Latest news with #McCrispyChickenStrips
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McDonald's Marketing Engine Revs Up: Can It Drive a Traffic Rebound?
McDonald's Corporation MCD is leaning into a bold and emotionally resonant marketing strategy to counteract declining traffic and macroeconomic pressure across key consumer segments. In the first quarter of 2025, the company launched a campaign in partnership with The Minecraft Movie aimed at restoring brand excitement and visit frequency. The initiative spanned over 100 markets and combined themed Happy Meals, in-app collectibles and digital content. The campaign exceeded internal expectations, with collectibles selling out within 10 to 14 days, well ahead of the planned four-week run. Management credited the campaign's early success with driving improved traffic trends in April and noted that it helped amplify the reach of other marketing efforts, including the value-oriented $5 Meal Deal. MCD emphasizes using storytelling, digital integration and product innovation to create sustained engagement across ahead, the company plans to build on this momentum with upcoming launches such as McCrispy Chicken Strips and the long-awaited return of snack wraps. These offerings are expected to be supported by national campaigns designed to drive frequency and deepen emotional connections with the brand. At the same time, McDonald's recently formed Restaurant Experience Team — with dedicated verticals for beef, chicken and beverages — is expected to streamline campaign execution and accelerate time-to-market for new initiatives. The company emphasized delivering culturally attuned, operationally feasible marketing that lifts baseline performance while protecting franchisee McDonald's faces inflationary pressures, consumer pullback and intensifying value competition, its sharpened marketing strategy is emerging as a critical tool to restore traffic and protect margins. By fusing cultural relevance with digital integration, menu innovation and operational discipline, the company is creating campaigns that resonate emotionally and support margin growth. With limited pricing flexibility in the near term, McDonald's ability to drive demand through compelling brand storytelling could prove to be a valuable asset heading into the back half of the year. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. CMG continues to execute a multi-layered marketing strategy anchored in menu innovation, digital targeting and cultural relevance. In the first quarter of 2025, Chipotle launched Honey Chicken and reported strong performance regarding the same. To sustain momentum, the company is ramping up summer marketing spend across digital and social channels while using its rewards platform to engage distinct customer cohorts. While transaction growth has faced near-term macro headwinds, Chipotle's marketing flywheel — driven by brand equity, speed and affordability — remains central to its guest acquisition and retention Restaurants, Inc. BJRI is building on organic brand moments, using social media virality to spark demand. Its Pizookie Platter — a jumbo dessert combining four full-sized Pizookies — gained traction on TikTok early in the fiscal first quarter and quickly translated into tangible sales, with over 24,000 units sold and more than 57 million organic impressions. The brand moved swiftly to capitalize on the trend, integrating it into its broader guest engagement strategy. Simultaneously, BJ's Restaurants has introduced new LTOs like the Snickers Pizookie and rolled out two new wing sauces to strengthen menu relevance. While BJ's Restaurants operates with less national scale, its nimble marketing execution and loyalty to core brand equities are helping it enhance brand relevance and guest frequency. McDonald's shares have lost 5.5% in the past three months against the industry's 4.5% rise. MCD Three-Month Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, MCD trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.72, significantly higher than the industry's 4.07. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McDonald's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 4.5% and 7.8%, respectively. The estimate for 2025 has been northbound in the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research McDonald's stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI) : Free Stock Analysis Report McDonald's Corporation (MCD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
MCD vs. TXRH vs. CAVA: Which Restaurant Stock Has the Highest Upside Potential?
