McDonald’s Q2 profit falls, shares slide

McDonald’s Corp reported lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday, hurt by a slowing global economy and the impact of a stronger dollar, and said sales growth at  established restaurants would slow this month. Shares fell 3 per cent to $88.81 after the world’s largest fast-food chain operator said higher costs and the drag from the US dollar conspired with softening consumer demand to hurt business. The McDonald’s results came days after Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc surprised investors by saying the sluggish US economy had cooled same-restaurant sales growth, adding to concerns about how much consumers were cutting back on discretionary spending.  “We knew it was going to be a tough quarter going in, and it certainly was,” Edward Jones analyst Jack Russo said. “This year is going to be a challenge for the chain. Europe (its biggest market for sales) has slowed down, and the consumer remains pretty frugal,” Russo said. “What we don’t know is were they more aggressive in terms of discounting to get customers,” he said. McDonald’s net income fell to $1.35 billion, or $1.32 per share, during the second quarter, from $1.41 billion, or $1.35 per share, a year earlier. The impact of the stronger dollar - which lessens the value of sales overseas for US companies - cut 7 cents a share from earnings in the latest quarter, the company said. Analysts, on average, looked for $1.37 a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Sales edged up to $6.92 billion from $6.91 billion a year earlier. ales at restaurants open at least 13 months were up 3.7 per cent in the quarter, exceeding the 2.9 per cent increase expected by analysts polled by Consensus Metrix, but down from a 5.6 per cent increase in June. Comparable sales growth slowed even more in June - to 4.4 from a 7.7 per cent rise a year ago. “You are starting to see signs that consumers are spending less at restaurants,” said Morningstar analyst RJ Hottovy. “You are also seeing increased competition.” From gulftoday