Stock Expert AI

Content generated by AI editorial engine. Editorially supervised by Sedat ANAK.

McDonald's Corporation
MCD - NYSE - $286.64 (as of ) ▼ -2.37%
-
Earnings Thu 7 May
Note: this preview was published before the 2026-05-07 earnings report. Results have since been released — verify against the latest filings.

McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Q1 FY26 earnings preview — archived, published Jul 28, 2026

The median of 15 price targets is $355[FMP target], stock is $287, +23.8% vs the analyst consensus median. Q4 FY25 EPS $3.12 vs $3.05 estimate: beat (+2.3%)[FMP earnings]. Stock move on D+1: +2.7%.

↓ summary below
Quick Take - in 40 seconds ·
C+
Council 1/6 - Historical V1 score 60

C+ — FMP rating [FMP ratings]. Form 4: unavailable[FMP Form 4].

Quick Answer

McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Q1 consensus: revenue $6.5B[FMP est], EPS $2.75[FMP est]. 1 consecutive quarters of beat[FMP earnings].

$2.75 EPS Estimate Last year $2.67 - +3% YoY
1 Beat Streak Expectations beaten consecutively for the last 1 quarters

Q4 FY25 EPS $3.12 vs $3.05 estimate: beat (+2.3%)[FMP]. Stock move on D+1: +2.7%[FMP D+1].

Watchlist

6 metrics stand out this quarter.

40% Expectation / Guide

Operating Margin Outlook

McDonald's expects its operating margin to be in the mid- to high 40% range in 2026 and to expand from its 46.9% adjusted operating margin in 2025.

"We expect our operating margin to be in the mid- to high 40% range and to expand from our 46.9% adjusted operating margin in 2025."

- Ian Borden, CFO - Q4 FY25 Earnings Call - February 11, 2026
$3.7 billion Risk Indicator

Capex Increase For Growth

McDonald's expects its capital expenditure spend to be between $3.7 billion and $3.9 billion in 2026, with the majority invested in new unit openings and investments in technology, digital and GBS.

"We expect our capital expenditure spend to be between $3.7 billion and $3.9 billion this year, with the majority invested in new unit openings across our U.S. and IOM segments."

- Ian Borden, CFO - Q4 FY25 Earnings Call - February 11, 2026
$140 billion Investor Focus

System Wide Sales Growth

McDonald's delivered system-wide sales of nearly $140 billion in 2025, up 5.5% in constant currency.

"In 2025, McDonald's delivered system-wide sales of nearly $140 billion, up 5.5% in constant currency for the full year."

- Christopher Kempczinski, CEO - Q4 FY25 Earnings Call - February 11, 2026
210 million Investor Focus

Loyalty Program Growth

McDonald's loyalty program reached nearly 210 million 90-day active users across 70 markets, almost doubling sales in 2025 and driving a significant increase in system-wide sales.

"In 2025, we almost doubled those sales with nearly 210 million 90-day active users across 70 markets."

- Christopher Kempczinski, CEO - Q4 FY25 Earnings Call - February 11, 2026
6.8% Investor Focus

Us Comp Sales Growth

In the U.S., comp sales for the quarter were up 6.8%, which was above expectations and was driven by positive check and guest count growth.

"In the U.S., comp sales for the quarter were up 6.8%, which was above our expectations and was driven by positive check and guest count growth."

- Ian Borden, CFO - Q4 FY25 Earnings Call - February 11, 2026
2,600 Investor Focus

New Restaurant Openings

McDonald's is targeting approximately 2,600 gross restaurant openings in 2026, keeping them on track to achieve 50,000 restaurants by the end of 2027.

"Our pace of new store openings will accelerate further as we target approximately 2,600 gross restaurant openings in 2026, which keeps us on track to achieve 50,000 restaurants by the end of 2027."

- Christopher Kempczinski, CEO - Q4 FY25 Earnings Call - February 11, 2026

Stock Expert AI - Methodology

Do our scoring pillars, 6 perspectives, and Munger lens point in the same direction?

Council Score 1 / 6 Bullish

6 investor frameworks. 1 bullish (Ray Dalio), 1 bearish (Ken Griffin), 4 neutral (Jim Simons, Klarman, Buffett, Munger).

How is it calculated? ->
Ray Dalio macro - target upside +23.8%
Ken Griffin flow - 50d MA below
Jim Simons quant - RSI 32
Klarman value - target upside +23.8%
Buffett quality - ROE score 1/5
Munger valuation - target upside +23.8%
Munger's Mindset character & balance sheet lens
Fairly Valued

Quality business, trading at fair value.

How is it calculated? ->
Financial HealthWeak
Margin of SafetyModerate
Interest CoverageAdequate
ROIC vs WACCTight
Technical Levels - Pre-earnings positioning

What levels is the stock being tested at?