Macro uncertainties and tariff-led pressure on costs are expected to continue to weigh on the performance of restaurant chains. While ongoing headwinds could impact restaurant stocks over the near term, analysts remain optimistic about the long-term growth prospects of several restaurant stocks. Using TipRanks' Stock Comparison Tool, we placed McDonald's (MCD), Texas Roadhouse (TXRH), and CAVA Group (CAVA) against each other to find the restaurant stock that has the highest upside potential, according to Wall Street. Don't Miss TipRanks' Half-Year Sale Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) Stock McDonald's stock has risen about 15% over the past year, but is essentially flat on a year-to-date basis. The fast-food chain reported mixed results for the first quarter of 2025, largely due to a challenging macroeconomic backdrop. In fact, U.S. same-store sales fell for the second straight quarter, posting the largest decline (down 3.6% in Q1 2025) since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfavorable weather and cautious consumer spending impacted McDonald's sales in the first quarter. Nonetheless, McDonald's reaffirmed its full-year guidance, reflecting resilience in a tough backdrop. The company stated that it is working on improving its performance by focusing on value meals, menu innovation, and product launches such as McCrispy Chicken Strips and the reintroduction of snack wraps. Is McDonald's Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Last week, UBS analyst Dennis Geiger reiterated a Buy rating on McDonald's stock with a price target of $350. The 4-star analyst believes that the pullback in the stock, combined with encouraging U.S. sales in the second half of 2025, makes MCD an attractive pick. The analyst sees a 'reasonably limited' downside in MCD stock, as he believes that it is a quality business positioned for multi-year market share gains. While Geiger agreed that consumer defensives are out of favor and quick service restaurant (QSR) sales trends and stocks continue to be under pressure, he expects to see share gains as U.S. and International trends improve. He added that McDonald's appears well-positioned to deliver strong same-store sales in the second half of 2025, driven by new products, value initiatives, and marketing plans, even as lower and middle-income spending pressure could persist. Currently, Wall Street has a Moderate Buy consensus rating on McDonald's stock based on 12 Buys, 13 Holds, and one Sell recommendation. The average MCD stock price target of $329.42 indicates about 13% upside potential. See more MCD analyst ratings Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ:TXRH) Stock Texas Roadhouse is a casual dining steakhouse chain. The company missed analysts' earnings expectations for the first quarter of Fiscal 2025, as restaurant margins contracted due to commodity inflation and increased wages and other labor expenses. TXRH's comparable restaurant sales increased by 3.5% in Q1 2025. The company indicated that trends were improving, with comparable restaurant sales rising 5% in the first five weeks of Q2 FY25. Additionally, Texas Roadhouse increased its menu prices by about 1.4% in early April. Is TXRH a Good Stock to Buy? Recently, Texas Roadhouse announced the departure of CFO Chris Monroe from the company and the appointment of Vice President of Finance Keith Humpich as the interim CFO. Reacting to the news, Stephens analyst Jim Salera stated that the interim CFO appointment adds stability following Monroe's departure, given Humpich's long tenure and familiarity with the company's financial operations. Salera added that Texas Roadhouse continues to outperform casual dining rivals, with April traffic accelerating exiting Q1 2025. The analyst believes that the company's consistent execution, guest focus, and 'scratch-made' menu continue to be key differentiators in an uncertain consumer backdrop. However, Salera maintained a Hold rating on TXRH stock with a price target of $170, citing concerns related to macro uncertainty in the second half of 2025 and a premium valuation. Overall, Texas Roadhouse stock scores a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on seven Buys and nine Holds. The average TXRH stock price target of $190.87 indicates a modest upside potential of about 2% from current levels. TXRH stock has risen 9% over the past year. Cava Group (NYSE:CAVA) Stock Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain Cava Group delivered better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter of 2025, with revenue growing 28% to $332 million. The company's same-store sales increased by 10.8%, outperforming several peers in the industry. Despite the strong results, CAVA stock has declined 25% year-to-date and 9% over the past year owing to concerns over valuation and macro uncertainties. Looking ahead, management aims to capitalize on ample opportunities to expand. The company expects to open 64 to 68 new restaurants this year, a slight