British American Tobacco PLC vs Yum China Holdings Inc — how do they compare? British American Tobacco PLC trades at $59.12 (market cap $124.84B), while Yum China Holdings Inc trades at $44.05 (market cap $14.89B). The key difference: British American Tobacco PLC is far larger — about 8.4× Yum China Holdings Inc's market cap, and British American Tobacco PLC pays the higher dividend (5.74%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BTI | YUMC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $124.84B | $14.89B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $66.70 | $57.95 |
52-Week Low | $50.39 | $40.18 |
Enterprise Value | $166.06B | $15.78B |
Dividend Yield | 5.74% | 2.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
British American Tobacco (BTI) trades at $58.95, down 1.78% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. Fundamentally, the company maintains strong profitability with 30.32% net income margin and attractive valuation at 12.79 P/E ratio. Recent earnings show beats in Q2 and Q4 2025, though Q4 2024 missed expectations. The company is undergoing restructuring with 5,500 job cuts announced in June 2026 to streamline operations and reduce costs.
BTI presents a compelling value opportunity with strong dividend yield and improving earnings trajectory, though facing regulatory headwinds and declining cigarette volumes. The stock's current valuation appears attractive relative to historical levels, supported by robust cash flow generation and strategic pivot toward smoke-free products. Key risks include ongoing regulatory pressures and consumer shift away from traditional tobacco products.
YUMC trades at $43.9, up 2.05% today, with strong analyst consensus (14 Buy, 5 Hold, 0 Sell). The stock shows bullish technical signals from moving averages, though RSI levels indicate potential overbought conditions. Recent earnings beats and a P/E of 16.82 suggest reasonable valuation. Key developments include the acquisition of Pizza Hut in mainland China and a $1.5 billion capital return plan for 2026, enhancing shareholder value.
The outlook remains positive given consistent revenue growth, expanding profitability, and strategic acquisitions. Risks include execution challenges in integrating Pizza Hut and macroeconomic pressures in China. With robust cash flows and a clear growth trajectory, YUMC presents a compelling opportunity for long-term investors, though near-term volatility may persist.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Following the acquisition of Reynolds American, British American Tobacco is neck-and-neck with Philip Morris International to be the largest listed global tobacco company--slightly larger than PMI on net revenue, but slightly smaller on total tobacco volume. British American's Global Drive Brands are Dunhill, Kent, Pall Mall, Lucky Strike, and Rothmans, and it also owns Newport and Camel in the U.S. The firm also sells vapor e-cigarettes, including its Vype brand, heated tobacco, with Glo, as well as roll- your-own and smokeless tobacco products. The company holds 31% of ITC Limited, the leading Indian cigarette-maker.
Read more on BTI →With almost 10,600 units and USD 9.5 billion in systemwide sales in 2020, Yum China is the largest restaurant chain in China. It generates revenue through its own restaurants and franchise fees. Key concepts include KFC (7,166 units) and Pizza Hut (2,355), but the company's portfolio also includes other brands such as Little Sheep, East Dawning, Taco Bell, Huang Ji Huang, COFFii & Joy, and Lavazza (collectively representing about 985 units). Yum China is a trademark licensee of Yum Brands, paying 3% of total systemwide sales to the company it separated from in October 2016.
Read more on YUMC →