McDonald's Corporation is a global fast-food leader, operating over 41,800 restaurants in approximately 120 countries and serving around 68 million customers daily. Founded by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a hamburger stand in San Bernardino, California on May 15, 1940, the company credits its expansion and franchising to Ray Kroc, who joined in 1955 and eventually bought the company in 1961. McDonald's is known for its quick-service menu featuring hamburgers, french fries, and breakfast items like the Egg McMuffin, and also operates with a franchising model, with approximately 95% of restaurants owned and managed by independent franchisees. In addition to food sales, McDonald's generates revenue from real estate holdings by owning land and buildings leased to franchisees.
The current Chairman and CEO of McDonald's Corporation is Chris Kempczinski, who assumed the CEO role in 2019 and became Chairman of the Board in 2024. McDonald's has been focusing on its "Accelerating the Arches" growth strategy to drive innovation and improve customer engagement. Recently, McDonald's declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.86 per share. Several investment firms have also weighed in on McDonald's prospects, with some raising their price targets based on increased same-store sales and earnings per share estimates. McDonald's faces competition in the fast-food sector and is focusing on value offerings and menu innovation to attract customers.