increase from the previous forecast of 62 to 66 stores. Cava Group operated 382 restaurants as of the end of Q1 2025 and aims to increase its footprint to at least 1,000 restaurants by 2032. Is CAVA Stock a Buy? Recently, Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull reiterated a Buy rating on Cava Group stock but lowered the price target to $125 from $175. The 5-star analyst sees the pullback in the stock as a buying opportunity. Despite near-term challenges, the analyst believes that McDonald's long-term outlook is intact, supported by unit expansion, increasing brand awareness, and improving average unit volumes. He expects McDonald's long-term revenue growth in the 17% to 20% range, driven by a 15% unit growth and mid-single-digit same-restaurant sales (SRS) gains. O'Cull acknowledged near-term softness in CAVA's SRS growth, particularly in the second quarter, due to tough comparisons with the prior-year quarter, which included the launch of the popular Grilled Steak. The analyst now expects Q2 SRS of 5.5%, below the Street's estimate of 6.9%. That said, he noted the strength in CAVA's fundamentals, calling the dip in the stock 'a dish worth grabbing.' O'Cull expects Cava Group's average unit volumes (AUVs) to grow faster than previously expected, fueled by brand expansion and improved performance at new locations. He expects the company's EBIT margin to improve to the range of 9% to 10% by 2030 from an estimated 4.8% in Fiscal 2025, driven by scale efficiencies. CAVA stock price target of $112.92 indicates 34% upside potential. Conclusion Currently, Wall Street is cautiously optimistic about all three restaurant stocks discussed above. Currently, they see higher upside potential in CAVA stock than in MCD and TXRH stocks. Analysts view the pullback in CAVA stock as an attractive buying opportunity to build a position and gain from the company's long-term growth potential.
Miami Herald
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
McDonald's analyst grills new stock price target on McCrispy reaction
Okay, people, so what do you think of McDonald's' McCrispy Strips? "Hey @McDonalds please stop hyping up your much delayed chicken snack wraps with your new McCrispy strips that have the texture of octopus and the flavor of a tire on a dirt road," one person said on X. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter "You'll never be @Popeyes because they beat you to it, and these were delicious. Give up now, clown." All right, all right, don't sugarcoat it. Tell us how you really McFeel. "Yes," another poster said. "One bite of this clump of hard rubber was enough for me." "to me they were awful. rubbery and not crispy at all. super chewy and no flavor :/," another person declared on Reddit. "They're spongy and soggy," yet another complained. "Never again." Okay, so we're getting a social-media vibe now. And more important, an investment firm is getting a negative buzz as well. Now, to be fair, some people had nice things to say about McCrispy Strips, especially when they're paired with the new creamy chili dip. And many customers liked MCD's use of 100% white meat. "McDonald's promised that the strips are made with 'juicy, 100% white meat' and they weren't lying," Leah Groth wrote in on April 30. "McDonald's promised that the strips are made with 'juicy, 100% white meat' and they weren't lying," Leah Groth wrote in Eat This Not That on April 30. "While the uber-popular McNugget is made from ground chicken meat and shaped into a dippable form, the McCrispy is an actual strip of whole chicken meat, putting McDonald's on the shortlist of fast-food chains that use real chicken for their tenders," she added. Groth called the McCrispy tasty and spicy without the help of a dip, but she added that the creamy chili dip "seriously elevated the taste to next-level status." McDonald's (MCD) unveiled McCrispy Strips in April, and on May 5 they became available at all participating restaurants nationwide. The move marked the first time since 2021 that the fast-food giant introduced a permanent menu item in the U.S. Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski told analysts during the first-quarter-earnings call in May that the launch of McCrispy Chicken Strips should contribute to growth. But he warned that "we remain cautious about the overall health of the consumer. Related: McDonald's CEO sounds alarm on major customer problem "We entered 2025 knowing that it would be a challenging time for the [quick-service-restaurant] industry, due to macroeconomic uncertainty and pressures weighing on the consumer. "During the first quarter, geopolitical tensions added to the economic uncertainty and dampened consumer sentiment more than we expected." While the Chicago company narrowly beat Wall Street's earnings expectations for the quarter, revenue fell short and U.S. same-store sales shrank 3.6%, the worst showing since the 8.7% tumble of Q2 2020 and the Covid pandemic lockdown. McDonald's shares are up 6.3% in 2025 and