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.