Mc Donald’s mejor de lo esperado.
McDonald's beats on earnings but misses on US same-store sales
PUBLISHED 3 HOURS AGO UPDATED 1 HOUR AGO
Amelia Lucas
CNBC.COM
McDonald's beats on earnings and revenue for its fourth quarter.
But U.S. same-store sales were weaker than expected.
The company has been fighting slowing business in the U.S. with promotions and new breakfast items.
McDonald's EPS, revenue beat expectations
McDonald's EPS, revenue beat expectations
McDonald's on Wednesday reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue, helped by strong international growth, but same-store sales were weaker than expected in the United States as steps to boost performance are still falling short.
"We continued to transform our business by making substantial progress on modernizing our restaurants and offering more convenience, choice and value to our customers," President and CEO Steve Easterbrook said in a statement.
Shares rose 2.5 percent in early trading Wednesday.
Here's what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
Earnings per share: $1.97, adjusted, vs. $1.89 expected
Revenue: $5.163 billion vs. $5.162 billion expected
Global same-store sales: 4.4 percent vs. 3.9 percent expected
U.S. same-store sales were slightly weaker than expected, with the company reporting growth of 2.3 percent during the quarter. Analysts had been expected a 2.4 percent gain.
"Within the U.S., the pressure is particularly acute and is resulting in more disgruntlement and frustration among franchisees," GlobalData Retail analyst Neil Saunders said in a note. "The central problem is that cost growth is being outpaced by sales growth and returns are diminishing."
The fast-food giant has been looking to promotions and new breakfast items to whet customers' appetites as U.S. sales slow. Last year, U.S. sales at stores open at least a year rose 4.5 percent.
In November, McDonald's began a limited-time offering of Triple Breakfast Stacks. The meaty breakfast sandwiches were inspired by customers' special orders. The following month, it brought back its 2 for $5 Mix & Match deal. The meal deal represents McDonald's move away from discounts like its Dollar Menu as it tries to raise the average check price to make up for declining foot traffic.
The company has also been remodeling its U.S. stores with high-tech upgrades like self-serve kiosks. In November, it pushed its deadline for the renovations from 2020 to 2022. McDonald's is planning to spend nearly $1 billion in 2019 on upgrading about 2,000 U.S. locations.
Closing stores for the upgrades had taken a toll on its same-store sales, not to mention that many franchisees have been less than pleased with the return on investment. Franchisees formed an independent advocacy group, the National Owners Association, last October.
In its earnings statement, the company reported fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $1.42 billion, or $1.82 per share, up from $698.7 million, or 87 cents per share a year earlier.
Excluding items, McDonald's earned $1.97 cents per share, beating the $1.89 per share, expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
Net sales dropped 3 percent to $5.163 billion, but still beat Wall Street's expectations of $5.162 billion, helped by strong international sales. Its international lead segment saw same-store sales increase by 5.2 percent, topping analysts' estimates of 4.67 percent, with the U.K., Germany and Australia posting strong performances.
Globally, the fast food giant plans to add 750 restaurants in 2019.
The company attributed the 3 percent decline in revenue to the impact of its refranchising initiatives in the U.S., China and Hong Kong. The initiative is also why the company did not issue forecasts for sales and earnings in 2018.
However, on Wednesday, the company reiterated its long-term, average annual financial targets starting in 2019. It is forecasting earnings per share growth in the high-single digits and sales growth of 3 to 5 percent.
McDonald's is forecasting commodity costs to increase by 1 to 2 percent in the U.S. and 2 percent in key international markets.