up 18% from a year ago. "The key for us now for the balance of the year is about execution," Kempczinski said. "And in an environment where there is a pressured consumer, you've got to simply outexecute your competitors. "And that means you've got to outexecute them on your value programs, you've got to outexecute them when it comes to marketing and menu innovation." Kempczinski talked about a halo benefit from the McCrispy to set up the reintroduction of the Snack Wrap, which is slated to return to McDonald's menus on July 10. But Loop Capital analyst Alton Stump wasn't so sure and downgraded McDonald's to hold from buy and cutting his price target to $315 from $346. Related: Popular chicken chain launches its version of McDonald's wraps The analyst said on June 6 that he had "growing concerns" that McDonald's' domestic comparison growth profile would not rebound as much as expected over the remainder of 2025. Customer feedback about the chicken strips has to date been predominantly negative, he said. That does not bode well ahead of McDonald's pending Snack Wrap introduction, which will include the new chicken strip, he said. Stump said he'd based his prior positive view of the shares on the company's ability to rejuvenate U.S. same-store sales via these two new products. McDonald's did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Related: Fund-management veteran skips emotion in investment strategy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MCD vs. YUM: Which Restaurant Stock is Better Positioned Now?
McDonald's Corporation MCD and Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM are two global powerhouses in the quick-service restaurant industry. Both companies operate extensive international networks and primarily use a franchised business model. In recent years, both McDonald's and Yum! Brands have prioritized digital innovation and global expansion as key strategies to drive growth and enhance customer broader restaurant industry continues to gain from higher menu pricing, average check growth and aggressive expansion. Both companies are also seeing positive momentum from strategic partnerships with third-party delivery services and ongoing digital said, there are a few challenges that affect the companies. Elevated labor costs and persistent food inflation are squeezing margins. Additionally, inflation-driven menu price hikes are beginning to impact customer traffic in certain the current mix of industry tailwinds and headwinds, which stock, McDonald's or Yum! Brands, offers the better value for investors today? Let us take a closer look to find out. The company's strong record of innovation, leadership and adaptability continues to position it for success, even amid challenging market conditions. McDonald's is the world's largest chain of fast-food restaurants, with a presence in more than 100 countries. Its offerings have reached the billion-dollar brand status through sustained product innovation and geographic company is also focusing on expansion efforts. McDonald's plans to open 2,200 restaurants globally in 2025. McDonald's expects to open 600 restaurants in the United States and international operated markets. MCD also plans to open more than 1,600 restaurants in the International Developmental Licensed segment, including 1,000 in China. It aims to open 50,000 restaurants by is focused on menu innovation to drive growth, emphasizing its core billion-dollar brands and expanding affordable offerings. In 2025, it launched the McValue platform in the United States, and introduced everyday affordable price menus and value bundles in key international markets, including Canada. The company also debuted McCrispy Chicken Strips nationwide and is testing new beverages inspired by CosMc's. With McCrispy now in 70 markets and a new chicken item planned for 2026, McDonald's continues to strengthen its global chicken portfolio and value-driven menu since the launch of the loyalty program in the United States, MCD has been able to transform its offerings across drive-thru, takeaway, delivery, curbside pick-up and dine-in. The company has already introduced a loyalty program in more than 60 markets, including the United States, Germany, Canada, the U.K., Australia and increased digital adoption, the company is optimistic about its loyalty members' growth trend. Since the launch of its loyalty program, the total number of 90-day active users has reached more than 170 million. Furthermore, in 2024, the system-wide sales to loyalty members were about $30 billion. It anticipates reaching 90-day active users to 250 million with $45 billion in annual loyalty system-wide sales by the end of 2027. YUM! Brands is gaining traction with its next-generation growth initiatives aimed at capturing evolving consumer preferences. YUM's 'easy operations' pillar is focused on streamlining restaurant operations and empowering team members. In the first quarter 2025, the company extended its Byte Restaurant Coach tool to an additional 