Top Wall Street Forecasters Revamp McDonald's Expectations Ahead Of Q3 Earnings
Key takeaways
- McDonald’s earnings outlook is slightly positive, but analyst target cuts signal caution over execution gaps and future growth.
- $3.38 forecast
EPS
Earnings per share — profit for one share of the company, in dollars.
- $3.22 a year ago
EPS
Earnings per share — profit for one share of the company, in dollars.
- $7.28B revenue forecast
What happened
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is set to report its third‑quarter earnings on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with analysts forecasting earnings of $3.38 per share versus $3.22 a year earlier and revenue of $7.28 billion versus $7.08 billion last year. The company also announced new long‑term growth and profitability targets at its 2026 Investor Day while noting gaps in restaurant execution. Several top analysts have revised their price targets downward, with Mizuho cutting to $260, Citigroup to $295,…
Why it matters
The earnings What a company says it expects for future sales or profits — a forecast from the company, not a guarantee.guidance
Short-term and longer-term
Short-term. In the next few days, watch for the earnings release and any commentary on restaurant execution.
Longer-term. Over the coming months, the new long‑term growth targets announced at Investor Day will shape the company’s strategic narrative.
Words on this card
- EPS Learn
- Earnings per share, the portion of a company’s profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock.
- Price target
- An analyst’s estimate of the future price a stock could reach based on its financial outlook.
- Investor Day
- A company‑hosted event where executives discuss long‑term strategy and financial goals.
- Execution gaps
- Shortcomings in how a company implements its operational plans.
- Guidance
- What a company says it expects for future sales or profits — a forecast from the company, not a guarantee.
- Revenue
- Sales — money the company took in before costs.