UBS Recommends Low Volatility Stocks to Stabilize Portfolios
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 10 hours ago
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 index rose 9.6% in the first half of 2026, achieving nearly a 15% increase in the second quarter, marking its best quarterly performance since 2020, despite investors facing turbulence including the onset of the Iran war.
- Low Volatility Stock Recommendations: UBS highlights the lagging performance of low volatility stocks as capital has concentrated in AI-driven sectors, suggesting investors focus on high-quality companies with resilient fundamentals and attractive valuations to mitigate portfolio swings.
- Positive Outlook for Yum Brands: The parent company of Taco Bell and KFC, Yum Brands, is expected to achieve its highest cash flow return on investment by 2027, with plans for international expansion and a KFC loyalty program driving topline growth, and its stock has risen over 10% this year.
- Significant Potential for Lockheed Martin: While UBS maintains a neutral stance on Lockheed Martin, it anticipates a positive reaction to its upcoming second-quarter earnings report, with a $35 billion defense contract potentially boosting 2026 performance, and the stock has increased by about 10%.
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Analyst Views on YUM
Wall Street analysts forecast YUM stock price to fall
21 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
14 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 165.990
Low
145.00
Averages
164.33
High
185.00
Current: 165.990
Low
145.00
Averages
164.33
High
185.00
About YUM
YUM! Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of approximately 61,000 restaurants in 155 countries and territories under the concepts of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and The Habit Burger Grill. It consists of four operating segments: The KFC Division, which includes its worldwide operations of the KFC concept; The Taco Bell Division, which includes its worldwide operations of the Taco Bell concept; The Pizza Hut Division, which includes its worldwide operations of the Pizza Hut concept; and The Habit Burger Grill Division, which includes its worldwide operations of the Habit Burger Grill concept. It develops, operates, or franchises a system of both traditional and non-traditional restaurants. KFC restaurants offer fried and non-fried chicken products. Taco Bell offers Mexican-style food products. Pizza Hut specializes in the sale of ready-to-eat pizza products. The Habit Burger Grill offers chargrilled burgers and sandwiches made-to-order over an open flame.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
UBS Recommends Low Volatility Stocks to Stabilize Portfolios
- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 index rose 9.6% in the first half of 2026, achieving nearly a 15% increase in the second quarter, marking its best quarterly performance since 2020, despite investors facing turbulence including the onset of the Iran war.
- Low Volatility Stock Recommendations: UBS highlights the lagging performance of low volatility stocks as capital has concentrated in AI-driven sectors, suggesting investors focus on high-quality companies with resilient fundamentals and attractive valuations to mitigate portfolio swings.
- Positive Outlook for Yum Brands: The parent company of Taco Bell and KFC, Yum Brands, is expected to achieve its highest cash flow return on investment by 2027, with plans for international expansion and a KFC loyalty program driving topline growth, and its stock has risen over 10% this year.
- Significant Potential for Lockheed Martin: While UBS maintains a neutral stance on Lockheed Martin, it anticipates a positive reaction to its upcoming second-quarter earnings report, with a $35 billion defense contract potentially boosting 2026 performance, and the stock has increased by about 10%.
See More
Market Underestimates Domino's Pizza Potential
- Digital Transformation: Domino's Pizza enhances customer experience and order efficiency by strengthening its digital ordering system in an inflationary environment, which is expected to drive sales growth further.
- Pricing Strategy: The company adopts a low-price strategy to attract more consumers, and despite rising costs, this approach helps maintain market share and strengthen competitiveness.
- Smart Promotions: By implementing smart promotional activities, Domino's can accurately target customer segments, thereby increasing conversion rates and optimizing marketing expenditures.
- Profitability Assessment: Although the current P/E ratio is around 16x, analysts believe the market's expectations for its future profitability remain conservative, potentially underestimating its long-term growth potential.
See More
World Cup Marketing Shift: Rise of Non-Sponsor Brands
- Rise of Non-Sponsor Brands: During the World Cup, non-official sponsors like Levi's and Taco Bell gained significant social media traction through innovative marketing strategies, with Levi's mentions increasing by 44% since the tournament began, showcasing the brand's influence in cultural moments.
- Surge in Advertising Spend: According to WARC Media, this year's World Cup advertising spending is expected to reach $10.5 billion, although lower than the $12.6 billion in 2018, the week leading up to the tournament saw a 42% week-over-week increase in ad spending, indicating brands' high engagement with the event.
- Social Media Engagement: Meltwater reported that non-sponsor brands generated nearly double the engagement of official sponsors on social media, reaching approximately 61 million interactions compared to just 33 million for sponsors, highlighting the advantage of non-sponsor brands in driving user engagement.
