McDonald's (MCD) reported $7.01 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 9.7%. EPS of $3.12 for the same period compares to $2.83 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.85 billion, representing a surprise of +2.39%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.4%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $3.05.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how McDonald's performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Systemwide restaurants - Total Systemwide: 45,356 versus the eight-analyst average estimate of 45,292.
- Comparable sales growth - U.S. - YoY change: 6.8% versus 4.9% estimated by eight analysts on average.
- Comparable sales growth - International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate - YoY change: 4.5% compared to the 2.9% average estimate based on eight analysts.
- Comparable sales growth - International Operated Markets - YoY change: 5.2% versus 3.4% estimated by eight analysts on average.
- Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- Total: $2.54 billion versus the eight-analyst average estimate of $2.48 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +9.8%.
- Revenues- Franchised revenues- Total: $4.31 billion versus $4.21 billion estimated by eight analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +8.9% change.
- Revenues- Total Other revenues: $162 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $152.72 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +35%.
- Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate: $113 million compared to the $117.6 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +19% year over year.
- Revenues- Franchised revenues- International Operated Markets: $1.92 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $1.89 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +12.8%.
- Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- U.S.: $810 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $791.12 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3.9%.
- Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- International Operated Markets: $1.61 billion versus $1.57 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +12.6% change.
- Revenues- Total Company-owned and operated sales and Franchised revenues- International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate: $613 million compared to the $603.39 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +10.9% year over year.
View all Key Company Metrics for McDonald's here>>>
Shares of McDonald's have returned +5.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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McDonald's Corporation (MCD): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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