YUM
Yum! Brands, Inc.
stock NYSE

Recently, I've been using a quantitative platform that allows you to avoid all the building quant infrastructure, and it generates reports of the strategies and the best trials you get based on probabilistic chart ratio, deflated chart ratio, et cetera. Can you please review my strategy and tell me how would you qualify it, and what would you change?
Also, what more information does an investor need to really believe in investing in this strategy?
_Investment report_
# positive_skew_select — Trial 118
**US Equity** · **Simulated**
- **Organization:** Fintela
- **Report date:** Aug 21, 2026
- **Data through:** Aug 13, 2026
- **Period:** Aug 2021 – Aug 2026
- **Reference:** Trial 118 · positive_skew_select · spy500 (2)
## About this report
> **Simulated** — Performance is simulated. The out-of-sample period (marked on the chart) shows results on market data the strategy was never trained on — the closest proxy to live performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
## Summary
_Grade B · 70/100_
Grade B · exceptional risk-adjusted returns · well-contained drawdowns.
| Metric | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Annualized | +22.8% |
| Sharpe | 3.57 |
| Max drawdown | 7.9% |
| Volatility | 19.8% |
| Overfitting (PBO) | 52.0% |
Performance. Over Aug 2021 – Aug 2026, the portfolio returned +179.3% in total, compounding at +22.8% per year. That outpaces its benchmark (S&P 500 (SPY) +13.2% per year, +85.8% total). Its best month gained +14.8% (Nov 2023) and its worst lost -9.2% (Jan 2022). On out-of-sample data the strategy never trained on, it returned +40.5% at a Sharpe of 3.57 — the closest proxy to live performance.
Risk. On a risk-adjusted basis the portfolio delivers exceptional risk-adjusted returns (Sharpe 3.57). Its deepest peak-to-trough decline was 7.9% — well-contained drawdowns. Annualized volatility of 19.8% reflects moderate volatility. A beta of 0.91 to S&P 500 (SPY) makes it roughly as sensitive as the broad market. Robustness screening finds an elevated overfitting risk (backtest-overfitting probability 52.0%).
Outlook. The book currently holds 5 positions, led by GRMN (20.0%), PLTR (20.0%), PYPL (20.0%). Its top three holdings make up 60.0% of gross exposure, leaving it highly concentrated. Weighing return, risk, drawdown and robustness together, this portfolio earns an overall grade of B (70/100), a profile that holds up well across dimensions. These figures are simulated; past performance is not indicative of future results.
## Performance
_Portfolio vs benchmark, both starting at $100,000_
$279,322 — what $100,000 invested at the start would be worth today. The same amount in S&P 500 (SPY): $185,839 (+86%).
## Out-of-sample track record
_Since Feb 2026_
| Metric | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Return | +40.5% |
| Sharpe | 3.57 |
| Max drawdown | 7.9% |
_Performance on data the strategy was never trained on — the closest available proxy to live results._
## Headline figures
| Metric | Value | Context |
| --- | ---: | --- |
| Total return | 179.3% | S&P 500 (SPY) +85.8% |
| Annualized (CAGR) | 22.8% | S&P 500 (SPY) +13.2% |
| Max drawdown | 7.9% | worst peak-to-trough decline |
| Sharpe ratio | 3.57 | return per unit of risk |
## Versus the market
_Measured against S&P 500 (SPY)_
| Metric | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Alpha | 0.093 |
| Beta | 0.914 |
| Up capture | 93.6% |
| Down capture | 83.4% |
| Correlation | 0.745 |
## Composition
_As of Aug 13, 2026_
