GM vs. YUM: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 23, 2025

Here’s a clear look at GM and YUM, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	GM	YUM
Company Name	General Motors Company	Yum! Brands, Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry	Automobiles	Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
Market Capitalization	54.05 billion USD	41.45 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 18, 2010	September 17, 1997
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of GM and YUM by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

GM vs. YUM: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	GM	YUM
5-Day Price Return	0.62%	1.75%
13-Week Price Return	13.47%	-0.21%
26-Week Price Return	18.54%	0.40%
52-Week Price Return	24.06%	9.25%
Month-to-Date Return	6.43%	3.60%
Year-to-Date Return	6.57%	11.31%
10-Day Avg. Volume	6.28M	2.08M
3-Month Avg. Volume	9.85M	2.02M
3-Month Volatility	33.97%	20.88%
Beta	1.36	0.73

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

GM

7.21%

Automobiles Industry

Max: 25.70%
Q3: 12.88%
Median: 6.92%
Q1: 0.71%
Min: -15.89%

GM’s Return on Equity of 7.21% is on par with the norm for the Automobiles industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

YUM

117.64%

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 83.01%
Q3: 39.51%
Median: 17.38%
Q1: 5.32%
Min: -45.92%

YUM’s Return on Equity of 117.64% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

GM

2.54%

Automobiles Industry

Max: 9.92%
Q3: 5.78%
Median: 3.23%
Q1: 0.11%
Min: -5.31%

GM’s Net Profit Margin of 2.54% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Automobiles industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

YUM

18.11%

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 26.45%
Q3: 14.67%
Median: 8.69%
Q1: 3.34%
Min: -11.30%

A Net Profit Margin of 18.11% places YUM in the upper quartile for the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

GM

3.42%

Automobiles Industry

Max: 13.07%
Q3: 7.22%
Median: 5.29%
Q1: 0.43%
Min: -4.46%

GM’s Operating Profit Margin of 3.42% is around the midpoint for the Automobiles industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

YUM

30.93%

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 38.76%
Q3: 21.15%
Median: 14.20%
Q1: 6.43%
Min: -14.56%

An Operating Profit Margin of 30.93% places YUM in the upper quartile for the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	GM	YUM
Return on Equity (TTM)	7.21%	117.64%
Return on Assets (TTM)	1.67%	21.40%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	2.54%	18.11%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	3.42%	30.93%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	10.97%	46.48%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

GM

1.22

Automobiles Industry

Max: 2.19
Q3: 1.54
Median: 1.26
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.48

GM’s Current Ratio of 1.22 aligns with the median group of the Automobiles industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

YUM

0.82

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 2.68
Q3: 1.62
Median: 1.11
Q1: 0.74
Min: 0.19

YUM’s Current Ratio of 0.82 aligns with the median group of the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

GM

2.05

Automobiles Industry

Max: 2.34
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.06

GM’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Automobiles industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.05. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

YUM

30.97

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 9.88
Q3: 4.54
Median: 1.52
Q1: 0.27
Min: 0.00

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 30.97, YUM operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

GM

25.00

Automobiles Industry

Max: 77.87
Q3: 42.86
Median: 13.88
Q1: 2.13
Min: -49.07

GM’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 25.00 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Automobiles industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

YUM

4.68

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 26.88
Q3: 11.95
Median: 3.87
Q1: 1.19
Min: -11.84

YUM’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 4.68 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	GM	YUM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.22	0.82
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	1.05	0.64
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	2.05	30.97
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	25.00	4.68

Growth

Revenue Growth

GM vs. YUM: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

GM vs. YUM: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

GM

1.17%

Automobiles Industry

Max: 10.71%
Q3: 5.39%
Median: 3.14%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GM’s Dividend Yield of 1.17% is consistent with its peers in the Automobiles industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

YUM

1.91%

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 5.88%
Q3: 2.37%
Median: 0.68%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

YUM’s Dividend Yield of 1.91% is consistent with its peers in the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GM

6.61%

Automobiles Industry

Max: 114.43%
Q3: 59.30%
Median: 37.15%
Q1: 16.40%
Min: 0.00%

GM’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 6.61% is in the lower quartile for the Automobiles industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

YUM

53.77%

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 127.31%
Q3: 56.79%
Median: 19.58%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

YUM’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 53.77% is within the typical range for the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	GM	YUM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.17%	1.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	6.61%	53.77%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

GM

11.38

Automobiles Industry

Max: 27.69
Q3: 19.99
Median: 9.85
Q1: 6.60
Min: 4.25

GM’s P/E Ratio of 11.38 is within the middle range for the Automobiles industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

YUM

28.18

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 59.44
Q3: 33.98
Median: 22.25
Q1: 15.53
Min: 7.61

YUM’s P/E Ratio of 28.18 is within the middle range for the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

GM

0.29

Automobiles Industry

Max: 1.52
Q3: 0.84
Median: 0.41
Q1: 0.23
Min: 0.08

GM’s P/S Ratio of 0.29 aligns with the market consensus for the Automobiles industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

YUM

5.10

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 7.74
Q3: 3.88
Median: 2.05
Q1: 1.19
Min: 0.17

YUM’s P/S Ratio of 5.10 is in the upper echelon for the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

GM

0.71

Automobiles Industry

Max: 4.25
Q3: 2.00
Median: 0.87
Q1: 0.46
Min: 0.19

GM’s P/B Ratio of 0.71 is within the conventional range for the Automobiles industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

YUM

208.10

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure Industry

Max: 20.90
Q3: 9.78
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.22
Min: 0.47

At 208.10, YUM’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

GM vs. YUM: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Automobiles and Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	GM	YUM
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	11.38	28.18
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	0.29	5.10
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	0.71	208.10
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	42.18	26.29