

(a)
Except for the Little Sheep trademark, which had a carrying value of $56 million at December 26, 2015, the remaining carrying value of assets measured at fair value due to the 2014 Little Sheep impairments (Level 3) is insignificant. See Note 4 for further discussion. Our 2014 fair value estimate of the Little Sheep trademark was determined using a relief-from-royalty valuation approach that included future revenues as a significant input and a discount rate of 13% as our estimate of the required rate-of-return that a third party buyer would expect to receive when purchasing the trademark. The primary drivers of the trademark’s fair value are franchise revenue growth and revenues associated with a wholly-owned business that sells seasoning to retail customers. Franchise revenue growth reflected annual same store sales growth of 4% and approximately 35 new franchise units per year, partially offset by approximately 25 franchise closures per year. The retail seasoning business was forecasted to generate sales growth consistent with historical results. Our 2015 fair value estimate exceeded its carrying value using similar assumptions and methods as those used in 2014.

(b)
Refranchising related impairment results from writing down the assets of restaurants or restaurant groups offered for refranchising. The fair value measurements used in our impairment evaluation are based on either actual bids received from potential buyers (Level 2), or on estimates of the sales prices we anticipated receiving from a buyer for the restaurant or restaurant groups (Level 3).

(c)
Restaurant-level impairment charges are recorded in Closures and impairment (income) expenses and resulted primarily from our semi-annual impairment evaluation of long-lived assets of individual restaurants that were being operated at the time of impairment and had not been offered for refranchising. The fair value measurements used in these impairment evaluations were based on discounted cash flow estimates using unobservable inputs (Level 3). The remaining net book value of assets measured at fair value during the years ended December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 is insignificant.
v3.3.1.900
Pension, Retiree Medical and Retiree Savings Plans (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Funded status of pension plans
The following chart summarizes the balance sheet impact, as well as benefit obligations, assets, and funded status associated with our two significant U.S. pension plans.  The actuarial valuations for all plans reflect measurement dates coinciding with our fiscal year end.

 
 
2015
 
2014
Change in benefit obligation
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
 
$
1,301

 
$
1,025

Service cost
 
18

 
17

Interest cost
 
55

 
54

Plan amendments
 
28

 
1

Curtailments
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Special termination benefits
 
1

 
3

Benefits paid
 
(50
)
 
(65
)
Settlements(a)
 
(16
)
 
(17
)
Actuarial (gain) loss
 
(196
)
 
290

Administrative expense
 
(5
)
 
(5
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
 
$
1,134

 
$
1,301

 
 
 
 
 
Change in plan assets
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
 
$
991

 
$
933

Actual return on plan assets
 
(10
)
 
124

Employer contributions
 
94

 
21

Settlement payments(a)
 
(16
)
 
(17
)
Benefits paid
 
(50
)
 
(65
)
Administrative expenses
 
(5
)
 
(5
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
 
$
1,004

 
$
991

 Funded status at end of year
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(310
)


(a)
For discussion of the settlement payments and settlement losses, see Components of net periodic benefit cost below.

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Accrued benefit liability - current
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(11
)
Accrued benefit liability - non-current
 
(117
)
 
(299
)
 
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(310
)
Pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of pan assets
Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Projected benefit obligation
 
$
101

 
$
1,301

Accumulated benefit obligation
 
88

 
1,254

Fair value of plan assets
 

 
991

Pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Information for pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Projected benefit obligation
 
$
1,134

 
$
1,301

Accumulated benefit obligation
 
1,088

 
1,254

Fair value of plan assets
 
1,004

 
991

Components of net periodic benefit cost
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Net periodic benefit cost
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Service cost
 
$
18

 
$
17

 
$
21

Interest cost
 
55

 
54

 
54

Amortization of prior service cost(a)
 
1


1


2

Expected return on plan assets
 
(62
)
 
(56
)
 
(59
)
Amortization of net loss
 
45

 
17

 
48

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
57

 
$
33

 
$
66


Additional (gain) loss recognized due to:

Settlements(b)
 
$
5

 
$
6

 
$
30

Special termination benefits
 
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
5


(a)
Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits.

(b)
Settlement losses result when benefit payments exceed the sum of the service cost and interest cost within a plan during the year. During 2013 the Company allowed certain former employees with deferred vested balances an opportunity to voluntarily elect an early payout of their pension benefits. The majority of these payouts were funded from existing pension plan assets.

Pension losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Pension gains (losses) in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning of year
 
$
(319
)
 
$
(124
)
Net actuarial (gain) loss
 
124

 
(220
)
Curtailments
 
2

 
2

Amortization of net loss
 
45

 
17

Amortization of prior service cost
 
1

 
1

Prior service cost
 
(28
)
 
(1
)
Settlement charges
 
5

 
6

End of year
 
$
(170
)
 
$
(319
)
Schedule of Accumulated pre-tax losses recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Accumulated pre-tax losses recognized within Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Actuarial net loss
 
$
(138
)
 
$
(314
)
Prior service cost
 
(32
)
 
(5
)
 
 
$
(170
)
 
$
(319
)
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at the measurement dates:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Discount rate
 
4.90
%
 
4.30
%
Rate of compensation increase
 
3.75
%
 
3.75
%

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for fiscal years:
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Discount rate
 
4.30
%
 
5.40
%
 
4.40
%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets
 
6.75
%
 
6.90
%
 
7.25
%
Rate of compensation increase
 
3.75
%
 
3.75
%
 
3.75
%


Fair values of pension plan assets
The fair values of our pension plan assets at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 by asset category and level within the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 
 
2015
 
2014
Level 1:
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
$
3

 
$

Level 2:
 
 
 
 
Cash Equivalents(a)
 
9

 
5

Equity Securities – U.S. Large cap(b)
 
310

 
298

Equity Securities – U.S. Mid cap(b)
 
50

 
50

Equity Securities – U.S. Small cap(b)
 
51

 
50

Equity Securities – Non-U.S.(b)
 
100

 
91

Fixed Income Securities – U.S. Corporate(d)
 
289

 
305

Fixed Income Securities – U.S. Government and Government Agencies(c)
 
195

 
178

Fixed Income Securities – Other(d)
 
17

 
11

Total fair value of plan assets(e)
 
$
1,024

 
$
988


(a)
Short-term investments in money market funds

(b)
Securities held in common trusts

(c)
Investments held directly by the Plan

(d)
Includes securities held in common trusts and investments held directly by the Plan

(e)
2015 and 2014 exclude net unsettled trades (payable) receivable of $(20) million and $3 million, respectively.

Expected benefit payments
The benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter are set forth below:

Year ended:
 
 
2016
 
$
61

2017
 
50

2018
 
55

2019
 
56

2020
 
56

2021 - 2025
 
331


v3.3.1.900
Share-based and Deferred Compensation Plans (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Compensation Related Costs [Abstract]  
Weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model
We estimated the fair value of each stock option and SAR award as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Risk-free interest rate
 
1.3
%
 
1.6
%
 
0.8
%
Expected term (years)
 
6.4

 
6.2

 
6.2

Expected volatility
 
26.9
%
 
29.7
%
 
29.9
%
Expected dividend yield
 
2.2
%
 
2.1
%
 
2.1
%
Summary of award activity
Stock Options and SARs

 
 
Shares
(in thousands)
 
Weighted-Average Exercise
Price
 
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding at the beginning of the year
 
27,172

 
 
 
$
46.68

 
 
 
 
Granted
 
3,811

 
 
 
74.32

 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
(4,089
)
 
 
 
35.25

 
 
 
 
Forfeited or expired
 
(961
)
 
 
 
65.86

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at the end of the year
 
25,933

(a) 
 
 
$
51.79

 
5.41

 
$
577

Exercisable at the end of the year
 
17,084

 
 
 
$
42.49

 
4.03

 
$
538


(a)
Outstanding awards include 1,623 options and 24,310 SARs with weighted average exercise prices of $49.34 and $51.98, respectively.
Impact on net income
The components of share-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefits are shown in the following table:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Options and SARs
 
$
50

 
$
48

 
$
44

Restricted Stock Units
 
4

 
6

 
6

Performance Share Units
 
3

 
1

 
(1
)
Total Share-based Compensation Expense
 
$
57

 
$
55

 
$
49

Deferred Tax Benefit recognized
 
$
18

 
$
17

 
$
15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EID compensation expense not share-based
 
$
1

 
$
8

 
$
11

v3.3.1.900
Shareholders' Equity (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]  
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock
 
 
Shares Repurchased
(thousands)
 
 
Dollar Value of Shares
Repurchased
 
Authorization Date
 
2015

 
 
2014

 
 
2013

 
 
2015

 
 
2014

 
 
2013

 
December 2015
 
932

 
 

 
 

 
 
$
67

 
 
$

 
 
$

 
November 2014
 
13,231

 
 

 
 

 
 
1,000

 
 

 
 

 
November 2013
 
1,779

 
 
8,488

 
 

 
 
133

 
 
617

 
 

 
November 2012
 

 
 
2,737

 
 
10,922

 
 

 
 
203

 
 
750

 
Total
 
15,942

 
 
11,225

 
 
10,922

(a) 
 
$
1,200

 
 
$
820

 
 
$
750

(a) 

(a)
2013 amount excludes the effect of $20 million in share repurchases (0.3 million shares) with trade dates prior to the 2012 fiscal year end but with settlement dates subsequent to the 2012 fiscal year end.

Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI") are presented below.
 
 
Translation Adjustments and Gains (Losses) From Intra-Entity Transactions of a Long-Term Nature
 
Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits(a)
 
Derivative Instruments
 
Total
Balance at December 28, 2013, net of tax
 
$
170

 
$
(97
)
 
$
(9
)
 
64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) arising during the year classified into accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
(143
)
 
(131
)
 
15

 
(259
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
2

 
18

 
(15
)
 
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OCI, net of tax
 
(141
)
 
(113
)
 

 
(254
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 27, 2014, net of tax
$
29

 
$
(210
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(190
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) arising during the year classified into accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
(250
)
 
63
 
28
 
(159
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax
 
112
 
34
 
(36
)
 
110
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OCI, net of tax
 
(138
)
 
97

 
(8
)
 
(49
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 26, 2015, net of tax
$
(109
)
 
(113
)
 
$
(17
)
 
(239
)

(a)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI for pension and post-retirement benefit plan losses during 2015 include amortization of net losses of $46 million, settlement charges of $5 million, amortization of prior service cost of $2 million and related income tax benefit of $20 million. Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI for pension and post-retirement benefit plan losses during 2014 include amortization of net losses of $20 million, settlement charges of $6 million, amortization of prior service cost of $1 million and the related income tax benefit of $9 million. See Note 13.
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income before income taxes
U.S. and foreign income before taxes are set forth below:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
U.S.
 