| Symbol | Side | Weight | Change |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| GRMN | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| PLTR | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| PYPL | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| TECH | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| ZBRA | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
_Sector allocation_
| Bucket | Gross | Net |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Technology | 60.0% | +60.0% |
| Financial Services | 20.0% | +20.0% |
| Healthcare | 20.0% | +20.0% |
_Asset type_
| Bucket | Gross | Net |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Common Stock | 100.0% | +100.0% |
## Traded assets — full history
_230 assets · 583 trades_
| Symbol | trades | Contribution |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| SMCI | 4 | +8.3% |
| DDOG | 7 | +6.9% |
| META | 7 | +6.7% |
| CHRW | 3 | +5.7% |
| ULTA | 8 | +5.6% |
| DVA | 4 | +4.7% |
| MSFT | 2 | +4.7% |
| ROST | 8 | +4.7% |
| QCOM | 2 | +4.4% |
| IT | 6 | +4.2% |
| SATS | 6 | +4.0% |
| ANET | 1 | +3.6% |
| CIEN | 9 | +3.1% |
| SNPS | 3 | +3.0% |
| PLTR | 3 | +3.0% |
| DELL | 5 | +2.8% |
| DLTR | 5 | +2.7% |
| ERIE | 2 | +2.7% |
| AOS | 3 | +2.7% |
| LYV | 5 | +2.6% |
| VRT | 2 | +2.6% |
| VEEV | 7 | +2.5% |
| PYPL | 2 | +2.4% |
| NVDA | 2 | +2.4% |
| AXON | 8 | +2.4% |
| CVNA | 2 | +2.4% |
| OXY | 4 | +2.2% |
| VRTX | 4 | +2.2% |
| PFE | 1 | +2.2% |
| TXN | 2 | +2.1% |
| KEYS | 1 | +2.1% |
| DOC | 1 | +2.0% |
| WDAY | 6 | +2.0% |
| FTNT | 1 | +2.0% |
| MKC | 1 | +2.0% |
| TPL | 1 | +1.9% |
| INTC | 1 | +1.9% |
| BIIB | 1 | +1.8% |
| URI | 1 | +1.8% |
| WSM | 5 | +1.8% |
| DE | 1 | +1.7% |
| CRWD | 1 | +1.7% |
| SNA | 1 | +1.7% |
| HPQ | 2 | +1.6% |
| LULU | 7 | +1.6% |
| PWR | 2 | +1.6% |
| GILD | 1 | +1.6% |
| GM | 4 | +1.6% |
| LMT | 3 | +1.6% |
| FIX | 2 | +1.5% |
| TGT | 6 | +1.5% |
| GDDY | 3 | +1.5% |
| LUV | 1 | +1.5% |
| MNST | 2 | +1.5% |
| GRMN | 8 | +1.4% |
| FAST | 1 | +1.4% |
| SJM | 2 | +1.4% |
| STT | 2 | +1.3% |
| SBUX | 2 | +1.3% |
| VZ | 3 | +1.3% |
| TTWO | 4 | +1.3% |
| PANW | 3 | +1.3% |
| TPR | 5 | +1.2% |
| JBL | 2 | +1.2% |
| MCHP | 1 | +1.2% |
| CTVA | 3 | +1.1% |
| HUM | 2 | +1.1% |
| CI | 1 | +1.1% |
| DXCM | 7 | +1.1% |
| REGN | 1 | +1.1% |
| MMM | 1 | +1.1% |
| PKG | 3 | +1.0% |
| EQIX | 1 | +1.0% |
| APD | 2 | +1.0% |
| NOW | 2 | +1.0% |
| IQV | 3 | +1.0% |
| DGX | 2 | +0.9% |
| EA | 2 | +0.9% |
| TJX | 1 | +0.8% |
| HCA | 1 | +0.8% |
| WBD | 3 | +0.8% |
| EBAY | 2 | +0.8% |
| ABNB | 1 | +0.8% |
| BK | 2 | +0.8% |
| RMD | 3 | +0.7% |
| RL | 1 | +0.7% |
| VST | 4 | +0.7% |
| HSIC | 1 | +0.7% |
| CSGP | 1 | +0.7% |
| LVS | 2 | +0.7% |
| NKE | 2 | +0.7% |
| SBAC | 3 | +0.6% |
| HWM | 1 | +0.6% |
| ROL | 6 | +0.6% |
| NRG | 1 | +0.6% |
| GWW | 3 | +0.6% |
| WAT | 3 | +0.6% |
| KMB | 1 | +0.5% |
| TXT | 3 | +0.5% |
| BAC | 1 | +0.5% |
| SHW | 1 | +0.5% |
| WFC | 1 | +0.5% |
| SYF | 2 | +0.5% |
| NOC | 4 | +0.5% |
| JNJ | 1 | +0.5% |
| CMG | 5 | +0.5% |
| MRK | 3 | +0.5% |
| GEN | 3 | +0.4% |
| KR | 3 | +0.4% |
| T | 2 | +0.4% |
| CPRT | 1 | +0.4% |
| ZBRA | 1 | +0.4% |
| VTRS | 1 | +0.4% |
| LEN | 1 | +0.4% |
| TEL | 1 | +0.4% |
| XEL | 1 | +0.3% |
| TSLA | 1 | +0.3% |
| AMCR | 1 | +0.3% |
| TMUS | 2 | +0.3% |
| UHS | 1 | +0.3% |
| ALLE | 1 | +0.3% |
| VMC | 1 | +0.3% |
| BLDR | 1 | +0.3% |
| STE | 3 | +0.3% |
| GD | 2 | +0.3% |
| CTAS | 1 | +0.2% |
| INTU | 3 | +0.2% |
| CINF | 1 | +0.2% |
| PGR | 2 | +0.2% |
| CLX | 1 | +0.2% |
