LULU vs YUM: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: LULU, with $11.1B of yearly revenue, about 1.4× YUM's $8.2B.
  • More profitable: YUM keeps 19 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 14 cents at LULU.
  • More cash from each sale: YUM turns 24 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 14 cents at LULU.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

lululemon athletica (LULU) is the larger business by reported revenue: $11.1B in its fiscal year ended Feb 2026, about 1.4× YUM's $8.2B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). LULU's net margin was 14.2% and YUM's 19.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl; Retail-Eating Places); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Consumer Discretionary
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
LULU January 31 · YUM December 31
Reviewed
Mar 17, 2026

LULU vs YUM: quick comparison

Company factLULUYUM
Companylululemon athletica inc.Yum! Brands, Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNYSE
SEC industryApparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar MatlRetail-Eating Places
Fiscal year-endJanuary 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-03-1710-K · 2026-02-20

LULU vs YUM: audited financials

  • Scale: LULU's $11.1B of revenue is about 1.4× YUM's $8.2B.
  • Net margin: YUM kept 19.0% of revenue as net income versus 14.2% at LULU.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled LULU 14.4% of revenue, or 1.01× net income; YUM 24.5% of revenue, or 1.29× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 1 month apart (2026-02-01 for LULU, 2025-12-31 for YUM), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

LULU: FY ending 2026-02-01 · YUM: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where LULU and YUM overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: International markets.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: LULU files as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl; YUM as Retail-Eating Places.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: LULU's year ends January 31 and YUM's December 31, about 1 month apart.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

lululemon athletica inc. (LULU)

Lululemon designs and sells premium athletic apparel and accessories for yoga, running, and training.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM)

Yum! Brands franchises the KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut fast-food chains worldwide.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves LULU

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for LULU. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-03-17.

What moves YUM

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for YUM. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-20.

The investment question

You now know LULU reports about 1.4× YUM's revenue, and YUM keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to international markets, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. LULU's fiscal year ends January 31, while YUM's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 16 matched transaction rows for LULU and 7 matched transaction rows for YUM. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

LULU vs YUM FAQs

Are LULU and YUM direct competitors?

Not necessarily. lululemon athletica files as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl and Yum! Brands as Retail-Eating Places. The pair is compared because both map to the International markets research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is LULU or YUM the bigger company by revenue?

lululemon athletica (LULU) is the larger business by reported revenue: $11.1B in its fiscal year ended Feb 2026, about 1.4× YUM's $8.2B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). LULU's net margin was 14.2% and YUM's 19.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl; Retail-Eating Places); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, LULU or YUM?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this LULU vs YUM comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers lululemon athletica inc. and Yum! Brands, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

LULU vs YUM compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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