RSI(14)
31.7 RSI 31.7 weak momentum, 50d below
MACD
-8.70 price below 50d - resistance dominant
50d MA
$314 stock 8.7% below - short-term resistance
200d MA
$309 stock 7.4% below - long-term pressure
Volume (10d)
+6% increase - pre-earnings positioning
Resistance
$355
Analyst median target - upgrade trigger if broken
Current
$287
Pre-earnings position
Support
$263
Invalidation - close below this is a technical breakdown
Pattern
Range
$263-$355 band - earnings breakout/breakdown trigger

Past Performance

4 quarters shown.

BEAT
Q1 FY25
$2.67 vs $2.66 est · Next-day price move: -0.5%
BEAT
Q2 FY25
$3.19 vs $3.14 est · Next-day price move: +0.1%
MISS
Q3 FY25
$3.22 vs $3.33 est · Next-day price move: -2.4%
BEAT
Q4 FY25
$3.12 vs $3.05 est · Next-day price move: +2.7%

Q4 FY25 (February 11, 2026) EPS $3.12 vs $3.05 estimate: beat (+2.3%)[FMP]. Stock move on D+1: +2.7%[FMP D+1].

Three scenarios: what could happen?

EPS < $2.67 (no guidance)

Q4 FY25 EPS $3.12 vs $3.05 estimate: beat (+2.3%)[FMP]. Stock move on D+1: +2.7%[FMP].

Backlog concentration

No RPO/backlog concentration disclosed in Q4 earnings call.

CapEx shock

Q4 CapEx $1.1B[FMP cashflow]. Q4 op margin 45.0%[FMP op margin] - this level in Q4 is sensitive to CapEx revision risk.

Framework - Position discipline

After the data arrives: 3 scenarios, 3 windows

Not advice - a structural framework for earnings night. Decision discipline is yours.

Scenario A - Beat
Q1 EPS > $2.75 + CapEx discipline
Threshold: EPS > $2.75[FMP est].
Target: Break above median target $355[FMP target]; high target $385[FMP] upper bound.
Scenario B - In-Line
EPS approx $2.75 + CapEx < $1.1B
Threshold: EPS approx $2.75[FMP est], Q4 CapEx < $1.1B[FMP].
Target: Consolidation in the band between current $287[FMP] and median $355[FMP].
Scenario C - Miss
EPS < $2.67 or CapEx >= $1.1B
Threshold: EPS < $2.67[FMP estx0.97].
Current price $287 — below SMA200 $309 [FMP].

Market Outlook

What do analysts say? 15 price targets · 36 ratings

Wall Street Consensus
$355
12-month median target price (+23.8% gap to the analyst consensus median)
19
BUY
16
HOLD
1
SELL
Risk Management
$263
Invalidation level - critical support threshold
$314 - 50-day MA (below, -8.7%)
$309 - 200-day MA (below, -7.4%)
IV Crush risk (sudden drop in inflated option premiums before earnings): Option premiums are inflated before earnings.
Verdict - MCD Q1 FY26
C+

You read it in 5 minutes. When the numbers come out on Thursday evening - you know what you're looking at.

Data arrives at night. The framework is ready now.

Data arrives on Thursday evening. The framework is ready on this page: Q1 EPS threshold $2.75[FMP], CapEx threshold "below $1.1B". Two anchors, three scenarios.

Comparison Stock Expert AI is free today — no credit card.

3 subscriptions. 1 platform.

Seeking Alpha $299/yr - analyst opinions + earnings coverage TipRanks $360/yr - Smart Score (1-10) + analyst consensus + insider trades Trendspider $400/yr - AI pattern detection + automated TA + multi-timeframe alerts

Prices as of April 2026. Sources: seekingalpha.com/subscriptions - tipranks.com/pricing - trendspider.com/pricing

Stock Expert AI is free today — no credit card. Council 6-lens analysis + MoonshotScore multi-pillar + Insider tracker + Technical levels - all in one platform, for every stock.

Educational tool, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Calendar

Catalyst Calendar - 90-day forward look

May 7, 2026EARNINGSQ1 FY26 results (after market close) + earnings call
May 8, 2026PRICEFirst trading day after earnings - 200dMA test + IV crush
May 10, 2026 – May 15, 2026FILING10-Q due within 40–45 days of quarter end (by May 10, 2026 – May 15, 2026); the exact deadline depends on filer status
~Aug 7, 2026EARNINGSQ2 FY26 (next quarter, date not yet scheduled in FMP)

DATA GAP: Events not in the FMP /stable/calendar feed - Investor day, analyst day, product launches, regulatory dates. These require company IR page scraping or manual calendar entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the MCD Q1 FY26 earnings preview cover?

This McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Q1 FY26 earnings preview covers the analyst consensus, key catalysts, and what to watch on the earnings call.

What should investors watch for in MCD Q1 FY26 earnings?

McDonald's Corporation (MCD): Consensus EPS, revenue guidance, segment growth rates, and the tone of management commentary — the full breakdown with sources is on this page.

Where do the numbers on this page come from?

McDonald's Corporation (MCD): Figures are sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) fundamentals and consensus data plus official earnings-call transcripts; derived metrics are labeled with their source next to each figure.

Is this a buy or sell recommendation?

McDonald's Corporation (MCD): No. This page is educational research, not investment advice. It summarizes analyst consensus and company data; consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision.

More earnings, decoded