Overview
- McDonald’s reported that U.S. same-store sales grew just 0.8% in the second quarter, a meaningful slowdown that missed analyst forecasts and reflected weaker guest counts.
- Global comparable sales rose 1.3% in the quarter while net income was $2.36 billion and adjusted EPS was $3.38, showing profits held up despite softer traffic.
- Executives and the CEO pointed to execution problems—uneven rollout of the McValue lineup, too many new items and longer service times—as the primary reason for the U.S. miss.
- The company named Skye Anderson president of McDonald’s USA to focus on U.S. operations and previewed a system-wide strategy called 'McDonald’s Next' that aims to simplify value offers and boost productivity.
- Investors sent mixed signals after the results with shares down year-to-date and options pricing showing expectations for near-term volatility as the chain tries to convert promotions into steady traffic gains.