$
471

 
$
506

 
$
464

Foreign
 
1,316

 
921

 
1,087

 
 
$
1,787

 
$
1,427

 
$
1,551

Details of income tax provision (benefit)
The details of our income tax provision (benefit) are set forth below:

 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Current:
 
Federal
 
$
287

 
$
255

 
$
159

 
 
Foreign
 
263

 
321

 
330

 
 
State
 
28

 
2

 
22

 
 
 
 
$
578

 
$
578

 
511

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred:
 
Federal
 
$
(143
)
 
$
(67
)
 
42

 
 
Foreign
 
54

 
(106
)
 
(53
)
 
 
State
 

 
1

 
(13
)
 
 
 
 
$
(89
)
 
$
(172
)
 
$
(24
)
 
 
 
 
$
489


$
406


$
487

Effective income tax and tax rate reconciliation
The reconciliation of income taxes calculated at the U.S. federal statutory rate to our effective tax rate is set forth below:

 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
U.S. federal statutory rate
 
$
625

 
35.0
 %
 
$
500

 
35.0
 %
 
$
543

 
35.0
 %
State income tax, net of federal tax benefit
 
12

 
0.7

 
8

 
0.6

 
3

 
0.2

Statutory rate differential attributable to foreign operations
 
(210
)
 
(11.8
)
 
(168
)
 
(11.7
)
 
(177
)
 
(11.4
)
Adjustments to reserves and prior years
 
12

 
0.7

 
(5
)
 
(0.3
)
 
49

 
3.1

Change in valuation allowances
 
54

 
3.0

 
35

 
2.4

 
23

 
1.5

Other, net
 
(4
)
 
(0.3
)
 
36

 
2.5

 
46

 
3.0

Effective income tax rate
 
$
489

 
27.3
 %
 
$
406

 
28.5
 %
 
$
487

 
31.4
 %
Details of deferred tax assets (liabilities)
The details of 2015 and 2014 deferred tax assets (liabilities) are set forth below:

 
 
2015
 
2014
Operating losses
 
$
239

 
$
271

Tax credit carryforwards
 
282

 
162

Employee benefits
 
154

 
238

Share-based compensation
 
126

 
119

Self-insured casualty claims
 
36

 
42

Lease-related liabilities
 
112

 
119

Various liabilities
 
82

 
73

Property, plant and equipment
 
33

 
39

Deferred income and other
 
86

 
102

Gross deferred tax assets
 
1,150

 
1,165

Deferred tax asset valuation allowances
 
(250
)
 
(228
)
Net deferred tax assets
 
$
900

 
$
937

Intangible assets, including goodwill
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(148
)
Property, plant and equipment
 
(56
)
 
(63
)
Other
 
(70
)
 
(104
)
Gross deferred tax liabilities
 
$
(256
)
 
$
(315
)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
 
$
644


$
622


Reported in Consolidated Balance Sheets as:
 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes
 
$
676


$
653

Other liabilities and deferred credits
 
(32
)
 
(31
)
 
 
$
644


$
622

Loss carryforwards, by year of expiration
At December 26, 2015, the Company has foreign operating and capital loss carryforwards of $0.6 billion and U.S. state operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards of $1.0 billion and U.S. federal capital loss and tax credit carryforwards of $0.3 billion.  These losses are being carried forward in jurisdictions where we are permitted to use tax losses from prior periods to reduce future taxable income and will expire as follows:


 
 
Year of Expiration
 
 
 
 
2016
 
2017-2020
 
2021-2035
 
Indefinitely
 
Total
Foreign
 
$
5

 
$
211

 
$
98

 
$
305

 
$
619

U.S. state
 
53

 
26

 
876

 

 
955

U.S. federal
 
64

 

 
277

 

 
341

 
 
$
122

 
$
237

 
$
1,251

 
$
305

 
$
1,915

Unrecognized tax benefits reconciliation
The Company had $98 million and $115 million of unrecognized tax benefits at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively, $89 million and $98 million of which are temporary in nature and if recognized, would not impact the effective income tax rate.  A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits follows:
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning of Year
 
$
115

 
$
243

     Additions on tax positions - current year
 

 
19

     Additions for tax positions - prior years
 
5

 
31

     Reductions for tax positions - prior years
 
(13
)
 
(20
)
     Reductions for settlements
 
(7
)
 
(144
)
     Reductions due to statute expiration
 
(2
)
 
(13
)
     Foreign currency translation adjustment
 

 
(1
)
End of Year
 
$
98

 
$
115

Summary of income tax examinations

The Company has settled audits with the IRS through fiscal year 2008. Our operations in certain foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination for tax years as far back as 2005, some of which years are currently under audit by local tax authorities. In addition, the Company is subject to various U.S. state income tax examinations, for which, in the aggregate, we had significant unrecognized tax benefits at December 26, 2015, each of which is individually insignificant.

The accrued interest and penalties related to income taxes at December 26, 2015 and December 27, 2014 are set forth below:
 
 
2015
 
2014
Accrued interest and penalties
 
$
15

 
$
5

v3.3.1.900
Reportable Operating Segments (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment
 
 
Revenues
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
6,909


$
6,934


$
6,905

KFC Division(a)
 
2,948


3,193


3,036

Pizza Hut Division(a)
 
1,145


1,148


1,147

Taco Bell Division(a)
 
1,988

 
1,863

 
1,869

India
 
115

 
141

 
127

 
 
$
13,105


$
13,279


$
13,084



 
 
Operating Profit; Interest Expense, Net; and
Income Before Income Taxes
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China (b)
 
$
757


$
713


$
777

KFC Division
 
677


708


649

Pizza Hut Division
 
289


295


339

Taco Bell Division
 
539

 
480

 
456

India
 
(19
)

(9
)

(15
)
Unallocated restaurant costs(c)
 


(1
)


Unallocated Franchise and License expenses(c)(j)
 
(71
)
 

 

Unallocated and corporate expenses(c)
 
(204
)

(189
)

(207
)
Unallocated Closures and impairment expense(c)(d)
 


(463
)

(295
)
Unallocated Refranchising gain (loss)(c)
 
(10
)

33


100

Unallocated Other income (expense)(c)
 
(37
)

(10
)

(6
)
Operating Profit
 
1,921


1,557


1,798

Interest expense, net(c)(e)
 
(134
)

(130
)

(247
)
Income Before Income Taxes
 
$
1,787


$
1,427


$
1,551


 
 
Depreciation and Amortization
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
425

 
$
411

 
$
394

KFC Division
 
176

 
187

 
190

Pizza Hut Division
 
40

 
39

 
36

Taco Bell Division
 
88

 
83

 
84

India
 
10

 
10

 
9

Corporate
 
8

 
9

 
8

 
 
$
747

 
$
739

 
$
721


 
 
Capital Spending
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
512

 
$
525

 
$
568

KFC Division
 
273

 
273

 
294

Pizza Hut Division
 
54

 
62

 
52

Taco Bell Division
 
116

 
143

 
100

India
 
7

 
21

 
31

Corporate
 
11

 
9

 
4

 
 
$
973

 
$
1,033

 
$
1,049


 
 
Identifiable Assets
 
 
2015
 
2014
China (f)
 
$
3,150

 
$
3,202

KFC Division(i)
 
2,181

 
2,328

Pizza Hut Division(i)
 
707

 
710

Taco Bell Division(i)
 
1,127

 
1,084

India
 
84

 
118

Corporate(g)(i)
 
826

 
892

 
 
$
8,075

 
$
8,334


 
 
Long-Lived Assets(h)
 
 
2015
 
2014
China
 
$
2,033

 
$
2,217

KFC Division
 
1,663

 
1,823

Pizza Hut Division
 
419

 
433

Taco Bell Division
 
911

 
920

India
 
35

 
72

Corporate
 
55

 
51

 
 
$
5,116

 
$
5,516



(a)
U.S. revenues included in the combined KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions totaled $3.1 billion in 2015 and $3.0 billion in both 2014 and 2013.

(b)
Includes equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates of $41 million, $30 million and $26 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(c)
Amounts have not been allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes.

(d)
Represents 2014 and 2013 impairment losses related to Little Sheep. See Note 4.

(e)
2013 includes $118 million of premiums and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt. See Note 4.

(f)
China includes investments in 4 unconsolidated affiliates totaling $61 million and $52 million for 2015 and 2014, respectively.  

(g)
Primarily includes cash, deferred tax assets and property, plant and equipment, net, related to our office facilities.

(h)
Includes property, plant and equipment, net, goodwill, and intangible assets, net.

