The Dividend Daily

Fast-food giant McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) announced on Monday that its global comparable sales increased in November, outpacing analyst expectations.

The Oak Brook, Illinois-based company saw its global comparable sales, otherwise known as same store sales, increase +2.4% in November while Wall Street estimates were at +0.2%. Comparable sales (comps) are an important metric used to measure a retailer’s performance, since they only take into account sales at stores open at least one year.

McDonald’s US comparable sales rose +2.4% on estimates of +0.6%; European comps were up +1.4% on the consensus of up +0.1%; Asian, Middle Eastern, and African comps were up +0.6% versus the expectation of decline by -0.9%.

McDonald’s shares were up $1.91, or +2.16%, in premarket trading on Monday.

McDonad’s is the largest and most well known fast food restaurateur in the world. The home of the Big Mac reported net income of $1.46 billion, or $1.43 per share, on revenues of $7.15 billion in the most recent quarter.

McDonald’s Dividend In Focus

McDonald’s has paid out a dividend of $3.08 per share over the past 12 months, which is a yield of about 3.48% based on Friday’s closing price of $88.48. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 7 cents for its most recent distribution, increasing the quarterly payout from 70 cents to 77 cents per share. McDonald’s next dividend of 77 cents per share has a pay date of December 17, however the ex-dividend date, November 29, has already passed (view the Dividend.com Ex-Dividend Tool for information on all upcoming ex-dividend dates).

Recent McDonald’s dividends include:

• March 15, 2012: $0.70
• June 15, 2012: $0.70
• September 18, 2012: $0.70
• December 17, 2012: $0.77

McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars.

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