McDonald’s: A Growth & Income Buy
By Alex Kolb on January 10, 2009 | More Posts By Alex Kolb | Author's Website
McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) continues to lead the industry in several areas. The fast food giant’s ROE of 29% nearly triples the industry average of 10%, while MCD’s net profit margin of 19% sits high above the industry average of 2%. The company’s fourth-quarter report is scheduled for release on Jan 26.
Company Description
McDonald’s is a well-known fast food chain with more than 30,000 local restaurants serving 52 million people in more than 100 countries each day. More than 70% of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent proprietors
Solid Sales
November global sales were 7.7% higher. U.S. comparable sales were up 4.5% due to the continuing popularity of MCD’s breakfast menu and the strength of its chicken product line.
Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa sales jumped 13.2%. As in U.S., the breakfast menu was strong. Europe also showed growth of 7.8% with France, the U.K. and Russia leading in sales.
Quarterly Results Reflect Strong Growth
The company’s third-quarter results showed a year-over-year profit of 11% thanks to a boost seen in worldwide sales. MCD’s earnings per share of $1.05 surpassed the previous year’s total and came in 8.25% above analyst expectations. On average, the company exceeded consensus estimates by 8% over the past 5 consecutive quarters.
Revenues increased by 7% to $6.3 billion from $5.9 billion in the year ago period.
Strong worldwide sales growth of 7% contributed to a robust third quarter. In the U.S., third-quarter comparable sales jumped 4.7%.
Europe continued to be hot as sales increased 8.2%. Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa remained strong with 7.8% growth led by Australia and China. The growth drivers in Asia/Pacific were breakfast, core menu extensions and value.
Domestically, the quarter saw its highest sales increase in 2008 thanks to sales of the Big Mac and value-based beverages.
Results for the fourth quarter are scheduled for release on Jan 26.
Higher Income and Solid Fundamentals
The fast food giant boosted its dividend by 33% to 50 cents per share. MCD noted that the dividend is payable December 15 to shareholders of record on December 1. The company is yielding 2.7% in an industry that virtually pays no income.
MCD’s return on equity (ROE) of 29% nearly triples the industry’s 10%, while MCD’s net profit margin of 19% sits high above the industry average of 2%.
Analyst earnings estimates for 2009 have been holding steady around $3.82 per share level over the past 90 days.
Wall Street currently expects 5.42% earnings growth in 2009. But long term projections calls for 5-year average earnings per share growth of 11.17%.
McDonald’s is trading with a forward P/E of 15.06. Its price-to-book is 5.35.
Weak U.S. Economy May Not Mean Weak Dollar This Time
Month To Date Market Review
Stock Picks For Monday: Citigroup, JDS Uniphase And General Electric
US Unemployment Rate Troubling, But …
S&P 500: Market Is Strong, But Correction Should Continue
Taiwan Trade Balance On Tap For Monday - 1 min ago
Macedonia’s Jan.-Sept. Trade Deficit At US$1.61 Bln - 1 day ago
Natural Gas Prices Extend Two-Month Low - 2 days ago
Stocks Finish Modestly Higher Despite Weak Jobs Report - U.S. Commentary - 2 days ago
Treasury Economist: Unemployment Numbers Disappointing But Not Unexpected - 2 days ago