(i)
U.S. identifiable assets included in the combined Corporate and KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions totaled $2.3 billion and $2.0 billion in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(j)
Represents 2015 costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement. See Note 4.
Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated
 
 
Revenues
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
6,909


$
6,934


$
6,905

KFC Division(a)
 
2,948


3,193


3,036

Pizza Hut Division(a)
 
1,145


1,148


1,147

Taco Bell Division(a)
 
1,988

 
1,863

 
1,869

India
 
115

 
141

 
127

 
 
$
13,105


$
13,279


$
13,084

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated
 
 
Operating Profit; Interest Expense, Net; and
Income Before Income Taxes
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China (b)
 
$
757


$
713


$
777

KFC Division
 
677


708


649

Pizza Hut Division
 
289


295


339

Taco Bell Division
 
539

 
480

 
456

India
 
(19
)

(9
)

(15
)
Unallocated restaurant costs(c)
 


(1
)


Unallocated Franchise and License expenses(c)(j)
 
(71
)
 

 

Unallocated and corporate expenses(c)
 
(204
)

(189
)

(207
)
Unallocated Closures and impairment expense(c)(d)
 


(463
)

(295
)
Unallocated Refranchising gain (loss)(c)
 
(10
)

33


100

Unallocated Other income (expense)(c)
 
(37
)

(10
)

(6
)
Operating Profit
 
1,921


1,557


1,798

Interest expense, net(c)(e)
 
(134
)

(130
)

(247
)
Income Before Income Taxes
 
$
1,787


$
1,427


$
1,551

Reconciliation of Other Significant Reconciling Items from Segments to Consolidated
 
 
Depreciation and Amortization
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
425

 
$
411

 
$
394

KFC Division
 
176

 
187

 
190

Pizza Hut Division
 
40

 
39

 
36

Taco Bell Division
 
88

 
83

 
84

India
 
10

 
10

 
9

Corporate
 
8

 
9

 
8

 
 
$
747

 
$
739

 
$
721


 
 
Capital Spending
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
China
 
$
512

 
$
525

 
$
568

KFC Division
 
273

 
273

 
294

Pizza Hut Division
 
54

 
62

 
52

Taco Bell Division
 
116

 
143

 
100

India
 
7

 
21

 
31

Corporate
 
11

 
9

 
4

 
 
$
973

 
$
1,033

 
$
1,049


 
 
Identifiable Assets
 
 
2015
 
2014
China (f)
 
$
3,150

 
$
3,202

KFC Division(i)
 
2,181

 
2,328

Pizza Hut Division(i)
 
707

 
710

Taco Bell Division(i)
 
1,127

 
1,084

India
 
84

 
118

Corporate(g)(i)
 
826

 
892

 
 
$
8,075

 
$
8,334


 
 
Long-Lived Assets(h)
 
 
2015
 
2014
China
 
$
2,033

 
$
2,217

KFC Division
 
1,663

 
1,823

Pizza Hut Division
 
419

 
433

Taco Bell Division
 
911

 
920

India
 
35

 
72

Corporate
 
55

 
51

 
 
$
5,116

 
$
5,516

v3.3.1.900
Contingencies (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Activity related to self-insured property and casualty reserves
The following table summarizes the 2015 and 2014 activity related to our net self-insured property and casualty reserves as of December 26, 2015.

 
 
Beginning Balance
 
Expense
 
Payments
 
Ending Balance
2015 Activity
 
$
116

 
39

 
(53
)
 
$
102

2014 Activity
 
$
128

 
42

 
(54
)
 
$
116

v3.3.1.900
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]  
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information
 
 
2015
 
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company sales
 
$
2,179

 
$
2,659

 
$
2,968

 
$
3,339

 
$
11,145

Franchise and license fees and income
 
443

 
446

 
459

 
612

 
1,960

Total revenues
 
2,622

 
3,105

 
3,427

 
3,951

 
13,105

Restaurant profit
 
382

 
411

 
539

 
454

 
1,786

Operating Profit(a)
 
506

 
371

 
603

 
441

 
1,921

Net Income – YUM! Brands, Inc.
 
362

 
235

 
421

 
275

 
1,293

Basic earnings per common share
 
0.83

 
0.54

 
0.97

 
0.64

 
2.97

Diluted earnings per common share
 
0.81

 
0.53

 
0.95

 
0.63

 
2.92

Dividends declared per common share
 

 
0.82

 

 
0.92

 
1.74


 
 
2014
 
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company sales
 
$
2,292

 
$
2,758

 
$
2,891

 
$
3,383

 
$
11,324

Franchise and license fees and income
 
432

 
446

 
463

 
614

 
1,955

Total revenues
 
2,724

 
3,204

 
3,354

 
3,997

 
13,279

Restaurant profit
 
441

 
428

 
429

 
344

 
1,642

Operating Profit(b)
 
571

 
479

 
550

 
(43
)
 
1,557

Net Income – YUM! Brands, Inc.
 
399

 
334

 
404

 
(86
)
 
1,051

Basic earnings per common share
 
0.89

 
0.75

 
0.91

 
(0.20
)
 
2.37

Diluted earnings per common share
 
0.87

 
0.73

 
0.89

 
(0.20
)
 
2.32

Dividends declared per common share
 
0.37

 
0.37

 

 
0.82

 
1.56


(a)
Includes losses associated with refranchising of equity markets outside of the U.S. of $73 million, $20 million and $3 million in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement of $2 million, $8 million, $21 million and $41 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, and net U.S. refranchising gains of $7 million, $1 million, $16 million and $51 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. See Note 4.

