McDonald's
MCDMarket price data through August 3, 2026.
Performance
Aug 2021 – Aug 2026
Track record
How this pick has done since Benson first called it.
- Benson Return
- -12%
- How much this stock is up since Benson first picked it — measured from the price at the time of that first pick, not from today.
- First pick price
- ~$303
- Roughly what one share cost when Benson first picked this stock. This is the starting line for the Benson Return.
- Tracking since
- August 2025
- The month this stock first became a Benson pick.
- Tracking duration
- 12 months
- How long Benson has been tracking this pick.
About McDonald's
McDonald's is the world's biggest restaurant company, with more than 45,000 locations in over 100 countries. But here's the secret: it's really a real estate empire that happens to sell burgers. About 95% of its restaurants are run by independent owners who pay McDonald's rent plus a cut of every sale, so the company collects steady cash no matter what the economy is doing.
The case for and against
Both sides of the story, in plain English.
- Real Estate Cash Machine
McDonald's owns roughly 80% of the buildings and about half the land under its restaurants, and collects rent plus a royalty on franchisee sales before their costs ever come into play. That model produced net margins of 31.6% and 8.6 billion dollars of profit in 2025, profitability most tech companies would envy.
- Growth Is Back
First quarter 2026 revenue jumped 9% to 6.5 billion dollars with sales growth in every region, and the company gained market share in nearly all of its top ten markets. The loyalty app now has about 210 million active users, and McDonald's plans 2,600 new restaurants in 2026 on its way to 50,000 locations by 2027.
- Strapped Consumers
Lower-income customers are pulling back, and McDonald's leans on value menus to keep them coming through the door. If food, paper, and labor costs keep rising while customers stay price sensitive, restaurant margins get squeezed from both sides.
- Steady, Not Speedy
This is a mature business. Full-year 2025 revenue grew about 4%, and first quarter 2026 earnings per share grew just 2% once currency swings are stripped out. The company also carries about 39 billion dollars of net debt, so expect a steady compounder, not explosive returns.
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How to read this page
This automated research summary uses Financial Modeling Prep market data through 2026-08-03. Model signals, scores, and risk labels can change and may be incomplete or wrong.
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