McDonald’s leaned on value promotions to attract customers
Fast-food giant McDonald’s missed Wall Street expectations for the third quarter, reporting $7.08 billion in revenue, slightly below the $7.1 billion forecast.
However, same-store sales in the US grew 2.4%, surpassing analysts’ estimates of 1.9%.
CEO Chris Kempczinski noted a sharp divide among consumers, with lower-income traffic down nearly double digits for two years, while higher-income traffic rose by similar margins. He expects financial pressure on consumers to continue into 2026.
McDonald’s leaned on value promotions to attract customers, such as the return of Snack Wraps at $2.99 and Extra Value Meals that appeal to consumers across various income levels.
Same-store sales globally increased 3.6%, reversing last year’s 1.5% decline. McDonald’s expects stronger US same-store sales in the fourth quarter.