(b)
Includes a non-cash charge of $463 million in the fourth quarter related primarily to the impairment of Little Sheep intangible assets. See Note 4.
v3.3.1.900
Description of Business (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
operating_segments
countries_and_territiories
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Approximate Number Of System Units 42,000
Percent Of System Units Located Outside United States 57.00%
Approximate Number Of Countries And Territories Where System Units Are Located 130
Number of Operating Segments | operating_segments 5
v3.3.1.900
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Feb. 01, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Reclassification of Retained Earnings to Common Stock for Share Repurchase $ 1,124 $ 725 $ 640  
Future lease payments due from franchisees on a nominal basis $ 345      
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]        
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]        
Additional percentage of ownership acquired (in hundredths)       66.00%
Current ownership percentage 93.00%      
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners       7.00%
v3.3.1.900
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Months
weeks
Fiscal Period Adjustment [Line Items]  
Week added as a result of the fiscal year ending on last Saturday in December 53
Frequency of adding a week as a result of the fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in December five or six
Number of weeks in each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year | weeks 12
Number of weeks in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year with 52 weeks | weeks 16
Number of weeks in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year with 53 weeks | weeks 17
Fiscal period months standard first quarter | Months 2
Fiscal period months standard second and third quarters | Months 3
Fiscal period months standard fourth quarter | Months 4
Number of periods or months in advance that all international businesses except China and India close their books 1
Upcoming Fiscal Year with 53rd week 2016
v3.3.1.900
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 27, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Foreign Currency [Abstract]      
Foreign currency translation adjustment $ 109    
Direct Marketing Costs [Abstract]      
Advertising Expense 581 $ 589 $ 607
Research and Development Expenses [Abstract]      
Research and development expenses $ 28 30 31
Impairment or Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]      
Number of consecutive years of operating losses used as primary indicator of potential impairment for our semi-annual impairment testing of restaurant assets 2 years    
Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates [Abstract]      
Number Of Consecutive Years Used As Indicator Of Impairment Of Investment In Unconsolidated Affiliates 2 years    
Income Taxes [Abstract]      
Percentage threshold that the positions taken or expected to be taken is more likely than not sustained upon examination by tax authorities (in hundredths) 50.00%    
Receivables [Abstract]      
Net provisions for uncollectible franchise and license trade receivables included in Franchise and license expenses $ 6 3 $ 2
Accounts and notes receivable [Abstract]      
Accounts and notes receivable 393 337  
Allowance for doubtful accounts (16) (12)  
Accounts and notes receivable, net $ 377 325  
Number of days from the period in which the corresponding sales occur that trade receivables are generally due 30 days    
Number of years notes receivable and direct financing leases are due within and would be included in accounts and notes receivable 1 year    
Number of years notes receivable and direct financing leases are beyond and would be included in other assets 1 year    
Net amounts included in Other Assets $ 23 21  
Allowance for doubtful accounts related to notes and direct financing lease receivables 4 1  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current $ 676 $ 653  
Leases and Leasehold Improvements [Abstract]      
Approximate number of restaurants operated on leased land and/or buildings 8,025    
Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract]      
Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit Years From Acquisition 2 years    
Fair Value Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit Minimum Years Refranchised 2 years    
Minimum [Member] | Buildings and improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years) 5 years    
Minimum [Member] | Machinery and equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years) 3 years    
Minimum [Member] | Capitalized software costs      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years) 3 years    
Maximum [Member] | Buildings and improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years) 25 years    
Maximum [Member] | Machinery and equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years) 20 years    
Maximum [Member] | Capitalized software costs      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful life used in the calculation of the depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis (in years) 7 years    
v3.3.1.900
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current $ 676 $ 653  
Other current liabilities 417 329  
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock [Abstract]      
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value (1,200) (820) $ (750) [1]
Reduction to Retained earnings      
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock [Abstract]      
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value $ (1,124) (725) $ (640)
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]      
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current   93  
Other current liabilities   9  
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross, Current   2  
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent   $ 82  
[1] 2013 amount excludes the effect of $20 million in share repurchases (0.3 million shares) with trade dates prior to the 2012 fiscal year end but with settlement dates subsequent to the 2012 fiscal year end.
v3.3.1.900
Earnings Per Common Share ("EPS") (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 05, 2015
Jun. 13, 2015
Mar. 21, 2015
Sep. 06, 2014
Jun. 14, 2014
Mar. 22, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]                      
Net Income (loss) - YUM! Brands, Inc. $ 421 $ 235 $ 362 $ 404 $ 334 $ 399 $ 275 $ (86) $ 1,293 $ 1,051 $ 1,091
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (for basic calculation) (in shares)                 436.0 444.0 452.0
Effect of dilutive share-based employee compensation (in shares)                 7.0 9.0 9.0
Weighted-average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding (for diluted calculation) (in shares)                 443.0 453.0 461.0
Basic EPS (in dollars per share) $ 0.97 $ 0.54 $ 0.83 $ 0.91 $ 0.75 $ 0.89 $ 0.64 $ (0.20) $ 2.97 $ 2.37 $ 2.41
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share) $ 0.95 $ 0.53 $ 0.81 $ 0.89 $ 0.73 $ 0.87 $ 0.63 $ (0.20) $ 2.92 $ 2.32 $ 2.36
Unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights (in millions) excluded from the diluted EPS computation (in shares) [1]                 4.5 5.5 4.9
[1] These unexercised employee stock options and stock appreciation rights were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive for the periods presented.
v3.3.1.900
Items Affecting Comparability of Net Income and Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 05, 2015
Jun. 13, 2015
Mar. 21, 2015
Sep. 07, 2013
Mar. 24, 2012
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Feb. 01, 2012
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Refranchising (gain) loss                 $ 10 $ (33) $ (100)  
Costs associated with KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement $ 21 $ 8 $ 2     $ 41     125      
Franchise and license expenses                 242 160 158  
Store closure (income) costs(a) [1]                 (8) 3 (5)  
Business Combination                        
Acquisitions                 (9) (28) (99)  
Goodwill impairment loss                   160    
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount               $ 550        
Losses and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt               (120) 0 0 120  
Interest expense, net               118        
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Unsecured Long-term Debt               599        
Pension settlement charges                 (5) (6)    
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Asset Impairment Charges                 87 69 41  
Closure and impairment (income) expenses                 (79) (535) (331)  
Carrying value of goodwill           656 $ 700 889 656 700 889  
Closures and impairment (income) expenses                        
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Closure and impairment (income) expenses                 79 72 36  
MEXICO                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Transfer of Financial Assets Accounted for as Sales, Cash Proceeds Received for Assets Derecognized, Amount           58     58      
Activity related to reserves for remaining lease obligations for closed stores [Roll Forward]                        
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal                 80      
INDIA                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Store closure (income) costs(a) [1]                 0 0 0  
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Asset Impairment Charges                 1 1 2  
Closure and impairment (income) expenses                 1 1 2  
Taco Bell Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Store closure (income) costs(a) [1]                 (1) 0 0  
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Asset Impairment Charges                 4 3 1  
Closure and impairment (income) expenses                 3 3 1  
Pizza Hut Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Store closure (income) costs(a) [1]                 (2) 1 (3)  
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Asset Impairment Charges                 5 4 3  
Closure and impairment (income) expenses                 3 5 0  
CHINA                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Store closure (income) costs(a) [1]                 (6) 0 (1)  
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Asset Impairment Charges                 70 54 31  
Closure and impairment (income) expenses                 64 54 30  
KFC Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Store closure (income) costs(a) [1]                 1 2 (1)  
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Asset Impairment Charges                 7 7 4  
Closure and impairment (income) expenses                 8 9 3  
KFC Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Refranchising (gain) loss [2]                 30 (18) (8)  
KFC Global Division [Member] | MEXICO                        
Activity related to reserves for remaining lease obligations for closed stores [Roll Forward]                        
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal                 40      
Rental income transferred to buyer of held for sale property                 2 3    
Unallocated and General and administrative expenses [Domain]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Occupancy Costs                 1      
Franchise and license expenses                 71      
China Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Refranchising (gain) loss                 (13) (17) (5)  
Business Combination                        
Goodwill impairment loss [3]                   160    
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Carrying value of goodwill           85 89 256 85 89 256  
India Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Refranchising (gain) loss                 3 2 0  
Business Combination                        
Goodwill impairment loss                   0    
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Carrying value of goodwill           $ 1 2 $ 2 1 2 2  
Pizza Hut Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Refranchising (gain) loss [2],[4]                 55 4 (3)  
Pizza Hut Global Division [Member] | MEXICO                        
Activity related to reserves for remaining lease obligations for closed stores [Roll Forward]                        
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal                 40      
Rental income transferred to buyer of held for sale property                 1 1    
Pizza Hut Global Division [Member] | KOREA, REPUBLIC OF                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Refranchising (gain) loss                 16      
Taco Bell Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Refranchising (gain) loss                 $ (65) (4) (84)  
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]                        
Business Combination                        
Additional percentage of ownership acquired (in hundredths)                       66.00%
Acquisitions         $ (540)              
Cash acquired due to acquisition         $ 44              
Current ownership percentage           93.00%     93.00%      
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners                       7.00%
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill), Fair Value Disclosure             58     58    
Indefinite-Lived Trademarks             342     342    
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)       $ 69     284     284 69  
Goodwill impairment loss       222     160     160 222  
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use       $ 4     14     14 4  
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment             $ 5     $ 5 0  
Little Sheep Franchise Revenue Growth                   4.00%    
Little Sheep Franchise Unit Openings                   35    
Little Sheep Franchise unit annual closures                   25    
Impairment effect on tax expense (benefit)                   $ (76) (18)  
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest resulting from Little Sheep Acquisition and Subsequent Impairment                   26 19  
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Asset Impairment Charges                   (463) (295)  
Activity related to reserves for remaining lease obligations for closed stores [Roll Forward]                        
Gain (Loss) from Little Sheep Acquistion and Subsequent Impairment                   $ 361 $ 258  
Little Sheep [Member]                        
Business Combination                        
Indefinite-Lived Trademarks                       $ 400
Facility Actions [Abstract]                        
Carrying value of goodwill                       $ 375
Advertising [Domain] | KFC Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Costs associated with KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement                 $ 60      
Advertising [Domain] | 2015 [Domain] | KFC Global Division [Member]                        
Facility Actions [Line Items]                        
Costs associated with KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement                 $ 10      
[1] Store closure (income) costs include the net gain or loss on sales of real estate on which we formerly operated a Company-owned restaurant that was closed, lease reserves established when we cease using a property under an operating lease and subsequent adjustments to those reserves and other facility-related expenses from previously closed stores. Remaining lease obligations for closed stores were not material at December 26, 2015 or December 27, 2014.
