McDonald's Corporation reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.83 per share. Revenue reached $6.52 billion, exceeding analyst expectations. Global comparable sales rose 3.8% behind growth in U.S. and international markets. Strategic value offerings and popular menu items drove the quarterly gains.
The stock experienced volatility following the report. Shares initially rose in pre-market trading before falling on management's cautious outlook. Executives warned of a meaningful deceleration in second-quarter sales. April comparable sales have already turned slightly negative.
Management cited economic pressures like high gas prices for cooling consumer spending.