| ECL | 1 | +0.2% |
| AON | 1 | +0.1% |
| A | 1 | +0.1% |
| CVS | 3 | +0.1% |
| EME | 1 | +0.1% |
| DRI | 2 | +0.1% |
| CMCSA | 1 | +0.1% |
| CRM | 3 | +0.1% |
| FOX | 1 | +0.1% |
| INCY | 1 | +0.1% |
| BG | 2 | +0.1% |
| TECH | 2 | -0.0% |
| EMR | 2 | -0.0% |
| WAB | 2 | -0.0% |
| GPN | 2 | -0.0% |
| PM | 3 | -0.0% |
| AVY | 1 | -0.1% |
| STZ | 1 | -0.1% |
| TRV | 1 | -0.1% |
| GLW | 1 | -0.1% |
| CAH | 1 | -0.1% |
| FFIV | 2 | -0.1% |
| EXPD | 1 | -0.1% |
| NFLX | 3 | -0.1% |
| IP | 1 | -0.1% |
| JBHT | 4 | -0.1% |
| WTW | 4 | -0.1% |
| YUM | 1 | -0.1% |
| SCHW | 1 | -0.1% |
| RTX | 1 | -0.2% |
| TKO | 2 | -0.2% |
| CCL | 2 | -0.2% |
| HSY | 1 | -0.2% |
| ADBE | 2 | -0.2% |
| TRMB | 2 | -0.2% |
| PHM | 2 | -0.2% |
| WM | 2 | -0.3% |
| GOOGL | 1 | -0.3% |
| FOXA | 1 | -0.3% |
| HST | 1 | -0.3% |
| DLR | 1 | -0.3% |
| IVZ | 2 | -0.3% |
| PCAR | 2 | -0.4% |
| COHR | 1 | -0.4% |
| ISRG | 5 | -0.4% |
| XYL | 2 | -0.4% |
| EXR | 1 | -0.4% |
| SYY | 5 | -0.4% |
| DIS | 1 | -0.4% |
| CFG | 1 | -0.4% |
| DECK | 4 | -0.5% |
| EQT | 1 | -0.5% |
| BA | 1 | -0.6% |
| FSLR | 3 | -0.6% |
| HPE | 1 | -0.6% |
| AKAM | 2 | -0.7% |
| NXPI | 3 | -0.8% |
| FICO | 3 | -0.8% |
| BR | 1 | -0.8% |
| WST | 2 | -0.9% |
| DPZ | 6 | -0.9% |
| TAP | 1 | -0.9% |
| NTAP | 6 | -0.9% |
| BALL | 6 | -1.0% |
| AMGN | 1 | -1.0% |
| CAT | 1 | -1.1% |
| DG | 2 | -1.2% |
| MCK | 3 | -1.2% |
| COO | 2 | -1.3% |
| HAS | 7 | -1.3% |
| FDX | 2 | -1.3% |
| UPS | 1 | -1.4% |
| HBAN | 1 | -1.5% |
| UNP | 5 | -1.5% |
| KEY | 1 | -1.6% |
| CASY | 5 | -1.7% |
| TSN | 4 | -1.7% |
| PTC | 1 | -1.7% |
| MTD | 3 | -1.8% |
| LHX | 1 | -1.8% |
| V | 3 | -1.9% |
| BBY | 3 | -1.9% |
| GPC | 2 | -1.9% |
| UBER | 2 | -2.0% |
| LLY | 6 | -2.1% |
| HII | 1 | -2.2% |
| PODD | 6 | -2.3% |
| PSKY | 6 | -2.4% |
| AVGO | 1 | -2.6% |
| C | 3 | -2.6% |
| IBM | 4 | -2.7% |
| IDXX | 4 | -3.0% |
| ALGN | 1 | -3.3% |
| OMC | 2 | -3.6% |
| ROK | 5 | -4.4% |
| WDC | 3 | -4.7% |
| TTD | 3 | -5.5% |
| EXPE | 4 | -5.6% |
| MGM | 5 | -6.1% |
| ORCL | 8 | -7.5% |
_Return contribution is each asset’s summed realized P&L as a share of capital. Total realized from closed trades: +96.0%_
## Year by year
_Strategy vs S&P 500 (SPY)_
| Year | Strategy | S&P 500 (SPY) | Excess |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 2021 | +21.9% | +28.7% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | -17.7% | -18.2% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | +40.3% | +26.2% | +14.2% |
| 2024 | +21.0% | +24.9% | -3.9% |
| 2025 | +14.0% | +17.7% | -3.7% |
| 2026 | +43.9% | +12.9% | +31.0% |
## Robustness
Robustness screen: Overfit risk
---
_Hypothetical / simulated performance. These results are derived from a historical simulation and do not represent trading in a live account. Simulated results have inherent limitations: they benefit from hindsight and do not reflect real order execution, slippage, liquidity, or financing costs. Returns are shown gross of fees, which would reduce them. Past performance — actual or simulated — is not indicative of future results. For informational purposes only; not an offer or solicitation to buy any security._

Chipotle and Yum! Look Like Bargains After Food-Safety Selloff
**By**
[**Evie Liu**](https://www.barrons.com/authors/evie-liu?mod=article_byline)
Follow
**Updated Aug 20, 2026 5:48 pm EDT / Original Aug 20, 2026 12:50 pm EDT**
Key Points
\- Chipotle and Yum! Brands have faced stock declines and traffic drops following recent food-safety scares linked to jalapeños and iceberg lettuce.