[2] In 2010 we refranchised our then-remaining Company-operated restaurants in Mexico. To the extent we owned it, we did not sell the real estate related to certain of these restaurants, instead leasing it to the franchisee. During 2015, we sold the real estate for approximately $58 million. While these proceeds exceeded the book value of the real estate, the sale represented a substantial liquidation of our Mexican foreign entities under GAAP. As such, the accumulated translation losses associated with our Mexican business were included in our loss on the sale. We recorded charges of $80 million representing the excess of the sum of the book value of the real estate and other related assets and our accumulated translation losses over the sales price. Consistent with the classification of the original market refranchising transaction, these charges were classified as Refranchising (gain) loss. Refranchising losses of $40 million were associated with both the KFC and Pizza Hut Divisions.Our KFC and Pizza Hut Divisions earned approximately $2 million and $1 million, respectively, of rental income in 2015 and $3 million and $1 million, respectively, of rental income in 2014 related to this real estate that transferred to the buyer subsequent to the sale of the real estate. We continue to earn U.S. dollar-denominated franchise fees, most of which are sales-based royalties, under our existing franchise contracts with our Mexico franchisee.
[3] China Accumulated impairment losses represent Little Sheep impairment, of which $160 million was recorded in 2014. See Note 4.
[4] During 2015 we recognized charges of $16 million within Refranchising (gain) loss associated with the refranchising of our company-owned Pizza Hut restaurants in Korea. While additional gains or losses may occur as the refranchising plans move forward, such amounts are not expected to be material at this time.
v3.3.1.900
Supplemental Cash Flow Data (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Premiums And Fees Paid Related To Debt Extinguishment       $ 109
Cash Paid For:        
Interest   $ 154 $ 149 269 [1]
Income taxes   535 684 [2] 489
Significant Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:        
Capital lease obligations incurred   28 24 15
Losses and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt $ (120) $ 0 0 $ 120
Income Tax Examination Payment     $ 200  
[1] 2013 includes $109 million of cash premiums and fees paid related to the extinguishment of debt, which is the primary component of the $120 million loss on debt extinguishment.
[2] 2014 includes $200 million of cash paid related to the resolution of a valuation issue with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") related to years 2004 through 2008. See Note 16.
v3.3.1.900
Franchise and License Fees and Income (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 05, 2015
Jun. 13, 2015
Mar. 21, 2015
Sep. 06, 2014
Jun. 14, 2014
Mar. 22, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Franchise And License Fees And Income [Abstract]                      
Initial fees, including renewal fees                 $ 88 $ 83 $ 90
Initial franchise fees included in refranchising (gain) loss                 (10) (5) (13)
Initial fees, net                 78 78 77
Continuing fees and rental income                 1,882 1,877 1,823
Franchise and license fees and income $ 459 $ 446 $ 443 $ 463 $ 446 $ 432 $ 612 $ 614 $ 1,960 $ 1,955 $ 1,900
v3.3.1.900
Other (Income) Expense (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Other Income and Expenses [Line Items]      
Equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates $ (41) $ (30) $ (26)
China poultry supply insurance recovery [1] (5) (25) 0
Loss associated with planned sale of aircraft [2] 15 0 0
Foreign exchange net (gain) loss and other 21 14 10
Other (income) expense (10) (41) (16)
China Division [Member]      
Other Income and Expenses [Line Items]      
Equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates $ (41) $ (30) $ (26)
[1] Recoveries related to lost profits associated with a 2012 poultry supply incident.
[2] During 2015, we made the decision to dispose of a corporate aircraft in China. The loss associated with this planned sale reflects the shortfall of the expected proceeds, less any selling costs, over the carrying value of the aircraft.
v3.3.1.900
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets      
Income tax receivable $ 41 $ 55  
Assets held for sale [1] 28 14  
Other prepaid expenses and current assets 173 185  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 242 254  
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and equipment, gross 7,832 8,082  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization (3,643) (3,584)  
Property, Plant and equipment, net 4,189 4,498  
Depreciation and amortization 712 702 $ 686
Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities      
Accounts payable 616 694  
Accrued capital expenditures 174 250  
Accrued compensation and benefits 465 419  
Dividends payable 197 178  
Accrued taxes, other than income taxes 116 100  
Other current liabilities 417 329  
Accounts payable and other current liabilities 1,985 1,970  
Land      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and equipment, gross 480 506  
Buildings and improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and equipment, gross 4,462 4,549  
Capital leases, primarily buildings      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and equipment, gross 203 210  
Machinery and equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and equipment, gross $ 2,687 $ 2,817  
[1] Reflects the carrying value of a corporate aircraft in China (See Note 7) as well as restaurants we have offered for sale to franchisees and excess properties that we do not intend to use for restaurant operations in the future.
v3.3.1.900
Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 07, 2013
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill, gross   $ 1,099 $ 1,055 $ 1,099 $ 1,128
Accumulated impairment losses (beginning balance)     (399) (239)  
Goodwill, net   700 656 700 889
Acquisitions     2 10  
Impairment Losses       (160)  
Disposals and other, net [1]     (46) (39)  
Accumulated impairment losses (ending balance)   (399) (399) (399) (239)
India Division [Member]          
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill, gross   2 1 2 2
Accumulated impairment losses (beginning balance)     0 0  
Goodwill, net   2 1 2 2
Acquisitions     0 0  
Impairment Losses       0  
Disposals and other, net [1]     (1) 0  
Accumulated impairment losses (ending balance)   0 0 0 0
China Division [Member]          
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill, gross   471 467 471 478
Accumulated impairment losses (beginning balance)     (382) (222)  
Goodwill, net   89 85 89 256
Acquisitions     0 0  
Impairment Losses [2]       (160)  
Disposals and other, net [1]     (4) (7)  
Accumulated impairment losses (ending balance)   (382) (382) (382) (222)
KFC          
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill, gross   312 281 312 338
Accumulated impairment losses (beginning balance)     0 0  
Goodwill, net   312 281 312 338
Acquisitions     1 2  
Impairment Losses       0  
Disposals and other, net [1]     (32) (28)  
Accumulated impairment losses (ending balance)   0 0 0 0
Pizza Hut          
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill, gross   200 193 200 204
Accumulated impairment losses (beginning balance)     (17) (17)  
Goodwill, net   183 176 183 187
Acquisitions     0 0  
Impairment Losses       0  
Disposals and other, net [1]     (7) (4)  
Accumulated impairment losses (ending balance)   (17) (17) (17) (17)
Taco Bell          
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill, gross   114 113 114 106
Accumulated impairment losses (beginning balance)     0 0  
Goodwill, net   114 113 114 106
Acquisitions     1 8  
Impairment Losses       0  
Disposals and other, net [1]     (2) 0  
Accumulated impairment losses (ending balance)   0 $ 0 0 0
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]          
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill [Roll Forward]          
Impairment Losses $ (222) $ (160)   $ (160) $ (222)
[1] Disposals and other, net includes the impact of foreign currency translation on existing balances and goodwill write-offs associated with refranchising.
[2] China Accumulated impairment losses represent Little Sheep impairment, of which $160 million was recorded in 2014. See Note 4.
v3.3.1.900
Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details 2) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 07, 2013
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   $ 446 $ 413 $ 446  
Accumulated Amortization   (219) (229) (219)  
Definite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense     26 27 $ 28
Approximate amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets - 2016     21    
Approximate amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets - 2017     21    
Approximate amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets - 2018     19    
Approximate amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets - 2019     18    
Approximate amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets - 2020     17    
Goodwill impairment loss       160  
Trademarks/brands [Member]          
Indefinite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   91 87 91  
Franchise contract rights [Member]          
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   126 123 126  
Accumulated Amortization   (92) (94) (92)  
Lease tenancy rights [Member]          
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   67 57 67  
Accumulated Amortization   (12) (10) (12)  
Favorable operating leases [Member]          
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   15 11 15  
Accumulated Amortization   (9) (7) (9)  
Reacquired franchise rights [Member]          
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   186 168 186  
Accumulated Amortization   (81) (91) (81)  
Other [Member]          
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   52 54 52  
Accumulated Amortization   (25) (27) (25)  
KFC          
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Goodwill impairment loss       0  
KFC | Trademarks/brands [Member]          
Indefinite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   31 31 31  
Little Sheep [Member] | Trademarks/brands [Member]          
Indefinite-lived intangible assets          
Gross Carrying Amount   60 $ 56 60  
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]          
Definite-lived intangible assets          
Goodwill impairment loss $ 222 160   160 222
Indefinite-lived intangible assets          
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill) $ 69 $ 284   $ 284 $ 69
v3.3.1.900
Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Details)
$ in Millions
4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Banks
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Months
days
Banks
Dec. 27, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Excluding Hedge Accounting Adjustment Current And Noncurrent $ 3,367   $ 3,367 $ 3,337  
Long-term Debt 3,800   3,800    
Hedging Assets, Current 1   1 3  
Short-term Bank Loans and Notes Payable 600   600 0  
Other Short-term Borrowings 9   9 0  
Short-term Debt, Fair Value 923   923 267  
Short-term Borrowings          
Current maturities of long-term debt 313   313 264  
Total Short-term Borrowings 923   923 267  
Long-term Debt          
Capital lease obligations 169   169 175  
Current maturities of long-term debt (313)   (313) (264)  
Long-term debt excluding long-term portion of hedge accounting adjustment 3,054   3,054 3,073  
Derivative Instruments and Hedges, Noncurrent 0   0 4  
Long-term debt including hedge accounting adjustment 3,054   3,054 3,077  
Capital Lease Obligations Excluded from Annual Maturities 169   169 175  
Derivative Instrument Adjustments Excluded from Annual Maturities Table 1   1    
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]          
Outstanding borrowings 701   701 416  
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Unsecured Long-term Debt   $ 599      
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount   550      
Interest Expense   $ 118      
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities 313   313 264  
Maturities of Senior Debt 250        
Annual maturities of short-term borrowings and long-term debt excluding capital lease obligations and derivative instrument adjustments [Abstract]          
2016 909   909    
2017 701   701    
2018 325   325    
2019 250   250    
2020 350   350    
Thereafter 1,275   1,275    
Total 3,810   3,810    
Interest expense on short-term borrowings and long-term debt     $ 155 152 $ 270
Senior Unsecured Notes Due April 2016 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Apr. 13, 2006    
Maturity date     Apr. 15, 2016    
Principal amount $ 300   $ 300    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 6.25%   6.25%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 6.03%   6.03%    
Senior Unsecured Notes Due March 2018 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Oct. 19, 2007    
Maturity date     Mar. 15, 2018    
Principal amount $ 325   $ 325    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 6.25%   6.25%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 6.36%   6.36%    
Senior Unsecured Notes Due November 2037 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Oct. 19, 2007    
Maturity date     Nov. 15, 2037    
Principal amount $ 325   $ 325    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 6.88%   6.88%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 7.45%   7.45%    
Senior Unsecured Notes Due September 2019 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Aug. 25, 2009    
Maturity date     Sep. 15, 2019    
Principal amount $ 250   $ 250    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 5.30%   5.30%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 5.59%   5.59%    
Senior Unsecured Notes Due November 2020 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Aug. 31, 2010    
Maturity date     Nov. 01, 2020    
Principal amount $ 350   $ 350    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 3.88%   3.88%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 4.01%   4.01%    
Senior Unsecured Notes Due November 2021 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Aug. 29, 2011    
Maturity date     Nov. 01, 2021    
Principal amount $ 350   $ 350    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 3.75%   3.75%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 3.88%   3.88%    
Senior Unsecured Notes Due October 2023 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Oct. 31, 2013    
Maturity date     Nov. 01, 2023    
Principal amount $ 325   $ 325    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 3.88%   3.88%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 4.01%   4.01%    
Senior Unsecured Notes Due October 2043 [Member]          
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Issuance date [1]     Oct. 31, 2013    
Maturity date     Nov. 01, 2043    
Principal amount $ 275   $ 275    
Interest rate, stated (in hundredths) 5.35%   5.35%    
