Pizza Hut to Close ~250 US Locations Amid Yum! Review (YUM)

Pizza Hut will close about 250 underperforming locations in the U.S. in the first half of 2026, part of a strategic review by parent Yum! Brands (YUM) of its embattled pizza franchise. The closure represents roughly 3% of its U.S. footprint, with no specific list of locations released. Yum! announced in November it would review strategic options, including a possible sale, with a completion target this year. Same-store sales for Pizza Hut in the U.S. declined 3% in the latest quarter, while Taco Bell posted a 7% increase and KFC a 1% gain. Yum! shares rose 6% this year amid ongoing restructuring and menu innovation efforts.