\- Taco Bell visits fell nearly 20% below normal levels in mid-July, while Chipotle traffic dropped 7% on July 17 during the lettuce outbreak.
\- Analysts and early data suggest the outbreaks represent temporary supply-chain shocks rather than long-term brand crises for the companies.
Restaurant investors have been reminded twice this summer that a food-safety scare can erase months of gains in a matter of days.[Chipotle Mexican Grill](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/cmg?mod=article_chiclet)
[**CMG**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/cmg?mod=article_chiclet)
[**+1.98%**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/cmg?mod=article_chiclet)
was caught up in a salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños, while [Yum! Brands’](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/yum?mod=article_chiclet)
[**YUM**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/yum?mod=article_chiclet)
[**-1.16%**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/yum?mod=article_chiclet)
Taco Bell was linked to a much larger cyclospora outbreak involving iceberg lettuce.
Both stocks have been punished. Yet the episodes look more like temporary supply-chain shocks than the kind of brand crisis that devastated Chipotle a decade ago. Both companies entered the food-safety scares with improving businesses, and Wall Street remains high on them. That makes Chipotle and Yum! shares interesting at current prices.
To be sure, the recent outbreaks have hurt foot traffic at affected chains. According to Placer.ai, Taco Bell visits were nearly 20% below 2026’s normal levels during the weeks from July 13 to July 27, while Chipotle’s traffic was down 7% from normal levels on July 17—even though the chain wasn’t implicated in the lettuce outbreak.
Investors reacted quickly. Chipotle shares dropped nearly 10% on Aug. 4, when its connection to the jalapeño investigation became public, while Yum! shares lost 8.5% during the week when Taco Bell became the focus of the cyclospora probe. Both stocks have since stayed around those levels.
The selloffs are notable because both companies had just posted strong quarterly results. Chipotle’s revenue rose 9.3% in the second quarter, while comparable sales increased 2.2%. That was an acceleration from 0.5% growth in the first quarter. The company also raised its full-year outlook, although margins slipped because of higher beef, freight, and labor costs.
Yum’s results were stronger still. Taco Bell led the way, with global same-store sales rising 7% and system sales up 9%. KFC posted 2% same-store-sales growth and 6% system-sales growth. Pizza Hut remained the laggard, but Yum! has agreed to sell the business for about $2.7 billion. Yum’s adjusted earnings rose 12% in the second quarter.
Food-safety fears clearly disrupted that momentum, but early evidence suggests the worst of the initial customer pullback may already have passed.
On Yum’s July 30 earnings call, management said Taco Bell’s U.S. same-store sales were down 2% quarter-to-date after the outbreak. Management added that consumer sentiment was improving and sales declines had moderated. Although visits to Taco Bell were still 4.5% below the 2026 average during the week from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17, it is a substantial recovery from the 20% shortfall two weeks earlier, according to Placer.ai.
Chipotle said on its July 29 earnings call that the cyclospora scare had reduced late-July sales trends by two percentage points even though the company isn’t linked to the outbreak. Management hasn’t quantified the impact of the salmonella connection yet. But Placer.ai data suggest that traffic for the week from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17 was actually 2% above the 2026 average.
Cont

Let's say you held VTI+VXUS. There are 2 common choices for how to rebalance.
First would be to maintain a fixed ratio, like 70/30 and maintain that no matter how global market cap weights shift. This attempts to get a rebalancing premium by having 2 asset classes that are not completely correlated. It can also be justified if you would like a home country bias or wanted to intentionally tilt away from the US.
The second approach would be to track market weight. You would start at the current market cap weights of 62/38 and when it's time to rebalance you would adjust to the new market cap weight. The rebalancing would be minimal as it would mostly track cap weights naturally for you. The advantage of this is it's a pure efficient markets approach is theoretically the "right" thing to hold. This is the same as holding VT.
Your concern with VT about the US continuing to outpace international and becoming more "overweight" is understandable but it's not correct. The US isn't overweight in VT. The efficient markets hypothesis tells us it's weighted correctly at all times. We hold more in the US because that's where the market says the value is and unbiased diversification spreads across where the value is according to market cap. It's easier to understand if you think about individual stocks. Imagine you could only invest in Berkshire ($4T market cap) and Pizza Hut ($41B market cap). A market cap portfolio would be 96/4 BRK/YUM. You put almost all your money in Berkshire because they represent far more economic activity and it's spread out over a wider range of products.
As far as the mechanics of rebalancing, I like the once a year approach. Evidence shows more frequent is not necessarily better. [The Elusive Rebalancing Bonus](https://www.bogleheads.org/blog/2020/08/08/the-elusive-rebalancing-bonus-part-2/) However often you do it, pick the date ahead of time and stick to it. It's not market timing as long as you aren't deciding when to do it based on market conditions. You can also skip it completely if the difference is relatively small, say 5%. Small deviations are not going to meaningfully change your outcome.

