McDonald’s beat Q2 2026 profit estimates and named Skye Anderson U.S. chief effective Aug. 4.
Why it matters: McDonald’s U.S. results are a read on consumer spending, traffic and menu pricing. The leadership change puts a new executive in charge of the company’s biggest market.
- Adjusted EPS was $3.38 in Q2 2026, above the $3.32 estimate cited by AP.
- Revenue rose 4% to $7.099 billion, while net income increased to $2.362 billion.
- U.S. comparable sales rose 0.8% and global comparable sales rose 1.3% in the quarter.
- McDonald’s named Skye Anderson president of McDonald’s USA effective Aug. 4, replacing Joe Erlinger.
McDonald’s said on Aug. 4 that second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share came in at $3.38, topping the $3.32 estimate cited by AP. The company reported net income of $2.362 billion, up from $2.253 billion a year earlier, on revenue of $7.099 billion. McDonald’s reported the results.
The company said global comparable sales - sales at stores open at least a year - rose 1.3%. In the U.S., comparable sales increased 0.8%, helped by more spending per visit and a stronger menu mix, but partly offset by fewer customer visits.
McDonald’s also named Skye Anderson president of McDonald’s USA, effective immediately on Aug. 4, replacing Joe Erlinger. The company said Anderson will oversee nearly 14,000 restaurants in the U.S., and that Erlinger will remain an adviser through early 2027. McDonald’s announced the leadership change.
McDonald’s said global systemwide sales rose 5% to $37 billion in the quarter. The results reinforce how closely investors are watching the U.S. business for signs of traffic trends and pricing power.
By the numbers
- $3.38 - McDonald’s adjusted EPS in Q2 2026, versus the $3.32 estimate cited by AP.
- 0.8% - U.S. comparable sales growth in the quarter.
- 14,000 - Approximate number of U.S. restaurants Anderson will oversee.
Yes, but: U.S. comparable sales were still modest, and the company said fewer customer visits partly offset higher spending per order.
What's next: Anderson’s advisory handoff period runs through early 2027.