Overview
- McDonald’s reported on Wednesday that U.S. comparable sales fell 0.2% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, marking the first U.S. decline after five quarters of growth.
- Foot traffic also weakened with visits down about 4.6% year‑over‑year in the quarter, according to data firm Placer.ai.
- Global comparable sales rose 1.5% and adjusted earnings climbed to $3.57 a share, helped by roughly a 4% drop in operating costs and expenses.
- The company pushed value offers such as an under‑$3 menu and a $4 breakfast and said it saw improvement late in the quarter after reintroducing in‑app deals.
- Rival chains used discounts and promotions with mixed results, and McDonald’s ability to turn short‑term deals into steady traffic will determine whether cost savings can offset softer U.S. sales.