Recently, I've been using a quantitative platform that allows you to avoid all the building quant infrastructure, and it generates reports of the strategies and the best trials you get based on probabilistic chart ratio, deflated chart ratio, et cetera. Can you please review my strategy and tell me how would you qualify it, and what would you change?
Also, what more information does an investor need to really believe in investing in this strategy?
_Investment report_
# positive_skew_select — Trial 118
**US Equity** · **Simulated**
- **Organization:** Fintela
- **Report date:** Aug 21, 2026
- **Data through:** Aug 13, 2026
- **Period:** Aug 2021 – Aug 2026
- **Reference:** Trial 118 · positive_skew_select · spy500 (2)
## About this report
> **Simulated** — Performance is simulated. The out-of-sample period (marked on the chart) shows results on market data the strategy was never trained on — the closest proxy to live performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
## Summary
_Grade B · 70/100_
Grade B · exceptional risk-adjusted returns · well-contained drawdowns.
| Metric | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Annualized | +22.8% |
| Sharpe | 3.57 |
| Max drawdown | 7.9% |
| Volatility | 19.8% |
| Overfitting (PBO) | 52.0% |
Performance. Over Aug 2021 – Aug 2026, the portfolio returned +179.3% in total, compounding at +22.8% per year. That outpaces its benchmark (S&P 500 (SPY) +13.2% per year, +85.8% total). Its best month gained +14.8% (Nov 2023) and its worst lost -9.2% (Jan 2022). On out-of-sample data the strategy never trained on, it returned +40.5% at a Sharpe of 3.57 — the closest proxy to live performance.
Risk. On a risk-adjusted basis the portfolio delivers exceptional risk-adjusted returns (Sharpe 3.57). Its deepest peak-to-trough decline was 7.9% — well-contained drawdowns. Annualized volatility of 19.8% reflects moderate volatility. A beta of 0.91 to S&P 500 (SPY) makes it roughly as sensitive as the broad market. Robustness screening finds an elevated overfitting risk (backtest-overfitting probability 52.0%).
Outlook. The book currently holds 5 positions, led by GRMN (20.0%), PLTR (20.0%), PYPL (20.0%). Its top three holdings make up 60.0% of gross exposure, leaving it highly concentrated. Weighing return, risk, drawdown and robustness together, this portfolio earns an overall grade of B (70/100), a profile that holds up well across dimensions. These figures are simulated; past performance is not indicative of future results.
## Performance
_Portfolio vs benchmark, both starting at $100,000_
$279,322 — what $100,000 invested at the start would be worth today. The same amount in S&P 500 (SPY): $185,839 (+86%).
## Out-of-sample track record
_Since Feb 2026_
| Metric | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Return | +40.5% |
| Sharpe | 3.57 |
| Max drawdown | 7.9% |
_Performance on data the strategy was never trained on — the closest available proxy to live results._
## Headline figures
| Metric | Value | Context |
| --- | ---: | --- |
| Total return | 179.3% | S&P 500 (SPY) +85.8% |
| Annualized (CAGR) | 22.8% | S&P 500 (SPY) +13.2% |
| Max drawdown | 7.9% | worst peak-to-trough decline |
| Sharpe ratio | 3.57 | return per unit of risk |
## Versus the market
_Measured against S&P 500 (SPY)_
| Metric | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Alpha | 0.093 |
| Beta | 0.914 |
| Up capture | 93.6% |
| Down capture | 83.4% |
| Correlation | 0.745 |
## Composition
_As of Aug 13, 2026_
| Symbol | Side | Weight | Change |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| GRMN | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| PLTR | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| PYPL | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| TECH | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
| ZBRA | LONG | 20.0% | +0.00 pp |
_Sector allocation_
| Bucket | Gross | Net |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Technology | 60.0% | +60.0% |
| Financial Services | 20.0% | +20.0% |
| Healthcare | 20.0% | +20.0% |
_Asset type_
| Bucket | Gross | Net |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Common Stock | 100.0% | +100.0% |
## Traded assets — full history
_230 assets · 583 trades_
| Symbol | trades | Contribution |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| SMCI | 4 | +8.3% |
| DDOG | 7 | +6.9% |
| META | 7 | +6.7% |
| CHRW | 3 | +5.7% |
| ULTA | 8 | +5.6% |
| DVA | 4 | +4.7% |
| MSFT | 2 | +4.7% |
| ROST | 8 | +4.7% |
| QCOM | 2 | +4.4% |
| IT | 6 | +4.2% |
| SATS | 6 | +4.0% |
| ANET | 1 | +3.6% |
| CIEN | 9 | +3.1% |
| SNPS | 3 | +3.0% |
| PLTR | 3 | +3.0% |
| DELL | 5 | +2.8% |
| DLTR | 5 | +2.7% |
| ERIE | 2 | +2.7% |
| AOS | 3 | +2.7% |
| LYV | 5 | +2.6% |
| VRT | 2 | +2.6% |
| VEEV | 7 | +2.5% |
| PYPL | 2 | +2.4% |
| NVDA | 2 | +2.4% |
| AXON | 8 | +2.4% |
| CVNA | 2 | +2.4% |
| OXY | 4 | +2.2% |
| VRTX | 4 | +2.2% |
| PFE | 1 | +2.2% |
| TXN | 2 | +2.1% |
| KEYS | 1 | +2.1% |
| DOC | 1 | +2.0% |
| WDAY | 6 | +2.0% |
| FTNT | 1 | +2.0% |
| MKC | 1 | +2.0% |
| TPL | 1 | +1.9% |
| INTC | 1 | +1.9% |
| BIIB | 1 | +1.8% |
| URI | 1 | +1.8% |
| WSM | 5 | +1.8% |
| DE | 1 | +1.7% |
| CRWD | 1 | +1.7% |
| SNA | 1 | +1.7% |
| HPQ | 2 | +1.6% |
| LULU | 7 | +1.6% |
| PWR | 2 | +1.6% |
| GILD | 1 | +1.6% |
| GM | 4 | +1.6% |
| LMT | 3 | +1.6% |
| FIX | 2 | +1.5% |
| TGT | 6 | +1.5% |
| GDDY | 3 | +1.5% |
| LUV | 1 | +1.5% |
| MNST | 2 | +1.5% |
| GRMN | 8 | +1.4% |
| FAST | 1 | +1.4% |
| SJM | 2 | +1.4% |
| STT | 2 | +1.3% |
| SBUX | 2 | +1.3% |
| VZ | 3 | +1.3% |
| TTWO | 4 | +1.3% |
| PANW | 3 | +1.3% |
| TPR | 5 | +1.2% |
| JBL | 2 | +1.2% |
| MCHP | 1 | +1.2% |
| CTVA | 3 | +1.1% |
| HUM | 2 | +1.1% |
| CI | 1 | +1.1% |
| DXCM | 7 | +1.1% |
| REGN | 1 | +1.1% |
| MMM | 1 | +1.1% |
| PKG | 3 | +1.0% |
| EQIX | 1 | +1.0% |
| APD | 2 | +1.0% |
| NOW | 2 | +1.0% |
| IQV | 3 | +1.0% |
| DGX | 2 | +0.9% |
| EA | 2 | +0.9% |
| TJX | 1 | +0.8% |
| HCA | 1 | +0.8% |
| WBD | 3 | +0.8% |
| EBAY | 2 | +0.8% |
| ABNB | 1 | +0.8% |
| BK | 2 | +0.8% |
| RMD | 3 | +0.7% |
| RL | 1 | +0.7% |
| VST | 4 | +0.7% |
| HSIC | 1 | +0.7% |
| CSGP | 1 | +0.7% |
| LVS | 2 | +0.7% |
| NKE | 2 | +0.7% |
| SBAC | 3 | +0.6% |
| HWM | 1 | +0.6% |
| ROL | 6 | +0.6% |
| NRG | 1 | +0.6% |
| GWW | 3 | +0.6% |
| WAT | 3 | +0.6% |
| KMB | 1 | +0.5% |
| TXT | 3 | +0.5% |
| BAC | 1 | +0.5% |
| SHW | 1 | +0.5% |
| WFC | 1 | +0.5% |
| SYF | 2 | +0.5% |
| NOC | 4 | +0.5% |
| JNJ | 1 | +0.5% |
| CMG | 5 | +0.5% |
| MRK | 3 | +0.5% |
| GEN | 3 | +0.4% |
| KR | 3 | +0.4% |
| T | 2 | +0.4% |
| CPRT | 1 | +0.4% |
| ZBRA | 1 | +0.4% |
| VTRS | 1 | +0.4% |
| LEN | 1 | +0.4% |
| TEL | 1 | +0.4% |
| XEL | 1 | +0.3% |
| TSLA | 1 | +0.3% |
| AMCR | 1 | +0.3% |
| TMUS | 2 | +0.3% |
| UHS | 1 | +0.3% |
| ALLE | 1 | +0.3% |
| VMC | 1 | +0.3% |
| BLDR | 1 | +0.3% |
| STE | 3 | +0.3% |
| GD | 2 | +0.3% |
| CTAS | 1 | +0.2% |
| INTU | 3 | +0.2% |
| CINF | 1 | +0.2% |
| PGR | 2 | +0.2% |
| CLX | 1 | +0.2% |
| ECL | 1 | +0.2% |
