McDonald's (MCD Quick QuoteMCD - Free Report) reported $7.16 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.1%. EPS of $3.57 for the same period compares to $3.22 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.28 billion, representing a surprise of -1.71%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +6.25%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $3.36.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how McDonald's performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Systemwide restaurants - Total Systemwide: 46,554 versus the six-analyst average estimate of 46,566.
• Systemwide restaurants - Total International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate: 21,747 versus 21,740 estimated by five analysts on average.
• Comparable sales growth - International Operated Markets - YoY change: 1.4% versus the five-analyst average estimate of 2%.
• Comparable sales growth - International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate - YoY change: 4.2% versus the five-analyst average estimate of 3.3%.
• Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- Total: $2.48 billion compared to the $2.57 billion average estimate based on seven analysts. The reported number represents a change of -3.2% year over year.
• Revenues- Franchised revenues- Total: $4.49 billion compared to the $4.52 billion average estimate based on seven analysts. The reported number represents a change of +2.8% year over year.
• Revenues- Franchised revenues- International Operated Markets: $2.01 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $2.04 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +2.3%.
• Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- U.S.: $742 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $767.49 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -6.1%.
• Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate: $147 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $150.36 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +14.8%.
• Revenues- Company-owned and operated sales- International Operated Markets: $1.59 billion compared to the $1.65 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of -3.3% year over year.
• Revenues- Franchised revenues- International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate: $537 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $529.59 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +8.3%.
• Revenues- Franchised revenues- U.S.: $1.94 billion versus $1.92 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +1.9% change.

View all Key Company Metrics for McDonald's here>>>

Shares of McDonald's have returned +13.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.