- Shift in Brand Strategy: As consumer frustration with FIFA's commercialization grows, brands like Levi's and Gillette cleverly leveraged sponsorship restrictions to attract consumer attention, suggesting that future brand partnerships may be influenced by the dynamics of non-sponsor visibility.
See More
World Cup Marketing Trend: Rise of Non-Sponsor Brands
- Non-Sponsor Success: During the World Cup, non-official sponsors like Taco Bell and Levi's gained significant social media traction through creative marketing strategies, with Levi's mentions increasing by 44% since the tournament began, showcasing the brand's influence in cultural moments.
- Surge in Ad Spending: According to WARC Media, this year's World Cup advertising spending is expected to reach $10.5 billion, although lower than the $12.6 billion in 2018, ad spending increased by 42% week-over-week leading up to the event, indicating brands' commitment to the tournament.
- Social Media Engagement: Research from Meltwater indicates that non-sponsor brand collaborations generated nearly double the engagement of official sponsors, reaching 61 million compared to just 33 million for sponsors, reflecting consumer preference for authentic branding.
- Shifting Brand Strategies: As consumer frustration with FIFA's commercialization grows, brands like Gillette and Levi's have garnered support through humorous and rebellious marketing strategies, suggesting that future brand partnerships may be significantly influenced by the success of non-sponsors.
See More
Yum! Brands Sells Pizza Hut Franchise for $2.7 Billion
- Sale of Pizza Hut: Yum! Brands announced the sale of its Pizza Hut franchise to LongRange Capital for $2.7 billion, aiming to divest a poorly performing business to enhance overall company value and improve shareholder returns.
- Financial Performance Improvement: Despite Pizza Hut's same-store sales declining in 2025 and remaining flat in Q1 2026, Yum! Brands achieved $2.06 billion in revenue in Q1, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase, indicating an overall improvement in the company's financial health.
- Stable Dividend Growth: Yum! Brands maintains a $3.00 per share dividend, which has increased for nine consecutive years, with a 1.9% dividend yield surpassing the S&P 500 average of 1.1%, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns.
- Comparison with McDonald's: While the sale may provide short-term benefits for Yum! Brands, McDonald's focus on a single franchise model and stable revenue from real estate ownership offers greater resilience during economic cycles, attracting more investor interest.
See More
Yum! Brands Sells Pizza Hut Franchise for $2.7 Billion
- Pizza Hut Sale Impact: Yum! Brands announced the sale of its Pizza Hut franchise for $2.7 billion, which, despite the brand's underperformance compared to KFC and Taco Bell, is expected to enhance overall financial performance and boost shareholder confidence.
- Financial Performance Boost: In Q1 2026, Yum! Brands reported $2.06 billion in revenue, a 15% year-over-year increase, with net income rising to $432 million, a 71% increase, indicating improved profitability following a reduction in tax burden.
- Stable Dividend Growth: Yum! Brands maintains a $3.00 per share dividend, which has increased for nine consecutive years, yielding 1.9%, surpassing the S&P 500's 1.1%, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns.
- Comparison with McDonald's: While Yum! Brands' divestiture may lead to improvements, McDonald's business model is more stable, with 95% of its restaurants being franchises and owning properties that provide rental income, making it more resilient during economic cycles.
See More
UBS Recommends Low Volatility Stocks to Stabilize Portfolios
- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 index rose 9.6% in the first half of 2026, achieving nearly a 15% increase in the second quarter, marking its best quarterly performance since 2020, despite investors facing turbulence including the onset of the Iran war.
- Low Volatility Stock Recommendations: UBS highlights the lagging performance of low volatility stocks as capital has concentrated in AI-driven sectors, suggesting investors focus on high-quality companies with resilient fundamentals and attractive valuations to mitigate portfolio swings.
- Positive Outlook for Yum Brands: The parent company of Taco Bell and KFC, Yum Brands, is expected to achieve its highest cash flow return on investment by 2027, with plans for international expansion and a KFC loyalty program driving topline growth, and its stock has risen over 10% this year.
- Significant Potential for Lockheed Martin: While UBS maintains a neutral stance on Lockheed Martin, it anticipates a positive reaction to its upcoming second-quarter earnings report, with a $35 billion defense contract potentially boosting 2026 performance, and the stock has increased by about 10%.
See More
Market Underestimates Domino's Pizza Potential
- Digital Transformation: Domino's Pizza enhances customer experience and order efficiency by strengthening its digital ordering system in an inflationary environment, which is expected to drive sales growth further.