| AON | 1 | +0.1% |
| A | 1 | +0.1% |
| CVS | 3 | +0.1% |
| EME | 1 | +0.1% |
| DRI | 2 | +0.1% |
| CMCSA | 1 | +0.1% |
| CRM | 3 | +0.1% |
| FOX | 1 | +0.1% |
| INCY | 1 | +0.1% |
| BG | 2 | +0.1% |
| TECH | 2 | -0.0% |
| EMR | 2 | -0.0% |
| WAB | 2 | -0.0% |
| GPN | 2 | -0.0% |
| PM | 3 | -0.0% |
| AVY | 1 | -0.1% |
| STZ | 1 | -0.1% |
| TRV | 1 | -0.1% |
| GLW | 1 | -0.1% |
| CAH | 1 | -0.1% |
| FFIV | 2 | -0.1% |
| EXPD | 1 | -0.1% |
| NFLX | 3 | -0.1% |
| IP | 1 | -0.1% |
| JBHT | 4 | -0.1% |
| WTW | 4 | -0.1% |
| YUM | 1 | -0.1% |
| SCHW | 1 | -0.1% |
| RTX | 1 | -0.2% |
| TKO | 2 | -0.2% |
| CCL | 2 | -0.2% |
| HSY | 1 | -0.2% |
| ADBE | 2 | -0.2% |
| TRMB | 2 | -0.2% |
| PHM | 2 | -0.2% |
| WM | 2 | -0.3% |
| GOOGL | 1 | -0.3% |
| FOXA | 1 | -0.3% |
| HST | 1 | -0.3% |
| DLR | 1 | -0.3% |
| IVZ | 2 | -0.3% |
| PCAR | 2 | -0.4% |
| COHR | 1 | -0.4% |
| ISRG | 5 | -0.4% |
| XYL | 2 | -0.4% |
| EXR | 1 | -0.4% |
| SYY | 5 | -0.4% |
| DIS | 1 | -0.4% |
| CFG | 1 | -0.4% |
| DECK | 4 | -0.5% |
| EQT | 1 | -0.5% |
| BA | 1 | -0.6% |
| FSLR | 3 | -0.6% |
| HPE | 1 | -0.6% |
| AKAM | 2 | -0.7% |
| NXPI | 3 | -0.8% |
| FICO | 3 | -0.8% |
| BR | 1 | -0.8% |
| WST | 2 | -0.9% |
| DPZ | 6 | -0.9% |
| TAP | 1 | -0.9% |
| NTAP | 6 | -0.9% |
| BALL | 6 | -1.0% |
| AMGN | 1 | -1.0% |
| CAT | 1 | -1.1% |
| DG | 2 | -1.2% |
| MCK | 3 | -1.2% |
| COO | 2 | -1.3% |
| HAS | 7 | -1.3% |
| FDX | 2 | -1.3% |
| UPS | 1 | -1.4% |
| HBAN | 1 | -1.5% |
| UNP | 5 | -1.5% |
| KEY | 1 | -1.6% |
| CASY | 5 | -1.7% |
| TSN | 4 | -1.7% |
| PTC | 1 | -1.7% |
| MTD | 3 | -1.8% |
| LHX | 1 | -1.8% |
| V | 3 | -1.9% |
| BBY | 3 | -1.9% |
| GPC | 2 | -1.9% |
| UBER | 2 | -2.0% |
| LLY | 6 | -2.1% |
| HII | 1 | -2.2% |
| PODD | 6 | -2.3% |
| PSKY | 6 | -2.4% |
| AVGO | 1 | -2.6% |
| C | 3 | -2.6% |
| IBM | 4 | -2.7% |
| IDXX | 4 | -3.0% |
| ALGN | 1 | -3.3% |
| OMC | 2 | -3.6% |
| ROK | 5 | -4.4% |
| WDC | 3 | -4.7% |
| TTD | 3 | -5.5% |
| EXPE | 4 | -5.6% |
| MGM | 5 | -6.1% |
| ORCL | 8 | -7.5% |
_Return contribution is each asset’s summed realized P&L as a share of capital. Total realized from closed trades: +96.0%_
## Year by year
_Strategy vs S&P 500 (SPY)_
| Year | Strategy | S&P 500 (SPY) | Excess |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 2021 | +21.9% | +28.7% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | -17.7% | -18.2% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | +40.3% | +26.2% | +14.2% |
| 2024 | +21.0% | +24.9% | -3.9% |
| 2025 | +14.0% | +17.7% | -3.7% |
| 2026 | +43.9% | +12.9% | +31.0% |
## Robustness
Robustness screen: Overfit risk
---
_Hypothetical / simulated performance. These results are derived from a historical simulation and do not represent trading in a live account. Simulated results have inherent limitations: they benefit from hindsight and do not reflect real order execution, slippage, liquidity, or financing costs. Returns are shown gross of fees, which would reduce them. Past performance — actual or simulated — is not indicative of future results. For informational purposes only; not an offer or solicitation to buy any security._

Chipotle and Yum! Look Like Bargains After Food-Safety Selloff
**By**
[**Evie Liu**](https://www.barrons.com/authors/evie-liu?mod=article_byline)
Follow
**Updated Aug 20, 2026 5:48 pm EDT / Original Aug 20, 2026 12:50 pm EDT**
Key Points
\- Chipotle and Yum! Brands have faced stock declines and traffic drops following recent food-safety scares linked to jalapeños and iceberg lettuce.
