With a market cap of $174.3 billion, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) is a global leader in the fast-food industry, operating and franchising restaurants under its iconic brand in the United States and internationally. Based in Chicago, Illinois, it offers a wide range of food and beverages, generating revenue through company-operated restaurants and franchise fees.
The Chicago, Illinois-based company is expected to announce its Q3 2026 results before the market opens on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Ahead of this event, analysts expect McDonald's to report an adjusted EPS of $3.37, up 4.7% from $3.22 in the year-ago quarter. It has exceeded Wall Street's earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing on another occasion.
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For fiscal 2026, analysts forecast the fast-food giant to post an adjusted EPS of $12.84, a 5.3% rise from $12.20 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, adjusted EPS is anticipated to grow 6.5% year-over-year to $13.68 in fiscal 2027.
www.barchart.com Shares of McDonald's have fallen 19.1% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 14.2% gain and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF's (XLY) 3.1% decrease over the period.
www.barchart.com McDonald’s (MCD) shares rose 1.2% on August 4, with better-than-expected Q2 2026 adjusted EPS increasing to $3.38. Sentiment was also supported by growth in its beverage platform, which was performing ahead of plan and boosting average spending per visit, alongside management’s efforts to restore national digital offers, target loyalty-member promotions and improve value-focused marketing execution.
Analysts' consensus view on MCD stock is cautiously optimistic, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating. Among 36 analysts covering the stock, 17 recommend "Strong Buy," two suggest "Moderate Buy," 16 indicate “Hold,” and one advises "Strong Sell." This configuration is slightly more bullish than three months ago, with 16 analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy."
The average analyst price target for McDonald's is $296.88, indicating a potential upside of 18% from the current levels.
On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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