11:39 AM EST, 02/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with the latest stock price movement in the headline and the first paragraph and dividend information in the last paragraph.)

Yum! Brands ( YUM ) shares were up 8.4% in recent Thursday trading after the company reported Q4 earnings ahead of market expectations and raised its quarterly dividend.

The company reported Q4 earnings excluding special items of $1.61 per diluted share, up from $1.26 a year earlier.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected non-GAAP EPS of $1.60.

Revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 was $2.36 billion, up from $2.04 billion a year earlier.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $2.36 billion.

The company's board increased its quarterly dividend by 6% to $0.71 per share, payable March 7 to shareholders of record at the close of business Feb. 21.

Price: 142.23, Change: +10.98, Percent Change: +8.36