\- Taco Bell visits fell nearly 20% below normal levels in mid-July, while Chipotle traffic dropped 7% on July 17 during the lettuce outbreak.
\- Analysts and early data suggest the outbreaks represent temporary supply-chain shocks rather than long-term brand crises for the companies.
Restaurant investors have been reminded twice this summer that a food-safety scare can erase months of gains in a matter of days.[Chipotle Mexican Grill](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/cmg?mod=article_chiclet)
[**CMG**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/cmg?mod=article_chiclet)
[**+1.98%**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/cmg?mod=article_chiclet)
was caught up in a salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños, while [Yum! Brands’](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/yum?mod=article_chiclet)
[**YUM**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/yum?mod=article_chiclet)
[**-1.16%**](https://www.barrons.com/market-data/stocks/yum?mod=article_chiclet)
Taco Bell was linked to a much larger cyclospora outbreak involving iceberg lettuce.
Both stocks have been punished. Yet the episodes look more like temporary supply-chain shocks than the kind of brand crisis that devastated Chipotle a decade ago. Both companies entered the food-safety scares with improving businesses, and Wall Street remains high on them. That makes Chipotle and Yum! shares interesting at current prices.
To be sure, the recent outbreaks have hurt foot traffic at affected chains. According to Placer.ai, Taco Bell visits were nearly 20% below 2026’s normal levels during the weeks from July 13 to July 27, while Chipotle’s traffic was down 7% from normal levels on July 17—even though the chain wasn’t implicated in the lettuce outbreak.
Investors reacted quickly. Chipotle shares dropped nearly 10% on Aug. 4, when its connection to the jalapeño investigation became public, while Yum! shares lost 8.5% during the week when Taco Bell became the focus of the cyclospora probe. Both stocks have since stayed around those levels.
The selloffs are notable because both companies had just posted strong quarterly results. Chipotle’s revenue rose 9.3% in the second quarter, while comparable sales increased 2.2%. That was an acceleration from 0.5% growth in the first quarter. The company also raised its full-year outlook, although margins slipped because of higher beef, freight, and labor costs.
Yum’s results were stronger still. Taco Bell led the way, with global same-store sales rising 7% and system sales up 9%. KFC posted 2% same-store-sales growth and 6% system-sales growth. Pizza Hut remained the laggard, but Yum! has agreed to sell the business for about $2.7 billion. Yum’s adjusted earnings rose 12% in the second quarter.
Food-safety fears clearly disrupted that momentum, but early evidence suggests the worst of the initial customer pullback may already have passed.
On Yum’s July 30 earnings call, management said Taco Bell’s U.S. same-store sales were down 2% quarter-to-date after the outbreak. Management added that consumer sentiment was improving and sales declines had moderated. Although visits to Taco Bell were still 4.5% below the 2026 average during the week from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17, it is a substantial recovery from the 20% shortfall two weeks earlier, according to Placer.ai.
Chipotle said on its July 29 earnings call that the cyclospora scare had reduced late-July sales trends by two percentage points even though the company isn’t linked to the outbreak. Management hasn’t quantified the impact of the salmonella connection yet. But Placer.ai data suggest that traffic for the week from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17 was actually 2% above the 2026 average.
Cont

Let's say you held VTI+VXUS. There are 2 common choices for how to rebalance.
First would be to maintain a fixed ratio, like 70/30 and maintain that no matter how global market cap weights shift. This attempts to get a rebalancing premium by having 2 asset classes that are not completely correlated. It can also be justified if you would like a home country bias or wanted to intentionally tilt away from the US.
The second approach would be to track market weight. You would start at the current market cap weights of 62/38 and when it's time to rebalance you would adjust to the new market cap weight. The rebalancing would be minimal as it would mostly track cap weights naturally for you. The advantage of this is it's a pure efficient markets approach is theoretically the "right" thing to hold. This is the same as holding VT.
Your concern with VT about the US continuing to outpace international and becoming more "overweight" is understandable but it's not correct. The US isn't overweight in VT. The efficient markets hypothesis tells us it's weighted correctly at all times. We hold more in the US because that's where the market says the value is and unbiased diversification spreads across where the value is according to market cap. It's easier to understand if you think about individual stocks. Imagine you could only invest in Berkshire ($4T market cap) and Pizza Hut ($41B market cap). A market cap portfolio would be 96/4 BRK/YUM. You put almost all your money in Berkshire because they represent far more economic activity and it's spread out over a wider range of products.
As far as the mechanics of rebalancing, I like the once a year approach. Evidence shows more frequent is not necessarily better. [The Elusive Rebalancing Bonus](https://www.bogleheads.org/blog/2020/08/08/the-elusive-rebalancing-bonus-part-2/) However often you do it, pick the date ahead of time and stick to it. It's not market timing as long as you aren't deciding when to do it based on market conditions. You can also skip it completely if the difference is relatively small, say 5%. Small deviations are not going to meaningfully change your outcome.