NYT/AP: McDonald's Profit Leaps on Solid U.S. Sales

[DeepModem Mom]

McDonald's Profit Leaps on Solid U.S. Sales
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 24, 2006


CHICAGO (AP) -- McDonald's Corp., the world's largest restaurant company, said Tuesday its fourth-quarter profit rose 53 percent on continuing strong sales at its U.S. outlets and improving results in Europe.

The results were in line with the preliminary earnings figures released by the company Jan. 17.

Net income for the last three months of 2005 was $608 million, or 48 cents per share, up from $398 million, or 31 cents per share, a year earlier....

***

Same-store sales, or those from restaurants open more than a year, increased 4.2 percent in the fourth quarter and have now risen for 32 consecutive months since McDonald's ended a rare slump in 2003.

Extended operating hours, cashless payments and new menu items all have helped keep the momentum going in McDonald's U.S. restaurants, which also got a fourth-quarter boost from stronger breakfast sales....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Earns-McDonalds.html

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Which will raise healthcare costs, as well as the sale of

plots, high blood pressure meds, and weight loss pills. Not a bad trade-off for corporate profits.



Oil Bases vs Military Bourses

[Voltaire99]

6. Great points.

Also like that Bases & Bourses comparison. :-)

[Javaman]

2. You can wrap a turd in a bow, but it's still a turd. n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Bow? You surely mean bun. -nt

[Javaman]

8. Patato potato n/t

Edit: duh, I got it. Sometimes, my brain don't works so good.

[AnneD]

3. I think some of this profit may make them a target...

one of the WS hedge fund managers is calling for the less profitable subsidiaries spun off and sold.

[cyberpj]

4. More of the 'laid off' economy results - Americans forced to eat cheap. nt

[Voltaire99]

5. And those trapped in service sector jobs...

...who have no affordable healthy food at hand in the mall and chain store-blighted American landscape.

[VegasWolf]

9. Hey, in this economy fine dining is too expensive! nt