Interest rate, effective (in hundredths) [2] 5.42%   5.42%    
Line of Credit [Member]          
Long-term Debt          
Minimum principal payment failure amount that constitutes default     $ 125    
Line of Credit [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]          
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity $ 1,300   $ 1,300    
Line of credit facility, number of participating banks | Banks 24   24    
Line of credit facility, minimum commitment from participating banks $ 23   $ 23    
Line of credit facility, maximum commitment from participating banks 115   115    
Unused Credit Facility 594   594    
Outstanding letters of credit $ 5   $ 5    
Line of Credit [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member]          
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]          
Debt instrument, lower range of basis spread on variable rate 1.00%   1.00%    
Debt instrument, upper range of basis spread on variable rate 1.75%   1.75%    
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis     LIBOR    
Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]          
Long-term Debt          
Minimum principal payment failure amount that constitutes default     $ 50    
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start     Apr. 01, 2016    
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End     Nov. 01, 2043    
Senior Unsecured Notes [Abstract]          
Number of months until first required interest payment after debt issuance | Months     6    
Frequency of interest payments     semi-annually    
Senior unsecured notes number of days notice on default | days     30    
Unsecured Debt $ 2,497   $ 2,497 $ 2,746  
Line of Credit [Member] | LIBOR [Member]          
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]          
Debt instrument, lower range of basis spread on variable rate 1.00%   1.00%    
Debt instrument, upper range of basis spread on variable rate 1.75%   1.75%    
Line of Credit [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]          
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity $ 1,500   $ 1,500    
Line of credit facility, number of participating banks | Banks 3   3    
Unused Credit Facility $ 900   $ 900    
[1] Interest payments commenced approximately six months after issuance date and are payable semi-annually thereafter.
[2] Includes the effects of the amortization of any (1) premium or discount; (2) debt issuance costs; and (3) gain or loss upon settlement of related treasury locks and forward-starting interest rate swaps utilized to hedge the interest rate risk prior to the debt issuance. Excludes the effect of any swaps that remain outstanding.
v3.3.1.900
Leases (Details)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Years
Dec. 27, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]      
Approximate number of restaurants operated 8,900    
Approximate number of restaurants operated on leased land and/or buildings 8,025    
Maximum duration of lease commitments from inception for the vast majority of our lease commitments (in years) | Years 20    
Capital leases, future minimum commitments [Abstract]      
2016 $ 20    
2017 20    
2018 20    
2019 20    
2020 19    
Thereafter 188    
Capital leases, total future minimum commitments 287    
Operating leases, future minimum commitments [Abstract]      
2016 672    
2017 620    
2018 569    
2019 516    
2020 457    
Thereafter 2,123    
Operating leases, total future minimum commitments 4,957    
Direct financing leases, lease receivables [Abstract]      
2016 2    
2017 2    
2018 2    
2019 2    
2020 1    
Thereafter 3    
Direct financing leases, total lease receivables 12    
Operating leases, lease receivables [Abstract]      
2016 55    
2017 50    
2018 47    
2019 40    
2020 33    
Thereafter 125    
Operating leases, total lease receivables 350    
Present value of minimum payments under capital leases 169 $ 175  
Unearned income associated with direct financing lease receivables 3    
Rental expense      
Minimum 737 766 $ 759
Contingent 294 302 293
Total rental expense 1,031 1,068 1,052
Rental income $ 97 $ 103 $ 94
Approximate number of units leased or subleased to franchisees 825    
v3.3.1.900
Fair Value Disclosures (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 07, 2013
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]          
Debt obligations, excluding capital leases, estimate of fair value     $ 3,700    
Debt obligations, excluding capital leases, carrying amount     3,800    
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring   $ 55 42 $ 55  
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Foreign Exchange Forward [Member]          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Derivative, Fair Value, Net   24 19 24  
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Derivative, Fair Value, Net   10 2 10  
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure   21 21 21  
Non-recurring basis          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
(Gains) losses recognized from all non-recurring fair value measurements     61 518  
Non-recurring basis | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Closures and impairment (income) expenses          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Total losses related to long-lived assets held for use and measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis     61 46  
Non-recurring basis | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment [Member]          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Total losses related to long-lived assets held for use and measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis     0 9  
Little Sheep [Member] | Non-recurring basis | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Closures and impairment (income) expenses          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Total losses related to long-lived assets held for use and measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis     $ 0 463  
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]          
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]          
Total losses related to long-lived assets held for use and measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis $ 4 $ 14   $ 14 $ 4
v3.3.1.900
Pension, Retiree Medical and Retiree Savings Plans (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]          
Contributions to defined benefit pension plans $ (98.0) $ (18.0) $ (23.0)    
Change in benefit obligation          
Defined Benefit Plan, Administration Expenses (5.0) (5.0)      
Amounts recognized as a loss in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:          
Accumulated benefit obligation       $ 1,088.0 $ 1,254.0
Components of net periodic benefit cost:          
Amortization of prior service cost 2.0 1.0      
Amortization of net loss 46.0 20.0      
Pension losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):          
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year $ (101.0) 209.0 (221.0)    
Assumed health care cost trend rates [Abstract]          
Year that rate reaches ultimate trend rate       2038  
Effect of one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates [Abstract]          
Maximum 401(k) participant contribution of eligible compensation 75.00%        
Company match of participant contribution up to 6% of eligible compensation 100.00%        
Maximum company match of participant contribution of eligible compensation 6.00%        
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized $ 13.0 12.0 12.0    
Pension settlement charges (5.0) (6.0)      
U.S. Pension Plans [Member]          
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]          
Expected Benefit Payments in the Following Year 13.0        
Change in benefit obligation          
Benefit obligation at beginning of year 1,301.0 1,025.0      
Service cost 18.0 17.0 21.0    
Interest cost 55.0 54.0 54.0    
Plan amendments 28.0 1.0      
Curtailment (2.0) (2.0)      
Special termination benefits 1.0 3.0 5.0    
Benefits paid (50.0) (65.0)      
Settlement payments [1] (16.0) (17.0)      
Actuarial (gain) loss (196.0) 290.0      
Benefit obligation at end of year 1,134.0 1,301.0 1,025.0    
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 991.0 933.0      
Actual return on plan assets (10.0) 124.0      
Employer contributions 94.0 21.0      
Settlement payments [1] (16.0) (17.0)      
Benefits paid (50.0) (65.0)      
Defined Benefit Plan, Administrative expenses (5.0) (5.0)      
Fair value of plan assets at end of year 1,004.0 991.0 933.0    
Funded status at end of year       $ (130.0) (310.0)
Benefit Payments [Abstract]          
2016       61.0  
2017       50.0  
2018       55.0  
2019       56.0  
2020       56.0  
2021 - 2025       331.0  
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:          
Accrued benefit liability - current       (13.0) (11.0)
Accrued benefit liability - non-current       (117.0) (299.0)
Accrued benefit amounts recognized       (130.0) (310.0)
Amounts recognized as a loss in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:          
Actuarial net gain       (138.0) (314.0)
Prior service cost       (32.0) (5.0)
Amounts recognized as a loss in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (319.0) (124.0) (124.0) (170.0) (319.0)
Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:          
Projected benefit obligation       101.0 1,301.0
Accumulated benefit obligation       88.0 1,254.0
Fair value of plan assets       0.0 991.0
Information for pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:          
Projected benefit obligation       1,134.0 1,301.0
Accumulated benefit obligation       1,088.0 1,254.0
Fair value of plan assets       $ 1,004.0 $ 991.0
Discretionary funding contributions in next year 0.0        
Components of net periodic benefit cost:          
Service cost 18.0 17.0 21.0    
Interest cost 55.0 54.0 54.0    
Amortization of prior service cost [2] 1.0 1.0 2.0    
Expected return on plan assets (62.0) (56.0) (59.0)    
Amortization of net loss 45.0 17.0 48.0    
Net periodic benefit cost 57.0 33.0 66.0    
Additional loss recognized due to:          
Special termination benefits 1.0 3.0 5.0    
Pension losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):          
Beginning of year (319.0) (124.0)      
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year 124.0 (220.0)      
Curtailment gain 2.0 2.0      
Amortization of net loss 45.0 17.0      
Amortization of prior service cost 1.0 1.0      
Prior service cost (28.0) (1.0)      
End of year (170.0) $ (319.0) $ (124.0)    
Amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss in next fiscal year [Abstract]          
Estimated net loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost next year 6.0        
Estimated prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost next year $ 5.0        
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at the measurement dates:          
Discount rate (in hundredths)       4.90% 4.30%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)       3.75% 3.75%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for fiscal years:          
Discount rate (in hundredths) 4.30% 5.40% 4.40%    
Long-term rate return on plan assets (in hundredths) 6.75% 6.90% 7.25%    
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths) 3.75% 3.75% 3.75%    
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category $ 991.0 $ 933.0 $ 933.0 $ 1,004.0 $ 991.0
Value of mutual fund held as an investment that includes YUM stock       0.5 0.5
Approximate percentage of total plan assets in investment that includes YUM stock (in hundredths) 1.00%        
Net (payable) receivable for unsettled transactions [3]       (20.0) 3.0
Effect of one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates [Abstract]          
Pension settlement charges [4] $ (5.0) 6.0 30.0    
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Cash Equivalents [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 0.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year 3.0 0.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category 0.0 0.0   3.0 0.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Cash Equivalents [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [5] 5.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [5] 9.0 5.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [5] 5.0 5.0   9.0 5.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity Securities - U.S. Large cap [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [6] 298.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [6] 310.0 298.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [6] 298.0 298.0   310.0 298.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity Securities - U.S. Mid cap [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [6] 50.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [6] 50.0 50.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [6] 50.0 50.0   50.0 50.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity Securities - U.S. Small cap [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [6] 50.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [6] 51.0 50.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [6] 50.0 50.0   51.0 50.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity Securities - Non-U.S. [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [6] 91.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [6] 100.0 91.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [6] 91.0 91.0   100.0 91.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fixed Income Securities - U.S. Corporate [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [7] 305.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [7] 289.0 305.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [7] 305.0 305.0   289.0 305.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fixed Income Securities - U.S. Government and Government Agencies [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [8] 178.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [8] 195.0 178.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [8] 178.0 178.0   195.0 178.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fixed Income Securities - Non-U.S. Government [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year [7] 11.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year [7] 17.0 11.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category [7] 11.0 11.0   17.0 11.0
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Amount settled prior to year end [Member]          
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 988.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year 1,024.0 988.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category 988.0 988.0   1,024.0 988.0
Foreign Pension Plan [Member]          
Change in benefit obligation          
Benefit obligation at beginning of year 231.0        
Benefit obligation at end of year 233.0 231.0      
Change in plan assets          
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 288.0        
Fair value of plan assets at end of year 291.0 288.0      
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Fair value of plan assets by asset category 288.0 288.0   291.0 288.0
Post-retirement Plan [Member]          
Change in benefit obligation          
Special termination benefits 3.0 5.0 3.0    
Benefit Payments [Abstract]          
2016       5.0  
2017       5.0  
2018       5.0  
2019       5.0  
2020       5.0  
