-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BRICuw1ESWhoVZWMlTqr3HUl5WDVnKmV1exKjMGggz2F7fhZEI4P7LrEuZKQanOK
 ibbFcb6CTxKv/go9oEX02Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-030198.txt : 20101210
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-030198.hdr.sgml : 20101210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101210120002
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-030198
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROLICK EMIL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211692

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13163
		FILM NUMBER:		101244118

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17901 VON KARMAN
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614-6212

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YUM BRANDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041061
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				133951308
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1120

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1441 GARDINER LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5028748300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 COLONEL SANDERS LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRICON GLOBAL RESTAURANTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970627

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREAT AMERICAN RESTAURANT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970618
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041061</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>YUM BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>YUM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211692</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROLICK EMIL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TACO BELL CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92714</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President US Brand Building</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25096</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11351</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13749</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25096</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25096</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28984.7784</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Conversion occurs on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom Exercise Date</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The YUM! Brands, Inc. Executive Income Deferral Program does not have specified expiration dates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ M. Gayle Hobson, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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