5,000 stores. This digital platform supports consistent and scalable performance management through routine tools and training. Meanwhile, Taco Bell U.S. onboarded 1,500 more restaurants to the Byte Back of House platform, raising the total to 3,000 stores. This progress marks a step forward in developing a fully connected kitchen ecosystem aimed at enhancing efficiency and enabling data-driven operational decisions. YUM plans for full system-wide adoption in Brands reported steady progress in global development in the first quarter, with 751 store openings across 68 countries. KFC led the development effort, opening 528 units — the second-highest first-quarter total in the brand's history — driven by strong performance in key markets such as China, India, Japan and Thailand. With a global average payback period of less than five years, and even more attractive returns in China, Thailand and the Middle East, KFC continues to be a cornerstone of YUM's expansion Pizza Hut added 198 stores in 34 markets, and Taco Bell posted 24 gross openings. Though Taco Bell's net unit growth was affected by strategic closures in Malaysia and China's Tier 2 cities, the brand remains on track to achieve 100 net international openings in 2025, with momentum strongest in the U.K., Spain and company is also gaining from robust comps growth. In the first quarter of 2025, worldwide comps at Yum! Brands increased 3% year over year compared with a 1% rise in the previous quarter. The improvement was fueled by robust growth across multiple international markets, including a 13% comp increase in Korea, 8% in Africa and 6% in Canada, aided by localized innovation and value-led aims to drive comp growth in 2025 through deeper market penetration and an expanded range of offerings like tenders, nuggets, twisters and sandwiches. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McDonald's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 1.6% and 4.4%, respectively. Earnings estimates for 2025 have witnessed upward revisions of 0.2% in the past 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Yum! Brands' 2025 sales implies a year-over-year increase of 6.8% and the same for EPS indicates a gain of 9.7%. Earnings estimates for 2025 have witnessed upward revisions of 0.3% in the past 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The MCD stock has gained 7.6% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry and the S&P 500's 0.5% growth and 0.3% decline, respectively. Conversely, YUM shares have risen 7.4% in the same time frame. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research MCD is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 24.69X, above its median of 23.72X over the last year. YUM's forward earnings multiple is 22.99X, slightly below its median of 22.68X over the same time frame. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Yum! Brands appears slightly ahead of McDonald's at the moment due to its stronger expected earnings and sales growth trajectory, driven by aggressive global expansion, faster same-store sales growth across key international markets, and deeper digital integration in operations. While McDonald's remains a solid performer with robust loyalty engagement and expansion plans, YUM's more dynamic international development, broader innovation pipeline and higher earnings momentum suggest that it is currently executing more effectively on growth opportunities. Both YUM and MCD currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report McDonald's Corporation (MCD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MCD Q1 Earnings Call: Consumer Pressure, Menu Innovation, and Value Initiatives Shape Outlook
Fast-food chain McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 3.5% year on year to $5.96 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.67 per share was in line with analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy MCD? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $5.96 billion vs analyst estimates of $6.12 billion (3.5% year-on-year decline, 2.7% miss) Adjusted EPS: $2.67 vs analyst estimates of $2.67 (in line) Adjusted EBITDA: $3.19 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.28 billion (53.5% margin, 2.8% miss) Operating Margin: 44.5%, in line with the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 34.2%, up from 29.9% in the same quarter last year Locations: 43,756 at quarter end, up from 42,018 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 1% year on year (1.9% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $223.1 billion McDonald's first quarter results were shaped by broad-based consumer pressures, particularly among low and middle income groups, as management cited macroeconomic uncertainty and dampened industry traffic in key markets. CEO Chris Kempczinski pointed to the impact of inflation and reduced consumer sentiment, especially in the U.S., noting, 'Unlike a few months ago, QSR traffic from middle income consumers