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McDonald's Stock Jumps 5% After Earnings Beat, Revenue Miss
Why is McDonald's stock up today?
McDonald's (MCD) stock rose about 5% to roughly $278 on Wednesday after an earnings beat, as profit topped forecasts even though revenue missed and US same-store sales slipped 0.2%.
Key numbers
| Adjusted EPS | $3.57+11% YoY; est. $3.38 |
|---|---|
| Revenue | $7.16B+1% YoY; est. ~$7.28B |
| US same-store sales | -0.2%vs +2.4% a year ago; est. -0.5% |
| Global same-store sales | +1.5%vs +3.6% a year ago |
| Share move | +5.6%$277.88 vs $263.04 close at 1:28pm ET; sources range 4–5.7% (per [5]) |
What happened
McDonald's (MCD) stock rose about 5% to roughly $278 on Wednesday after an earnings beat, as profit topped forecasts even though revenue missed and US same-store sales slipped 0.2%. Adjusted profit, which leaves out one-off costs, was $3.57 a share, up 11% from a year ago and above the $3.38 expected. Revenue was $7.16 billion, up 1% but below the roughly $7.28 billion expected. Same-store sales (sales at restaurants open over a year) fell 0.2% in the US, better than the 0.5% drop expected. The CEO said US trends improved through the quarter after a push on cheaper deals.
Why it matters
McDonald's results show how cautious many US diners are, since its US sales slipped even with cheaper deals. The shares jumped because the dip was smaller than feared and profit beat forecasts. Rival restaurant stocks such as Chipotle, Starbucks and Yum Brands rose too, a sign investors may see the sector's slump as easing. Fast-food visits across the industry still fell about 2.6%.
Who this affects
- MarketbullishMedium impact
- Restaurant stock investors cheered the results; peers also rose.
- CompanymixedMedium impact
- Shareholders gain, but US customer visits remain weak.
- CompetitorsbullishLow impact
- Chipotle, Starbucks and Yum Brands rose in sympathy.
- IndustrymixedMedium impact
- Fast-food traffic still falling; cheaper deals are the focus.
McDonald's vs Yum Brands, Starbucks, Chipotle
How we got here
US same-store sales turn positive in September as quarter ends, per MarketBeat.
McDonald's reports Q3 results before the market opens.
Shares jump about 5%; Chipotle, Starbucks and Yum Brands also gain.
What to watch
- Eight-week test of two new everyday affordable price menus, with national rollout planned (per)2027-01
- Whether US customer visits keep improving after the value pushQ4 2026
Educational content only. Not investment advice.
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