McDonald’s focus on value is paying off.
The fast food giant said Wednesday that its global same-store sales — or sales at locations open at least a year — jumped 5.7% in the October-December period. That's better than the 3.9% Wall Street was expecting, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
Chicago-based McDonald's fourth quarter revenue and earnings also beat analysts' expectations.
McDonald’s cut prices on some U.S. combo meals in September. Those Extra Value Meal promotions came on top of discounts that began earlier in 2025, including the McValue menu. McDonald's popular Snack Wraps, which returned to menus in July for $2.99, also helped improve value perceptions.
The price cuts came after years of steady declines in visits from customers with annual household incomes of $45,000 or less. In a conference call with investors last summer, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski warned that those consumers, in particular, no longer saw McDonald’s as a good value.
The company also boosted U.S. traffic in the fourth quarter with limited-time offers, including the return of its Monopoly game in October and a Grinch-themed meal in December. McDonald's said its same-store sales rose 6.8% in the U.S. in the October-December period.
The playbook has been similar in international markets. In Australia, for example, McDonald’s saw higher store traffic after it locked in pricing on its value items for 12 months starting in July.
McDonald's revenue rose 10% to $7.01 billion in the fourth quarter. That beat Wall Street's forecast of $6.84 billion.
Net income rose 7% to $2.16 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, including restructuring charges, McDonald's earned $3.12 per share. That also beat analysts' forecast of a $3.05 per share profit.
Other chains have also been focused on their value message over the last year. Taco Bell, which expanded its value menu in January 2025, said last week that its same-store sales jumped 7% in the October-December period.
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7 Comments
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BertieWooster
Still can't understand why people eat this garbage.
Taciturn
I eat it because I like the taste.
BeerDeliveryGuy
Say what you want about McD’s, but their standardization and consistency is unmatched. Their corporate strategy is not to have the “best” burger, but an average burger that is the same anywhere in the world.
リッチ
The portion size of the money is the problem. Even their healthier choices like the salad are no where close to a portion size for an adult.
we all what drives McDonald’s.
cheapest possible product product with little care for health.
staff in Japan don’t even wear gloves when preparing the food. It’s so unhygienic
kaimycahl
Ok they are bringing back the "HAPPY MEAL"
OssanAmerica
They don't have to because of the Japanese cultural fixation on hand washing, using tongs/no contact and obsessive cleanliness. Probably more hygenic and safer than the US where many states mandate rubber gloves.
Don't believe me? Compare MacDonald's bathrooms in each country.
OssanAmerica
Oh how I wish that were true. MacD's in the US tastes like a hamburger. Not the best, but a hamburger.
A burger from Makudo tastes like some kind of meatloaf sandwich.
Personally, I'm glad Burger King is in Japan.