2021 - 2025       22.0  
Amounts recognized as a loss in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:          
Actuarial net gain       (8.0) (2.0)
Accumulated benefit obligation       $ 59.0 $ 69.0
Components of net periodic benefit cost:          
Net periodic benefit cost 3.0 5.0 5.0    
Additional loss recognized due to:          
Special termination benefits $ 3.0 $ 5.0 $ 3.0    
Assumed health care cost trend rates [Abstract]          
Assumed health care cost trend rate (in hundredths) 6.80% 7.10%      
Ultimate trend rate (in hundredths) 4.50%        
Effect of one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates [Abstract]          
One percentage-point increase in assumed health care cost trend rates, maximum impact to service and interest cost $ 1.0        
One percentage-point decrease in assumed health care cost trend rates, maximum impact to service and interest cost 1.0        
One percentage-point increase in assumed health care cost trend rates, maximum impact to post-retirement benefit obligation 1.0        
One percentage-point decrease in assumed health care cost trend rates, maximum impact to post-retirement benefit obligation $ 1.0        
Equity Securities [Member] | U.S. Pension Plans [Member]          
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Equity securities, target allocation (in hundredths) 50.00%        
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | U.S. Pension Plans [Member]          
Plan Assets [Abstract]          
Equity securities, target allocation (in hundredths) 50.00%        
[1] For discussion of the settlement payments and settlement losses, see Components of net periodic benefit cost below.
[2] Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits.
[3] 2015 and 2014 exclude net unsettled trades (payable) receivable of $(20) million and $3 million, respectively.
[4] Settlement losses result when benefit payments exceed the sum of the service cost and interest cost within a plan during the year. During 2013 the Company allowed certain former employees with deferred vested balances an opportunity to voluntarily elect an early payout of their pension benefits. The majority of these payouts were funded from existing pension plan assets.
[5] Short-term investments in money market funds
[6] Securities held in common trusts
[7] Includes securities held in common trusts and investments held directly by the Plan
[8] Investments held directly by the Plan
v3.3.1.900
Share-based and Deferred Compensation Plans (Details)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Years
groups
plans
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 27, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Number of stock award plans in effect | plans 4    
Approximate number of shares available for grant (in shares) | shares 13,000    
Award Valuation      
Risk-free interest rate (in hundredths) 1.30% 1.60% 0.80%
Expected term (years) 6 years 4 months 26 days 6 years 2 months 6 years 2 months
Expected volatility (in hundredths) 26.90% 29.70% 29.90%
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths) 2.20% 2.10% 2.10%
Number of homogeneous groups appropriate to group awards into when estimating expected term | groups 2    
Summary of award activity - Stock options and SARs, additional disclosures [Abstract]      
Options outstanding at the end of the year (in shares) | shares 1,623    
SARs outstanding at the end of the year (in shares) | shares 24,310    
Options outstanding at the end of the year, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 49.34    
SARs outstanding at the end of the year, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 51.98    
Impact on net income [Abstract]      
Share-based Compensation Expense $ 57 $ 55 $ 49
Deferred Tax Benefit recognized 18 17 15
EID compensation expense not share-based 1 8 11
Cash received from stock options exercises 12 29 37
Tax benefit realized on tax returns from tax deductions associated with stock options and SARs exercised 66 61 65
Performance Share Units [Member]      
Impact on net income [Abstract]      
Share-based Compensation Expense 3 1 (1)
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]      
Impact on net income [Abstract]      
Share-based Compensation Expense $ 4 $ 6 $ 6
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Minimum vesting period of outstanding awards (in years) 1.8    
Summary of award activity - Stock options and SARs [Roll Forward]      
Outstanding at the beginning of the year (in shares) | shares 27,172    
Granted (in shares) | shares 3,811    
Exercised (in shares) | shares (4,089)    
Forfeited or expired (in shares) | shares (961)    
Outstanding at the end of the year (in shares) | shares 25,933 [1] 27,172  
Summary of award activity - Stock options and SARs, additional disclosures [Abstract]      
Outstanding at the beginning of the year, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 46.68    
Granted, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 74.32    
Exercised, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 35.25    
Forfeited or expired, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 65.86    
Outstanding at the end of the year, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 51.79 $ 46.68  
Outstanding at the end of the year, Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years) | Years 5.41    
Outstanding at the end of the year, Aggregate intrinsic value (in dollars) $ 577    
Exercisable at the end of the year (in shares) | shares 17,084    
Exercisable at the end of the year, Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 42.49    
Exercisable at the end of the year, Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years) | Years 4.03    
Exercisable at the end of the year, Aggregate intrinsic value (in dollars) $ 538    
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of awards granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 15.95 $ 17.28 $ 14.67
Total intrinsic value of stock options and SARs exercised $ 186 $ 157 $ 176
Unrecognized compensation cost 89    
Total fair value at grant date of awards vested 48 41 51
Impact on net income [Abstract]      
Share-based Compensation Expense 50 $ 48 $ 44
Restricted Stock Units And Performance Share Units [Member]      
Summary of award activity - Stock options and SARs, additional disclosures [Abstract]      
Unrecognized compensation cost $ 8    
Unvested RSUs and PSUs | shares 500    
Long Term Incentive Plans [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Minimum vesting period of outstanding awards (in years) immediate    
Maximum vesting period of outstanding awards (in years) 5 years    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 10 years    
Restaurant General Manager Stock Option Plan [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 10 years    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Average Exercise Period 4 years 9 months    
Vesting period (in years) 4 years    
Executive stock plans [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 10 years    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Average Exercise Period 6 years 6 months    
Vesting period (in years) 4 years    
Award Valuation      
Graded vesting schedule of grants made to executives under other stock award plans 0.25    
SharePower Plan [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 10 years    
Vesting period (in years) 4 years    
Executive Income Deferral Plan [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Percentage of Company match on amount deferred (in hundredths) 33.00%    
Executive Income Deferral Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Vesting period (in years) 2 years    
[1] Outstanding awards include 1,623 options and 24,310 SARs with weighted average exercise prices of $49.34 and $51.98, respectively.
v3.3.1.900
Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($)
shares in Thousands, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock [Line Items]        
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares 15,942 11,225 10,922 [1]  
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value $ 1,200 $ 820 $ 750 [1]  
Share Repurchases Prior To Current Reporting Date But With Settlement Dates Subsequent To Current Reporting Date       300
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount 1,000      
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount $ 933      
Value Of Share Repurchases Prior To Current Reporting Date But With Settlement Dates Subsequent To Current Reporting Date       $ 20
December 2015 [Member]        
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock [Line Items]        
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares 932      
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value $ 67      
Expiration Date Of Share Repurchase Authorization Dec. 31, 2016      
November 2014 [Member]        
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock [Line Items]        
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares 13,231 0 0  
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value $ 1,000 $ 0 $ 0  
November 2013 [Member]        
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock [Line Items]        
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares 1,779 8,488 0  
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value $ 133 $ 617 $ 0  
November 2012 [Member]        
Repurchase Of Shares Of Common Stock [Line Items]        
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares 0 2,737 10,922  
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value $ 0 $ 203 $ 750  
[1] 2013 amount excludes the effect of $20 million in share repurchases (0.3 million shares) with trade dates prior to the 2012 fiscal year end but with settlement dates subsequent to the 2012 fiscal year end.
v3.3.1.900
Shareholders' Equity (Details 2) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance $ (190)  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance (239) $ (190)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses) 46 20
Pension settlement charges 5 6
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit) 2 1
Tax (expense) benefit on reclassification of pension and post-retirement losses to net income 20 9
Translation Adjustment and Gains (Losses) From Intra-Entity Transactions of a Long-Term Nature    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance 29 170
Amounts classified into OCI, net of tax (250) (143)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax 112 2
OCI, net of tax (138) (141)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance (109) 29
Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plan Losses    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance (210) (97)
Amounts classified into OCI, net of tax 63 (131)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax 34 18
OCI, net of tax 97 (113)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance (113) (210)
Net Unrealized Loss on Derivative Instruments    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance (9) (9)
Amounts classified into OCI, net of tax 28 15
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax (36) (15)
OCI, net of tax (8) 0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance (17) (9)
Total    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance (190) 64
Amounts classified into OCI, net of tax (159) (259)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI, net of tax 110 5
OCI, net of tax (49) (254)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance $ (239) $ (190)
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 07, 2013
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
U.S. and foreign income before income taxes [Abstract]          
U.S.     $ 471 $ 506 $ 464
Foreign     1,316 921 1,087
Income Before Income Taxes     1,787 1,427 1,551
Details of income tax provision (benefit) [Abstract]          
Current: Federal     287 255 159
Current: Foreign     263 321 330
Current: State     28 2 22
Total current income tax provision (benefit)     578 578 511
Deferred: Federal     (143) (67) 42
Deferred: Foreign     54 (106) (53)
Deferred: State     0 1 (13)
Total deferred income tax provision (benefit)     (89) (172) (24)
Effective income tax rate     489 406 487
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Income Tax Reconciliation [Abstract]          
U.S. federal statutory rate     625 500 543
State income tax, net of federal tax benefit     12 8 3
Statutory rate differential attributable to foreign operations     (210) (168) (177)
Adjustments to reserves and prior years     12 (5) 49
Change in valuation allowance     54 35 23
Other, net     (4) 36 46
Effective income tax rate     $ 489 $ 406 $ 487
Effective income tax rate reconciliation [Abstract]          
U.S. federal statutory rate (in hundredths)     35.00% 35.00% 35.00%
State income tax, net of federal tax benefit (in hundredths)     0.70% 0.60% 0.20%
Statutory rate differential attributable to foreign operations (in hundredths)     (11.80%) (11.70%) (11.40%)
Adjustments to reserves and prior years (in hundredths)     0.70% (0.30%) 3.10%
Change in valuation allowance (in hundredths)     3.00% 2.40% 1.50%
Other, net (in hundredths)     (0.30%) 2.50% 3.00%
Effective income tax rate (in hundredths)     27.30% 28.50% 31.40%
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]          
Income Tax Examination Payment       $ 200  
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current   $ 653 $ 676 653  
Changes in valuation allowance [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill impairment loss       160  
Current Year Operations          
Changes in valuation allowance [Roll Forward]          
Valuation Allowance, Change in Amount     30 41 $ 32
Changes in Judgement          
Changes in valuation allowance [Roll Forward]          
Valuation Allowance, Change in Amount     $ (24) (6) (9)
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]          
Changes in valuation allowance [Roll Forward]          
Goodwill impairment loss $ 222 $ 160   $ 160 $ 222
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes (Details 2) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]    
Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized, Cumulative Amount of Temporary Differences $ 2,300  
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) [Abstract]    
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards 239 $ 271
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Foreign 282 162
Employee benefits 154 238
Share-based compensation 126 119
Self-insured casualty claims 36 42
Lease related liabilities 112 119
Various liabilities 82 73
Deferred Tax Assets, Property, Plant and Equipment 33 39
Deferred income and other 86 102
Gross deferred tax assets 1,150 1,165
Deferred tax asset valuation allowances (250) (228)
Net deferred tax assets 900 937
Intangible assets, including goodwill (130) (148)
Property, plant and equipment (56) (63)
Other (70) (104)
Gross deferred tax liabilities (256) (315)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) 644 622
Reported in Consolidated Balance Sheets as:    
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current 676 653
Other liabilities and deferred credits (32) (31)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) $ 644 $ 622
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes (Details 3)
$ in Millions
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Operating and capital loss carryforwards [Line Items]  
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire in 2016 $ 122
