McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.07 EPS

Posted by Amy Steele on Feb 11th, 2026

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD – Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07, Zacks reports. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 280.89% and a net margin of 32.04%.During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.83 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from McDonald’s’ conference call:

McDonald’s reported nearly $140 billion in 2025 system‑wide sales (up 5.5% in constant currency) and accelerated unit growth—~2,275 openings in 2025 and a target of ~2,600 gross openings in 2026 to reach 50,000 restaurants by end of 2027.
U.S. value initiatives—McValue and the relaunch of Extra Value Meals—drove share gains with low‑income consumers, improved value/affordability scores in Q4, and coincided with higher franchisee cash flow.
Marketing, loyalty and menu innovation powered engagement and sales—record campaigns (Minecraft, Monopoly, Grinch), ~210 million 90‑day active users, and successful beverage/menu tests with a planned McCafé beverage rollout later in 2026.
Management cautioned about persistent macro and industry headwinds (China weakness), severe January weather that trimmed ~100 bps of Q1 performance, and higher interest expense and other risks that could pressure near‑term results.

McDonald’s Price Performance

NYSE MCD traded down $2.64 on Wednesday, hitting $323.33. The company had a trading volume of 4,543,053 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,301,336. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $311.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $307.79. The company has a market capitalization of $230.26 billion, a PE ratio of 27.59, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.52. McDonald’s has a 12-month low of $283.47 and a 12-month high of $328.06.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 63.48%.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.25, for a total transaction of $854,106.50. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 5,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,755,699.50. The trade was a 32.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total value of $795,520.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at $2,005,760. This trade represents a 28.40% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 34,634 shares of company stock valued at $10,749,559. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonald’s

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Imprint Wealth LLC purchased a new position in McDonald’s during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $60,000. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 30.2% in the 2nd quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 250 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $76,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in McDonald’s by 8,040.0% in the second quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. now owns 407 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $119,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the second quarter worth about $128,000. Finally, Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the second quarter worth $163,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting McDonald’s

Here are the key news stories impacting McDonald’s this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations — McDonald’s reported stronger-than-expected revenue and an EPS beat, with global comparable sales accelerating and operating profit up, supporting the view that the company is regaining traffic. McDonald’s beats quarterly global sales estimates as value bets pay off
Positive Sentiment: Value strategy is driving customer return — McDonald’s says its Extra Value Meals and promotional pricing pulled in budget-conscious diners in the U.S. and helped drive the fastest comparable-sales growth in over two years. This is the primary operational explanation for the stock move. McDonald’s says focus on value is bringing back customers
Positive Sentiment: Loyalty and systemwide sales momentum — Full-year systemwide sales and loyalty engagement rose meaningfully, with large increases in sales to loyalty members and active users, which supports recurring demand and digital ordering growth. McDONALD’S REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2025 RESULTS
Positive Sentiment: Viral product marketing is boosting brand engagement — Limited promos (e.g., McNugget “caviar” kits and seasonal Shamrock Shake rollouts) generated outsized media attention and quick sellouts, supporting short-term traffic and free publicity. When do Shamrock Shakes come out at McDonald’s? Are shamrock shakes out yet
Neutral Sentiment: Board addition — James D. Farley Jr. was elected to the board, a governance update that is generally neutral but could be viewed as strengthening oversight. James D. Farley, Jr. Elected to McDonald’s Board of Directors
Neutral Sentiment: Competitive context — Industry peers (e.g., Chipotle) signaling they won’t adopt dollar-style value menus highlights McDonald’s differentiated strategy, but it mainly frames competitive dynamics rather than changing fundamentals. Chipotle CEO: Here’s why we won’t do a McDonald’s-style dollar menu
Negative Sentiment: Insider selling — A senior U.S. executive disclosed a large share sale, which investors often watch as a negative signal even when sales are routine or for diversification. SEC Form 4 – Joseph M. Erlinger sale
Negative Sentiment: Franchisee tensions — The company’s push on centralized value pricing has caused friction with some franchisees who want local pricing autonomy; that conflict could limit rollout speed or margins if unresolved. Value is the key to McDonald’s growth plans, but it’s creating tensions with some franchisees

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $340.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on McDonald’s from $322.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised shares of McDonald’s from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $355.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $332.38.

Read Our Latest Report on MCD

About McDonald’s

(Get Free Report)

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafé coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonald’s serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships.

Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brand’s national and international expansion.