NYSE$MCD

McDonald's · Q1 2026 earnings

Q1 2026 earnings · · Before market open · Investor relations

Briefing

McDonald's reported Q1 2026 total revenues of $6.52B (+9% YoY) with net income of $2.0B and diluted EPS of $2.78.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, McDonald's reported total revenues of $6.52 billion, up 9% (4% in constant currencies), with franchised restaurant revenue of $4.01 billion. Net income was $1.98 billion, or $2.78 per diluted share, compared with $1.87 billion and $2.60 per share in Q1 2025. Systemwide sales growth and positive comparable sales contributed to results; the company noted current-year charges of $0.05 per share.

  • Total revenues $6.52B (+9% YoY; +4% constant currency).
  • Net income $1.98B; diluted EPS $2.78 (+7%).
  • Franchised revenue $4.01B (+9%) on higher royalty and rent streams.
  • Company-operated restaurant revenue $2.51B.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$6.52B

Previous: $5.96B+9.4%
EPS (adj)

$2.78

Previous: $2.67+4.1%
Capital Expenditures

-$682M

Previous: -$551M-23.8%
Free Cash Flow

$1.73B

No prior period
Net Income

$1.98B

Previous: $1.87B+6.2%
Operating Income

$2.95B

Previous: $2.65B+11.5%
Gross Profit

$5.84B

Previous: $3.37B+73.3%
Cash & Equivalents

$1.17B

No prior period
Total Assets

$60B

No prior period

Revenue & EPS history

McDonald's · Revenue · Quarterly

$6.52B

Q1 2026+9.4%vs Q1 2025
Beat estimate in 11 of 15 quarters(73%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

McDonald's · $2.3B total across 1 segment · Q1 2022

  • Company-Owned Restaurants
    $2.3B

Forward guidance

McDonald's does not provide quarterly EPS guidance in the 10-Q; management discusses comps, marketing, and franchisee health.

Tailwinds

  • Constant-currency revenue growth across segments.
  • Franchise model supports high-margin cash generation.

Headwinds

  • FX translation added $0.13 to diluted EPS.
  • Consumer spending and input-cost inflation remain risks.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2026

Historical avgQ1 2026

+0.3%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.5%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.1%

Avg return

30 days after

53%

39 / 73 earnings

Positive

+9.8%

Q3 2015

Best reaction

-6.2%

Q2 2016

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+0.0%-3.2%-1.5%
Q4 2025+2.7%+1.4%+1.0%
Q3 2025+2.3%-0.0%+4.0%
Q2 2025+3.0%+1.9%+5.2%
Q1 2025-1.9%-0.9%-1.8%
Q4 2024+4.8%+4.8%+1.7%
Q3 2024-1.8%-0.5%-0.6%
Q2 2024+5.7%+9.8%+13.9%
Q1 2024+0.3%-1.2%-7.9%
Q4 2023-4.2%-2.6%-1.4%
Q3 2023+2.5%+4.7%+9.6%
Q2 2023+0.8%-0.2%-2.5%
Q1 2023-1.2%+0.9%-2.6%
Q4 2022-1.7%-2.5%-1.2%
Q3 2022+7.0%+6.4%+7.2%
Q2 2022+3.4%+5.2%+4.9%
Q1 2022+0.8%-0.5%+1.9%
Q4 2021+2.5%+3.7%-0.2%
Q3 2021+3.8%+6.0%+5.7%
Q2 2021-0.9%-2.5%-3.6%
Q1 2021+1.6%+0.6%+0.6%
Q4 2020+0.4%+1.3%-0.4%
Q3 2020-1.5%-1.5%-3.6%
Q2 2020-2.5%-3.5%+5.4%
Q1 2020-2.7%-4.6%-0.8%
Q4 2019+2.8%+2.3%-7.7%
Q3 2019-5.1%-7.3%-8.3%
Q2 2019+0.3%-1.7%+0.1%
Q1 2019-1.5%+0.2%+1.1%
Q4 2018-1.9%-2.5%+1.6%
Q3 2018+6.4%+4.0%+9.7%
Q2 2018-0.9%-0.8%+0.3%
Q1 2018+3.2%+4.3%+2.2%
Q4 2017-3.7%-4.7%-12.4%
Q3 2017+0.1%+1.3%+3.5%
Q2 2017+3.1%+2.6%+4.3%
Q1 2017+4.9%+4.2%+11.6%
Q4 2016-1.0%+0.5%+4.6%
Q3 2016+2.7%+1.4%+8.5%
Q2 2016-6.2%-7.7%-9.4%
Q1 2016+1.3%
Q4 2015+1.7%
Q3 2015+9.8%
Q2 2015-1.5%
Q1 2015+2.2%
Q4 2014-0.2%
Q3 2014-0.7%
Q2 2014-2.3%
Q1 2014-0.5%
Q4 2013-0.5%
Q3 2013-0.1%
Q2 2013-3.5%
Q1 2013-2.5%
Q4 2012+0.4%
Q3 2012-4.7%
Q2 2012-3.8%
Q1 2012-0.1%
Q4 2011-0.4%
Q3 2011+1.7%
Q2 2011-2.6%
Q1 2011+0.2%
Q4 2010+0.6%
Q3 2010+0.2%
Q2 2010+1.5%
Q1 2009-3.8%
Q1 2010+0.5%
Q4 2007-0.6%
Q4 2009-0.6%
Q3 2008+2.4%
Q3 2009+2.4%
Q2 2009+0.2%
Q4 2008+0.2%
Q2 2008+0.2%

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