McDonald's names new US head as sales growth slows in Q2

McDonald's names new US head as sales growth slows in Q2 Brooke DiPalma · Senior Reporter Tue, August 4, 2026 at 4:27 PM GMT+2 3 min read MCD ^GSPC McDonald's ( MCD ) sales growth slowed in the second quarter as consumers faced a challenging economic backdrop and the fast food chain prepared for its next stage of growth. The fast food chain posted global same-store sales growth of 1. 3%, slightly below the 1.

4% gain Wall Street analysts expected and a decline from the 3. 8% growth posted in the first quarter, per Bloomberg consensus data. US comparable sales grew for the fifth quarter in a row, as expected, but the growth rate of 0.

8% was also a touch below expectations of 0. 9% and less than the 2. 5% jump in the same quarter last year.

Sales growth in both of its international market segments (operated and licensed stores) was roughly in line with expectations. "This was below our expectations," CEO Chris Kempczinski said on a call with investors. "We don't have a strategy problem.

We simply didn't execute at the level we needed to in the second quarter. " Still, the stock gained over 1% as investors looked ahead to new growth initiatives. Kempczinski said the rollout of McDonald's new value menu was inconsistent, including a new under-$3 menu and a $4 breakfast meal deal, emphasizing the need for the Golden Arches to keep the top spot.

"We will not get beaten on value," Kempczinski stressed. He added that McDonald's deployed too many new items in the quarter, which led to customer service times going up and satisfaction scores going down. The company's marketing tactics also didn't deliver against expectations, he said.

Adjusted earnings per share increased $0. 13 year over year to $3. 32, meeting expectations.

Revenue was nearly in line with estimates, coming in at $7. 1 billion, versus the $7. 12 billion expected.

A McDonald's fast food restaurant sign with the rolling hills and fields of the South Downs beyond in Newhaven, East Sussex in southeast England. (Getty Images) · coldsnowstorm via Getty Images Executives set the scene for the chain's September investor meeting and a new strategy , called McDonald's Next, which 90% of franchise operators expect will drive growth and productivity. As part of that strategy, the company named Skye Anderson, a 26-year McDonald's veteran, as president of McDonald's USA.

She replaces Joe Erlinger, who is leaving McDonald's after more than two decades with the brand and almost seven years leading the US business. "Skye Anderson's appointment today as President of McDonald's USA will bring focus and urgency to these efforts given her deep system knowledge, operational discipline, and proven ability to drive change and deliver results for everyone in our System," Kempczinski said. McDonald's named Skye Anderson new president of McDonald's USA.

(Photo: McDonald's) McDonald's stock is down 13% so far this year, underperforming the S&P 500's ( ^GSPC ) 11% gain year to date. Story Continues Several challenges in the second quarter likely weighed on McDonald's results, offsetting new initiatives rolling out, such as crafted sodas, which Kempczinski said were an "important part of upgrading our taste and quality. " These challenges include "continued strain on the low-income consumer," the lapse of the Minecraft limited-time offering in April, and overall traffic pressure across the industry, Mizuho's Nick Setyan wrote in a note to clients prior to results.

Before Tuesday's results, Citi's Jon Tower said this quarter will likely be the "low-water mark" for same-store sales growth before the chain's September investor meeting, where McDonald's can "make the case for asset investments, a faster pace of menu innovation and beverages as multi-year sales drivers," he wrote in a note to clients.