04:46 PM EST, 02/11/2026 (MT Newswires) -- McDonald's (MCD) fourth-quarter results surpassed Wall Street's expectations as traffic gains at the fast-food giant drove stronger-than-expected comparable sales.

Adjusted earnings rose to $3.12 a share for the December quarter from $2.83 the year before. The consensus on FactSet was for $3.05. Revenue increased 10% to $7.01 billion, higher than the Street's $6.84 billion view.

Comparable sales climbed 5.7% amid an increase in guest count, well above the average analyst estimate that called for 3.9% growth.

Shares were little changed in after-hours trade. McDonald's usually reports earnings before the opening bell, but pushed its fourth-quarter release to after the market close on Wednesday.

UBS Securities expected US comparable sales growth of 6%, compared with consensus expectations that it put at 4.8%.

"We expect sales momentum in the US in (the first quarter) driven by strengthening value perceptions from the Extra Value Meal relaunch, menu innovation and marketing, in addition to still easy comparisons," UBS analyst Dennis Geiger wrote in a note to clients before the earnings release. "We continue to like (McDonald's 2026) set-up given catalysts to drive market share gains and strengthen US sales growth, with defensive characteristics that provide earnings stability in a still volatile environment."

US same-store sales grew 6.8%, mainly buoyed by check and guest count growth, according to the company.

Fourth-quarter comparable sales advanced 5.2% in the international operated markets and climbed 4.5% for the international developmental licensed markets, the company said.

McDonald's increased its quarterly cash dividend by 5% to $1.86 per share.