McDonald’s Company Description

McDonald’s is one of the largest fast food chains in the world with over 34,900 restaurants located in 119 countries, and annual revenues of $27.6 billion in 2012. The company divides its geographical segments into four regions namely the US, Europe, APMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa) and Other Countries & Corporate (includes Canada, Latin America and corporate activities). Europe is the largest segment by revenues, while the US has the most number of locations with around 14,000. APMEA is the fastest growing segment with a revenues growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.8% in the last three years. 81% of the company’s restaurants are franchised. Read More: MCD

Is McDonald's Running Out of Ideas?

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) sells an impressive 600 million Big Mac sandwiches a year. Credit for the invention of that hit product goes to one of the company's first franchisees, Jim Delligatti, who in 1968 persuaded the chain to put his store's sandwich into nationwide distribution.

But the beef-stacked burger might never have reached its blockbuster status without the contribution of a 21-year-old secretary named Esther Rose: She helped persuade management to drop the name "Blue Ribbon Burger" in favor of the now-iconic "Big Mac." Suffering from a "Blue Ribbon Burger" attack just doesn't have the same ring. Read more.

McDonald's Corporation : McDonald's October Same-Store Sales Up 0.5% on U.S., Europe

McDonald's Corp.'s (MCD) global same-store sales grew 0.5% in October, with results in the U.S. and Europe offsetting weakness in Asia. McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food company, last month predicted global same-store sales for October to be relatively flat, despite what should have been an easy comparison from a year ago, when the company reported its first monthly same-store sales decline in nine years.

  

The company continues to struggle with a soft global economy that has caused consumers to pull back on restaurant spending. McDonald's and several of its rivals have tried to improve their results by focusing on cheaper food options.The chain has looked to roll out a Dollar Menu & More lineup in the U.S. that includes its standard dollar items as well as products priced at $2 and $5. Some of its higher-priced products haven't sold well, including the $4 Angus burgers the chain pulled from its menu recently. Read more.

McDonald’s Earnings Foreshadow More Weakening

McDonald's Corp. (MCD) reported third-quarter 2013 results before markets opened Monday morning. The fast-food restaurant chain posted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.52 on revenues of $7.32 billion. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS of $1.43 on revenues of $7.15 billion. Third-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $1.51 EPS and $7.34 billion in revenues.

Globally, same-store sales in the second quarter rose 0.9% and consolidated net income rose 2%. Same-store sales rose 0.7% in the United States, were up 0.2% in Europe and fell by 1.4% in Asia. Sequentially, U.S. same-store sales were off by 0.1% and Asian sales were off by 1.1%. Europe grew sales by 0.3%.  Read more.

Do You Still Want Fries With That Shake?

Lately it seems not a day goes by when some burger joint isn't coming up with a new take on an old favorite, the lowly french fry. Sonic  (NASDAQ: SONC  ) is the latest restaurant to rejigger its potato side dish, rolling out a new natural-cut, skin-on fry made from russet potatoes. 

Considering Burger King Worldwide (NYSE: BKW  ) recently unveiled a new lower-calorie, crinkle-cut "Satisfries" fry, Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM  ) designed a specially formulated container for fries to fit in most car cup holders, and Wendy's (NASDAQ: WEN  ) reformulated its fry offering a few years ago, there seems to be a lot of attention being paid to this deep-fried snack. Read more.