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2017 and 2020 237
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2021 and 2035 1,251
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards which may be carried forward indefinitely 305
Total operating and capital loss carryforwards 1,915
Foreign [Member]  
Operating and capital loss carryforwards [Line Items]  
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire in 2016 5
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2017 and 2020 211
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2021 and 2035 98
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards which may be carried forward indefinitely 305
Total operating and capital loss carryforwards 619
U.S. state [Member]  
Operating and capital loss carryforwards [Line Items]  
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire in 2016 53
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2017 and 2020 26
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2021 and 2035 876
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards which may be carried forward indefinitely 0
Total operating and capital loss carryforwards 955
U.S. federal [Member]  
Operating and capital loss carryforwards [Line Items]  
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire in 2016 64
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2017 and 2020 0
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards due to expire between 2021 and 2035 277
Amount of operating and capital loss carryforwards which may be carried forward indefinitely 0
Total operating and capital loss carryforwards $ 341
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes (Details 4)
$ in Millions
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]  
Amount of unrecognized tax benefits that may decrease in the next 12 months $ 6
Impact On Next Years' Effective Tax Rate [Member]  
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]  
Amount of unrecognized tax benefits that may decrease in the next 12 months $ 4
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes (Details 5) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]      
Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Not Impact Effective Tax Rate $ 89 $ 98  
Unrecognized tax benefits [Abstract]      
Percentage threshold that the positions taken or expected to be taken is more likely than not sustained upon examination by tax authorities (in hundredths) 50.00%    
Unrecognized tax benefits reconciliation [Roll Forward]      
Beginning of Year $ 115 243  
Additions on tax positions related to the current year 0 19  
Additions for tax positions of prior years 5 31  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years (13) (20)  
Reductions for settlements (7) (144)  
Reductions due to statute expiration (2) (13)  
Foreign currency translation adjustment 0 (1)  
End of Year 98 115 $ 243
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]      
Accrued interest and penalties 15 5  
Total interest and penalties recorded during the period $ 5 11 $ 18
Income Tax Examination Payment   $ 200  
v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes (Details 6)
Dec. 26, 2015
Rate
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
PRC tax rate applied to gains from indirect transfers of taxable assets 10.00%
v3.3.1.900
Reportable Operating Segments (Details)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 05, 2015
USD ($)
Jun. 13, 2015
USD ($)
Mar. 21, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 06, 2014
USD ($)
Jun. 14, 2014
USD ($)
Mar. 22, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 27, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 27, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Total revenues $ 3,427 $ 3,105 $ 2,622 $ 3,354 $ 3,204 $ 2,724 $ 3,951 $ 3,997   $ 13,105 $ 13,279 $ 13,084
Operating Profit $ 603 [1] $ 371 [1] $ 506 [1] $ 550 $ 479 $ 571 441 [1] (43) [2]   1,921 [1] 1,557 [2] 1,798
Occupancy and other operating expenses                   3,335 3,425 3,333
Franchise and license expenses                   242 160 158
Unallocated Closures and impairment expenses                   79 535 331
Refranchising gain (loss) [3]                   (15) 0 0
Other (income) expense                   (10) (41) (16)
Interest expense, net [4]                   (134) (130) (247) [5]
Depreciation and amortization                   747 739 721
Capital Spending                   973 1,033 1,049
Identifiable Assets             8,075 8,334   8,075 8,334  
Long-Lived Assets [6]             5,116 5,516   5,116 5,516  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest                   1,787 1,427 1,551
Equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates                   (41) (30) (26)
Interest expense, net                 $ 118      
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates             61 52   61 52  
China Division [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Total revenues                   6,909 6,934 6,905
Operating Profit [7]                   757 713 777
Depreciation and amortization                   425 411 394
Capital Spending                   512 525 568
Identifiable Assets [8]             3,150 3,202   3,150 3,202  
Long-Lived Assets [6]             $ 2,033 2,217   2,033 2,217  
Equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates                   $ (41) (30) (26)
Number Of Unconsolidated Affiliates             4     4    
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates             $ 61 52   $ 61 52  
KFC Global Division [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Total revenues [9]                   2,948 3,193 3,036
Operating Profit                   677 708 649
Depreciation and amortization                   176 187 190
Capital Spending                   273 273 294
Identifiable Assets [10]             2,181 2,328   2,181 2,328  
Long-Lived Assets [6]             1,663 1,823   1,663 1,823  
Pizza Hut Global Division [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Total revenues [9]                   1,145 1,148 1,147
Operating Profit                   289 295 339
Depreciation and amortization                   40 39 36
Capital Spending                   54 62 52
Identifiable Assets [10]             707 710   707 710  
Long-Lived Assets [6]             419 433   419 433  
Taco Bell Global Division [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Total revenues [9]                   1,988 1,863 1,869
Operating Profit                   539 480 456
Depreciation and amortization                   88 83 84
Capital Spending                   116 143 100
Identifiable Assets [10]             1,127 1,084   1,127 1,084  
Long-Lived Assets [6]             911 920   911 920  
India Division [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Total revenues                   115 141 127
Operating Profit                   (19) (9) (15)
Depreciation and amortization                   10 10 9
Capital Spending                   7 21 31
Identifiable Assets             84 118   84 118  
Long-Lived Assets [6]             35 72   35 72  
Unallocated amounts to segment [Member]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Occupancy and other operating expenses [4]                   0 1 0
Franchise and license expenses [4],[11]                   (71) 0 0
Corporate expenses [4]                   (204) (189) (207)
Unallocated Closures and impairment expenses [4]                   0 (463) [12] (295) [12]
Refranchising gain (loss) [4]                   (10) 33 100
Other (income) expense [4]                   (37) (10) (6)
Depreciation and amortization                   8 9 8
Capital Spending                   11 9 4
Identifiable Assets [10],[13]             826 892   826 892  
Long-Lived Assets [6]             55 51   55 51  
U.S.                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Total revenues                   3,100 3,000  
Identifiable Assets             $ 2,300 $ 2,000   $ 2,300 $ 2,000  
Extinguishment of Debt, Type [Domain]                        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                        
Interest expense, net                       $ 118
[1] Includes losses associated with refranchising of equity markets outside of the U.S. of $73 million, $20 million and $3 million in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement of $2 million, $8 million, $21 million and $41 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, and net U.S. refranchising gains of $7 million, $1 million, $16 million and $51 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. See Note 4.
[2] Includes a non-cash charge of $463 million in the fourth quarter related primarily to the impairment of Little Sheep intangible assets. See Note 4.
[3] During 2015, we made the decision to dispose of a corporate aircraft in China. The loss associated with this planned sale reflects the shortfall of the expected proceeds, less any selling costs, over the carrying value of the aircraft.
[4] Amounts have not been allocated to any segment for performance reporting purposes.
[5] 2013 includes $118 million of premiums and other costs related to the extinguishment of debt. See Note 4.
[6] Includes property, plant and equipment, net, goodwill, and intangible assets, net.
[7] Includes equity income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates of $41 million, $30 million and $26 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
[8] China includes investments in 4 unconsolidated affiliates totaling $61 million and $52 million for 2015 and 2014, respectively.
[9] U.S. revenues included in the combined KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions totaled $3.1 billion in 2015 and $3.0 billion in both 2014 and 2013.
[10] U.S. identifiable assets included in the combined Corporate and KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Divisions totaled $2.3 billion and $2.0 billion in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
[11] Represents 2015 costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement. See Note 4.
[12] Represents 2014 and 2013 impairment losses related to Little Sheep. See Note 4.
[13] Primarily includes cash, deferred tax assets and property, plant and equipment, net, related to our office facilities.
v3.3.1.900
Contingencies (Details)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantor Exposure as percent of outstanding loans 20.00%
Property Lease Guarantee [Member]  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Year longest lease expires 2065
Potential amount of undiscounted payments we could be required to make in the event of non-payment $ 575
Present value of potential payments we could be required to make in the event of non-payment $ 475
v3.3.1.900
Contingencies (Details 2)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
USD ($)
cases
Classes
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Number of class actions filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against the company and certain of its executive officers | cases 4
Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions - Number of proposed classes concerning meals and rest breaks at Taco Bell for which plaintiffs sought certification | cases 4
Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions - Number of proposed classes concerning meals and rest breaks at Taco Bell which were rejected by the District Court | Classes 3
Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions - Number of California Private Attorney General Act claims not dismissed | Classes 1
Taco Bell Wage and Hour Actions-Classes for which notification has been given by the District Court | Classes 2
Franchise Lending Program Guarantees  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee $ 140
Total loans outstanding 38
Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee 14
Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others | Franchise Loan Pool Guarantees [Member]  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee 6
Total loans outstanding 29
Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others | Unconsolidated Affiliate Guarantees  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]  
Total revenues of unconsolidated affiliates 1,100
Total assets of unconsolidated affiliates 350
Total debt of unconsolidated affiliates $ 50
v3.3.1.900
Contingencies (Details 3) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Self Insured Property And Casualty Reserves [Member]    
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]    
Beginning balance $ 116 $ 128
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Period Increase (Decrease) 39 42
Payments (53) (54)
Ending balance 102 $ 116
Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others    
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]    
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee $ 14  
v3.3.1.900
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 05, 2015
Jun. 13, 2015
Mar. 21, 2015
Sep. 06, 2014
Jun. 14, 2014
Mar. 22, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 26, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Fiscal Period Adjustment [Line Items]                      
Refranchising (gain) loss                 $ 10 $ (33) $ (100)
Costs associated with KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement $ 21 $ 8 $ 2       $ 41   125    
Asset Impairment Charges                 (87) (69) (41)
Revenues                      
Company sales 2,968 2,659 2,179 $ 2,891 $ 2,758 $ 2,292 3,339 $ 3,383 11,145 11,324 11,184
Franchise and license fees and income 459 446 443 463 446 432 612 614 1,960 1,955 1,900
Total revenues 3,427 3,105 2,622 3,354 3,204 2,724 3,951 3,997 13,105 13,279 13,084
Restaurant profit 539 411 382 429 428 441 454 344 1,786 1,642  
Operating Profit 603 [1] 371 [1] 506 [1] 550 479 571 441 [1] (43) [2] 1,921 [1] 1,557 [2] 1,798
Net Income (loss) - YUM! Brands, Inc. $ 421 $ 235 $ 362 $ 404 $ 334 $ 399 $ 275 $ (86) $ 1,293 $ 1,051 $ 1,091
Basic Earnings Per Common Share (in dollars per share) $ 0.97 $ 0.54 $ 0.83 $ 0.91 $ 0.75 $ 0.89 $ 0.64 $ (0.20) $ 2.97 $ 2.37 $ 2.41
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (in dollars per share) 0.95 0.53 0.81 0.89 0.73 0.87 0.63 (0.20) 2.92 2.32 2.36
Dividends Declared Per Common Share (in dollars per share) $ 0.00 $ 0.82 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.37 $ 0.37 $ 0.92 $ 0.82 $ 1.74 $ 1.56 $ 1.41
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]                      
Fiscal Period Adjustment [Line Items]                      
Asset Impairment Charges                   $ 463 $ 295
Outside the U.S. [Member]                      
Fiscal Period Adjustment [Line Items]                      
Refranchising (gain) loss $ (20) $ (73)         $ (3)        
UNITED STATES                      
Fiscal Period Adjustment [Line Items]                      
Refranchising (gain) loss $ (16) $ (1) $ (7)       $ (51)        
[1] Includes losses associated with refranchising of equity markets outside of the U.S. of $73 million, $20 million and $3 million in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, costs associated with the KFC U.S. Acceleration Agreement of $2 million, $8 million, $21 million and $41 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, and net U.S. refranchising gains of $7 million, $1 million, $16 million and $51 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. See Note 4.
[2] Includes a non-cash charge of $463 million in the fourth quarter related primarily to the impairment of Little Sheep intangible assets. See Note 4.