Noble Corporation plc vs Yum China Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Noble Corporation plc trades at $44.15 (market cap $7.10B), while Yum China Holdings Inc trades at $47.4 (market cap $16.28B). The key difference: Yum China Holdings Inc is far larger — about 2.3× Noble Corporation plc's market cap, and Noble Corporation plc pays the higher dividend (4.5%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NE | YUMC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.10B | $16.28B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $54.37 | $57.95 |
52-Week Low | $26.61 | $40.18 |
Enterprise Value | $8.53B | $17.19B |
Dividend Yield | 4.5% | 2.44% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Noble Corporation (NE) trades at $44.08, up 1.22% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 results, missing EPS estimates but securing $200 million in new contracts. Revenue and net income are trending lower year-over-year, with a P/E ratio of 47.32 indicating a premium valuation. Recent news highlights multiple law firm investigations into the company.
The outlook is cautious. While a $6.8 billion backlog and consistent dividends provide support, declining profitability, high valuation, and legal scrutiny present significant risks. Analyst consensus is a Hold with a $46.00 price target, suggesting limited near-term upside from current levels amid operational and sentiment headwinds.
YUMC trades at $47.92, down 0.56% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company demonstrates consistent fundamental strength with Q2 2026 earnings beating estimates, revenue growth of 13% year-over-year, and a net income margin of 7.84%. Recent completion of the Pizza Hut China acquisition for $1.2 billion positions the company for strategic growth and cost synergies.
The outlook remains positive with strong analyst support (73.68% buy ratings) and a 26.21% upside potential. Key risks include Chinese macroeconomic headwinds and integration challenges from the Pizza Hut acquisition. Earnings momentum and valuation metrics suggest continued growth potential for investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Noble Corporation plc is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The company owns and operates a high-specification fleet of mobile offshore drilling units, including drillships and semi-submersibles, that are used for exploration and production activities in deepwater and harsh environments worldwide. Noble focuses on providing safe, efficient, and reliable drilling services to major and independent oil and gas companies globally.
Read more on NE →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 →