- Pricing Strategy: The company adopts a low-price strategy to attract more consumers, and despite rising costs, this approach helps maintain market share and strengthen competitiveness.
- Smart Promotions: By implementing smart promotional activities, Domino's can accurately target customer segments, thereby increasing conversion rates and optimizing marketing expenditures.
- Profitability Assessment: Although the current P/E ratio is around 16x, analysts believe the market's expectations for its future profitability remain conservative, potentially underestimating its long-term growth potential.
See More
World Cup Marketing Shift: Rise of Non-Sponsor Brands
- Rise of Non-Sponsor Brands: During the World Cup, non-official sponsors like Levi's and Taco Bell gained significant social media traction through innovative marketing strategies, with Levi's mentions increasing by 44% since the tournament began, showcasing the brand's influence in cultural moments.
- Surge in Advertising Spend: According to WARC Media, this year's World Cup advertising spending is expected to reach $10.5 billion, although lower than the $12.6 billion in 2018, the week leading up to the tournament saw a 42% week-over-week increase in ad spending, indicating brands' high engagement with the event.
- Social Media Engagement: Meltwater reported that non-sponsor brands generated nearly double the engagement of official sponsors on social media, reaching approximately 61 million interactions compared to just 33 million for sponsors, highlighting the advantage of non-sponsor brands in driving user engagement.
- Shift in Brand Strategy: As consumer frustration with FIFA's commercialization grows, brands like Levi's and Gillette cleverly leveraged sponsorship restrictions to attract consumer attention, suggesting that future brand partnerships may be influenced by the dynamics of non-sponsor visibility.
See More
World Cup Marketing Trend: Rise of Non-Sponsor Brands
- Non-Sponsor Success: During the World Cup, non-official sponsors like Taco Bell and Levi's gained significant social media traction through creative marketing strategies, with Levi's mentions increasing by 44% since the tournament began, showcasing the brand's influence in cultural moments.
- Surge in Ad Spending: According to WARC Media, this year's World Cup advertising spending is expected to reach $10.5 billion, although lower than the $12.6 billion in 2018, ad spending increased by 42% week-over-week leading up to the event, indicating brands' commitment to the tournament.
- Social Media Engagement: Research from Meltwater indicates that non-sponsor brand collaborations generated nearly double the engagement of official sponsors, reaching 61 million compared to just 33 million for sponsors, reflecting consumer preference for authentic branding.
- Shifting Brand Strategies: As consumer frustration with FIFA's commercialization grows, brands like Gillette and Levi's have garnered support through humorous and rebellious marketing strategies, suggesting that future brand partnerships may be significantly influenced by the success of non-sponsors.
See More
Yum! Brands Sells Pizza Hut Franchise for $2.7 Billion
- Sale of Pizza Hut: Yum! Brands announced the sale of its Pizza Hut franchise to LongRange Capital for $2.7 billion, aiming to divest a poorly performing business to enhance overall company value and improve shareholder returns.
- Financial Performance Improvement: Despite Pizza Hut's same-store sales declining in 2025 and remaining flat in Q1 2026, Yum! Brands achieved $2.06 billion in revenue in Q1, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase, indicating an overall improvement in the company's financial health.
- Stable Dividend Growth: Yum! Brands maintains a $3.00 per share dividend, which has increased for nine consecutive years, with a 1.9% dividend yield surpassing the S&P 500 average of 1.1%, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns.
- Comparison with McDonald's: While the sale may provide short-term benefits for Yum! Brands, McDonald's focus on a single franchise model and stable revenue from real estate ownership offers greater resilience during economic cycles, attracting more investor interest.
See More
Yum! Brands Sells Pizza Hut Franchise for $2.7 Billion
- Pizza Hut Sale Impact: Yum! Brands announced the sale of its Pizza Hut franchise for $2.7 billion, which, despite the brand's underperformance compared to KFC and Taco Bell, is expected to enhance overall financial performance and boost shareholder confidence.
- Financial Performance Boost: In Q1 2026, Yum! Brands reported $2.06 billion in revenue, a 15% year-over-year increase, with net income rising to $432 million, a 71% increase, indicating improved profitability following a reduction in tax burden.
- Stable Dividend Growth: Yum! Brands maintains a $3.00 per share dividend, which has increased for nine consecutive years, yielding 1.9%, surpassing the S&P 500's 1.1%, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns.
- Comparison with McDonald's: While Yum! Brands' divestiture may lead to improvements, McDonald's business model is more stable, with 95% of its restaurants being franchises and owning properties that provide rental income, making it more resilient during economic cycles.
See More
