Retail

McDonald’s Offers No Surprises (MCD, YUM, SBUX)

Same-store sales in US McDonald’s Inc. (NYSE: MCD) stores rose 8.9% in the first quarter, substantially higher the 5.5% rise in same-store sales in the company’s Asia/Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region and the 5% rise in Europe. The company…

By Paul Ausick
Published April 20, 2012, 8:45am ET · 1 min read

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Same-store sales in US McDonald’s Inc. (NYSE: MCD) stores rose 8.9% in the first quarter, substantially higher the 5.5% rise in same-store sales in the company’s Asia/Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region and the 5% rise in Europe. The company attributed the US growth to sales of its classic menu, innovative menu offerings, newly remodeled stores, and good weather. The only thing unusual about that list is the shout-out to the weather.

Excluding currency effects McDonald’s total sales rose 7% in the quarter, identical with growth in total sales at Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM), which reported earnings on Wednesday. Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) reports earnings next week and is expected to post revenues of $3.18 billion, a jump of 14% over the same period a year ago.

Overall, McDonald’s posted EPS of $1.23, right in line with the consensus estimate, on revenue of $6.55 billion, slightly ahead of the consensus estimate of $6.54 billion. The EPS estimate for next quarter is $1.44 on revenues of $7.15 billion. Good weather is not likely to offer much of boost in the current quarter, so the company better have something else up its sleeve.

McDonald’s shares are up about 1.7% in the pre-market at $96.95, in a 52-week range of $76.50-$102.22.

Paul Ausick

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Paul Ausick

Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

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