YUM vs ARES Comparison

As of the end of 2025, Yum Brands generated over $68 billion in systemwide sales from more than 63,000 restaurants across 155 markets, making it the world's second-largest restaurant firm by dollar sales. Its portfolio includes KFC (33,897 stores), Pizza Hut (19,974), Taco Bell (9,030), and Habit Burger (384), with 72% of locations in international markets. As 97% of its portfolio is franchised, Yum's business model is tilted toward recurring franchise royalties and marketing contributions (64% of revenue), with the balance derived from sales at company-owned locations. The company traces its roots to a 1997 spinoff of PepsiCo's restaurant assets.

Ares Management is one of the world's largest alternative-asset managers, with $595.7 billion in total assets under management, or AUM, including $367.6 billion in fee-earning AUM, at the end of September 2025. The company has four main business segments: private credit ($391.5 billion in total AUM and $240.2 billion in fee-earning AUM), private equity, ($25.1 billion/$11.8 billion), real estate/real assets ($132.4 billion/$80.5 billion), and other alternatives ($46.7 billion/$35.1 billion). The firm primarily serves institutional investors (80% of AUM) and high-net-worth individuals (20%). Ares operates through more than 35 offices in over 15 countries around the globe.