fell nearly as much [as low income], a clear indication that the economic pressure on traffic has broadened.' Looking forward, management remains cautious about the near-term environment but expects improvement as new value offerings and menu innovation roll out. Kempczinski emphasized the importance of operational execution and highlighted upcoming product launches, including McCrispy Chicken Strips and expanded beverage offerings. While the leadership team reaffirmed its full-year targets, CFO Ian Borden noted, 'We remain focused on optimizing our run the business spend as we continue to invest in our strategic growth priorities, such as digital and technology.' Management attributed first quarter performance to a combination of consumer headwinds, strategic value initiatives, and operational changes across major markets. Wall Street's revenue expectations were not met due to industry traffic declines, particularly among lower income consumers. Forward-looking commentary emphasized the need for ongoing menu innovation, improved value perception, and operational discipline. U.S. Value Platform Expansion: The launch of the McValue platform, including the $5 Meal Deal, was central to management's response to declining guest counts. Management described the program as 'resonating with customers' and expects it to continue throughout 2025. Menu Innovation Pipeline: New products such as McCrispy Chicken Strips and upcoming snack wraps are intended to drive incremental traffic. Management sees these innovations as key to attracting new and returning customers. International Market Performance: While most major international markets faced similar pressures, management highlighted market share gains in France following value-focused initiatives and menu news like the Big Arch burger. Operational Structure Changes: McDonald's established a global Restaurant Experience Team and introduced category leadership for beef, chicken, and beverages. This is designed to accelerate product innovation and improve execution across markets. Customer Satisfaction Focus: The company reported all-time high customer satisfaction scores in the U.S. and major international markets, attributing improvements to both value platforms and operational enhancements. Management's outlook for the remainder of the year is shaped by continued economic uncertainty, but is anchored in expanded value platforms, new product launches, and a focus on operational execution to drive guest count-led growth. Macroeconomic Headwinds Persist: Management remains cautious about consumer sentiment, especially among low and middle income groups, and acknowledges ongoing challenges from inflation and global uncertainty. Product and Marketing Rollouts: Upcoming launches such as McCrispy Chicken Strips, expanded beverage tests, and brand partnerships (e.g., Minecraft Movie campaign) are expected to support sales momentum. Execution and Cost Discipline: Management emphasized the importance of running efficient operations, optimizing spending, and leveraging digital and technology investments to protect margins and support growth. Dennis Geiger (UBS): Asked about U.S. sales trajectory given early success with the Minecraft campaign and new menu items. Kempczinski noted momentum is expected to build as the year progresses, with execution remaining key in a pressured environment. David Tarantino (Baird): Inquired if the McValue platform requires sharper price points to drive incrementality. Kempczinski said the $5 Meal Deal is performing well but is open to adjustments for greater impact. Brian Harbour (Morgan Stanley): Questioned if there is risk of negative mix shift as more value items are introduced. Borden explained that value and innovation must be balanced to ensure both traffic and profitability. Jon Tower (Citi): Sought details on the beverage test and its potential impact. Kempczinski described the opportunity for higher-margin growth but said investment needs and positioning are still being evaluated. Sara Senatore (Bank of America): Asked if QSR traffic declines reflect share loss to other segments. Kempczinski argued that reduced visit frequency, not segment shift, is the main driver, especially in breakfast and other dayparts. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the effectiveness of new value initiatives and menu innovations in stabilizing U.S. guest counts, (2) the operational impact of the global Restaurant Experience Team on product rollouts and execution, and (3) progress in international markets, particularly regarding market share gains and consumer sentiment. These factors will be critical to tracking McDonald's ability to regain momentum. McDonald's currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 25.3×. Should you double down or take your chips? See for yourself in our free research report. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Comfort Systems (+751% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Sign in to access your portfolio
