McDonald’s Announces ‘Solid’ Results for Q3 2026

McDonald’s has announced “solid” but mixed quarterly results for Q3 2026, as consumer traffic at US restaurants fell, leading to a small decline in domestic same-store sales.

The company reported a 0.2% decrease in sales at its restaurants in the US that have been open at least one year. 

Despite this, McDonald’s performed better than Wall Street predicted, which had estimated the fast-food giant would see a decline of 0.5%.

Discussing the results, Chris Kempczinski, CEO of McDonald’s, says: “McDonald’s delivered another quarter of global growth, with solid performance across much of our international business. 

“In the US, we're encouraged by improvement as the quarter progressed following our intervention on value.”

US sales falling short on execution

McDonald’s same-store sales returned to growth in September after a decline in July and August, company CFO Ian Borden told investors on a recent earnings call. 

Recently, Chris said that the company’s US business was falling short on execution, specifically on the implementation of its value offerings. 

Like other restaurant chains, McDonald’s has pushed for more discounts to attract budget-conscious customers over the last two years, given the rise in the cost of living.

To reverse same-store sales declines, McDonald’s prioritised marketing its Extra Value Meals and restarted regional and national promotions on its mobile app, a move that proved popular among its regular customers.

To build on this momentum, McDonald’s is also exploring two new value menus: one with mix-and-match bundles and the other with set combinations of menu items.

The company plans to roll out the offerings across the US in early 2027.

According to LSEG data, McDonald’s delivered US$7.16bn in revenue against analyst predictions of US$7.29bn.

The company also reported third-quarter net income of US$2.49bn – or US$3.51 per share – up from US$2.28bn – or US$3.18 per share – the year prior.

Global same-store sales rose 1.5%, boosted by its international segments, topping analysts' expectations of a 1.3% increase.

Mixed international performance

The fast-food chain’s international markets, which include Japan and China, reported same-store sales growth of 4.2%. 
Its International Operated Markets division, which includes top markets such as Australia and Germany, saw same-store sales growth of 1.4%. 

However, the segment underperformed Wall Street’s expectations, with analysts having projected a rise of 2.1%.

“In the majority of our large international markets, we’re holding or gaining share,” Ian said on the company’s conference call. “It’s a soft consumer environment, but we’re doing well.”

France also proved to be a challenging market, McDonald’s said. Chris says franchisees in France recently voted on a strategy to transform the business. 

In addition to these challenges, McDonald’s has seen short-term disruptions related to France’s recent student protests.

Remaining optimistic despite global economic challenges, Chris says: “We’re focused on building from here, strengthening the business today and investing in the next chapter of growth.”

McDonald’s’s key partners:

The Coca-Cola Company: Coca-Cola partners with McDonald's to supply exclusive beverage syrups, co-develop fountain dispensing systems, and manage seamless global restaurant drink distribution.
CEO: Henrique Braun | Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, US

Tyson Foods: Tyson Foods supplies McDonald's with high-volume chicken and protein products, developing McNuggets while maintaining stringent global safety and poultry standards.
CEO: Jeff Schomburger | Headquarters: Springdale, Arkansas, US

McCain Foods: McCain Foods partners with McDonald's to process, freeze, and deliver signature potato cuts, ensuring uniform fry quality across international markets.
CEO: Max Koeune | Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada