Yum! Investors Cheer Dec., Q4 Comps Outlook For China

Following a more than 2 percent move higher over the course of Tuesday's trading session, shares of Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM are continuing higher in the post-market session. An 8-K filing via the SEC late Tuesday afternoon showed some same-store sales results for Yum!'s China region -- the segment of the company's operations which has long been viewed as the most promising. Yum! said comparable store sales during December are expected to be up about 1 percent on a year-over-year basis, while fourth-quarter comps are expected to be up 2 percent for the region. The company said comps at KFC were up 5 percent for the month and comps for the Pizza Hut Casual Dining offering tumbled 11 percent. The filing reminded, importantly, December will be the final monthly sales release for the China region. Yum! will be reporting fourth-quarter results on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 after the closing bell rings. In the after-hours session, shares of Yum! are indicated up another $2, or nearly 3 percent, to $71.68.