People walk past a McDonald’s restaurant on March 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kevin Carter | Getty Images
McDonald’s is expected to report its first-quarter results before the bell on Thursday.
Here’s what Wall Street analysts surveyed by LSEG expect the company to report:
- Earnings per share: $2.74 expected
- Income: $6.47 billion expected
In March, McDonald’s and its CEO Chris Kempczinski went viral — in a bad way — for a taste test of its new Arch Burger that viewers considered unenthusiastic. Despite mockery from competitors and social media users, Wall Street continues to predict that the fast food giant had a good quarter. Analysts expect McDonald’s to report same-store sales growth of 3.7%, according to StreetAccount estimates.
Investors will also be looking for any signs that rising gas prices are having an effect on McDonald’s sales. Since the start of the U.S.-Iran war in late February, average fuel prices have soared, leading to higher prices at the pump and less disposable income for many consumers who already felt cash-strapped.
McDonald’s shares have fallen 10% over the past year, hurt by concerns about the broader economy. At the same time, the S&P 500 index rose about 31%. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $201.5 billion.