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MCDONALDS CORP Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2019

Filing Date
Filed February 26, 2020
Period End
December 31, 2019
Security
MCD
In the record · 2016–202610-K1110-Q328-K136

MCD filed 11 annual reports (10-K), 32 quarterly reports (10-Q) and 136 current reports (8-K) between 2016 and 2026.

  1. Leadership change8-K · Oct ’22Oct ’22
  2. Leadership change8-K · Aug ’26Aug ’26

Summary

Summary of the 10-K filed February 26, 2020. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.

McDonald's Corporation's 2019 Form 10-K report highlights a year of solid performance, characterized by continued execution of its Velocity Growth Plan.

The company reported global comparable sales growth of 5.9%, driven by strong performance across all segments, including the U.S. and International Operated Markets. This growth was supported by strategic initiatives like the 'Experience of the Future' (EOTF) deployment, digital advancements including the acquisition of Dynamic Yield for personalization, and expansion of its delivery platform, which saw significant growth in systemwide sales. Financially, McDonald's demonstrated resilience with consolidated revenues remaining flat year-over-year (up 3% in constant currencies) and diluted earnings per share increasing by 5% to $7.88a.

The company also continued its commitment to shareholder returns, delivering $8.6 billionb through dividends and share repurchases, successfully meeting its three-year target. Looking ahead, McDonald's outlined its 2020 outlook, anticipating continued investment in technology and restaurant modernization, alongside long-term financial targets focused on sustained growth in systemwide sales, operating margin, and earnings per share.

Key Highlights

  1. Global comparable sales increased by 5.9% in 2019, indicating strong customer demand and effective execution of the Velocity Growth Plan.
  2. Diluted earnings per share grew by 5% to $7.88, demonstrating improved profitability.
  3. Free cash flow increased by 36% to $5.7 billion, showcasing strong cash generation capabilities.
  4. The company returned $8.6 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, meeting its three-year target.
  5. Investments in 'Experience of the Future' (EOTF) modernization and digital initiatives like personalization (Dynamic Yield) and conversational AI (Apprente) are key strategic priorities for future growth.
  6. The delivery business continued its strong momentum, reaching over $4 billion in systemwide sales in 2019, with average checks for delivery orders being twice that of non-delivery transactions.
  7. 93% of McDonald's restaurants were franchised at year-end 2019, underscoring the strength and stability of the franchise model.

Financial Statements

FY2019 against FY2018

Line itemFY2019FY2018Change
Revenue$21.36B$21.26B+0.5%
SG&A Expenses$2.23B$2.20B+1.3%
Operating Expenses$12.29B$12.44B−1.1%
Operating Income$9.07B$8.82B+2.8%
Interest Expense$1.12B$981.20M+14.3%
Net Income$6.03B$5.92B+1.7%
EPS (Basic)$7.95$7.61+4.5%
EPS (Diluted)$7.88$7.54+4.5%
Shares Outstanding (Basic)758.10M778.20M−2.6%
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)764.90M785.60M−2.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What were the key drivers of McDonald's financial performance in 2019?

    McDonald's 2019 performance was primarily driven by a 5.9% increase in global comparable sales, a testament to effective execution of the Velocity Growth Plan. This growth was supported by strategic initiatives such as the 'Experience of the Future' (EOTF) restaurant modernization, digital enhancements including personalization technology, and a significant expansion of the delivery business. These factors contributed to a 5% increase in diluted earnings per share and a 36% surge in free cash flow.

  2. How is McDonald's investing for future growth?

    McDonald's is investing in several key areas for future growth. This includes continued rollout of 'Experience of the Future' (EOTF) store modernizations, leveraging digital technologies such as mobile ordering, self-order kiosks, and personalized digital marketing driven by recent acquisitions like Dynamic Yield. Furthermore, the company is expanding its delivery capabilities, which have proven to be a significant growth driver with higher average check sizes.

  3. What is McDonald's approach to returning capital to shareholders?

    McDonald's has a strong commitment to returning capital to shareholders. In 2019, the company returned $8.6 billion through a combination of share repurchases and dividends. This achievement marked the successful completion of their targeted return of $25 billion over the three-year period ending 2019. The company has also consistently increased its quarterly cash dividend, demonstrating confidence in its ongoing cash flow.

  4. What are the main risks McDonald's highlighted in its 2019 filing?

    Key risks identified include the potential failure to successfully execute business strategies like the Velocity Growth Plan, which could impact operating income. Other significant risks involve challenges in adapting to evolving consumer preferences and effectively managing pricing and marketing, potential erosion of brand value due to social/environmental concerns or negative publicity, intense competition, unfavorable economic conditions, supply chain disruptions, food safety issues, and the inherent risks of a heavily franchised business model. Cybersecurity and data privacy are also noted as increasing concerns.