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McDonald's Earnings Preview: Better Bet On A Buy After Q2
MCDMcDonald's(MCD) Seeking Alpha·2024-07-23 16:13

Core Viewpoint - McDonald's stock is currently viewed as an opportunity below 260,withchallengesinthefastfoodindustryduetorisingcommoditypricesandchangingconsumerbehavior[1][2][4]IndustryOverviewCommoditypricesforkeyingredientshavesurgedsincethepandemic,leadingtoincreasedcostsforrestaurantcompanies,whichinturnhaveraisedmenuprices[2][4]Theconsumerpriceindexforfoodawayfromhomehasrisensharply,divergingfromthemorestablepricesforfoodathome[2][3]CompanyPerformanceMcDonaldshasseena100260, with challenges in the fast food industry due to rising commodity prices and changing consumer behavior [1][2][4] Industry Overview - Commodity prices for key ingredients have surged since the pandemic, leading to increased costs for restaurant companies, which in turn have raised menu prices [2][4] - The consumer price index for food away from home has risen sharply, diverging from the more stable prices for food at home [2][3] Company Performance - McDonald's has seen a 100% increase in prices over the past decade, while actual inflation was only 31%, indicating a potential disconnect in perceived value [4] - The company has reported no revenue growth over the past 10 years, with challenges particularly noted in Arab countries [4][5] - McDonald's transitioned to a nearly wholly franchised model, with franchised restaurants now making up about 95% of the total, impacting overall sales but increasing profitability [5] Financial Metrics - Operating income for McDonald's increased by 27% over the past decade, despite a slight decrease in revenues [5] - The company aims to expand to 50,000 locations by 2027, up from over 42,000 currently, although this aggressive target may be difficult to achieve in the current environment [5][8] - McDonald's has managed to maintain a debt/EBITDA ratio below 3x, allowing for share buybacks and a 134% increase in free cash flow per share [5][6] Market Strategy - The company is promoting a 5 value meal across more than 90% of its restaurants to drive traffic, although this may negatively impact profit margins [8] - Recent earnings revisions have been predominantly downward, with 25 downward revisions and only one upward revision in the last three months [9] Future Outlook - Revenue is expected to increase by 2% to $6.63 billion, but EPS estimates show a 3.2% decrease year-over-year [9] - The company is likely to lower its guidance for the remainder of the year, increasing the risk of a post-earnings sell-off [9] - Long-term prospects remain positive, with expectations of low-double-digit returns driven by EPS growth, dividends, and buybacks, but short-term volatility is anticipated [9]