Unwrapping the Unique Investment Opportunity: The McDonald’s Story


McDonald’s, the golden arches that symbolize fast food worldwide, may not shine with the glamour of tech giants, but it offers a distinct investment opportunity. Beyond its role as a fast-food behemoth, McDonald’s operates on a unique model that sets it apart from traditional restaurant businesses. In this article, we’ll uncover three key facts about McDonald’s stock that make it an intriguing investment prospect.

McDonald’s Is Not What It Seems
While many might see McDonald’s as just another restaurant chain, a closer look reveals a different story. In reality, McDonald’s functions more like a real estate investment trust (REIT) masquerading as a restaurant company. The company owns the physical buildings housing its franchisees’ operations and collects rental income from these properties. Additionally, McDonald’s takes a percentage fee based on sales and an initial fee when a new franchise is established.

These real estate-related activities contribute significantly to McDonald’s income, anchoring its success to the stability of the real estate market. The steady stream of rental payments also provides a reliable source of income. This unique structure shields McDonald’s from the volatility of the restaurant industry, helping it weather industry ups and downs more gracefully.

McDonald’s Financial Health
In the first half of 2023, McDonald’s reported impressive revenue exceeding $12 billion, with a remarkable 62% stemming from its franchise operations. The remaining 38% is attributed to the 5% of restaurants it directly owns.

What’s particularly intriguing is that, despite company-owned restaurants accounting for slightly over half of its total expenses, they contributed only a fraction to its operating income, which totaled approximately $5.6 billion, primarily driven by its franchised locations.

After accounting for interest, non-operating expenses, and taxes, McDonald’s achieved a GAAP net income of $4.1 billion in the first half of the year, marking a significant 78% surge compared to the same period the previous year.

McDonald’s also stands out as a dividend payer, offering an annual payout of $6.08 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.3%, surpassing the S&P 500’s 1.6% yield. Notably, McDonald’s has consistently increased its dividend annually since 1976, signaling that rising profits are likely to fuel further dividend growth.

McDonald’s Presents an Attractive Valuation
Beyond its financial prowess, McDonald’s offers an appealing valuation. Excluding the brief dip in early 2020, its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24 is near its five-year lows for this earnings multiple. This valuation places it in a similar range to peers like Restaurant Brands International and Yum! Brands.

This relatively low P/E ratio enhances McDonald’s attractiveness, especially considering its consistent dividend growth and steadily rising profits, which have contributed to its outperformance compared to both the S&P 500 and its industry peers.

Conclusion

McDonald’s success story is rooted in its astute business strategy. By focusing on real estate ownership and a franchise-centric model, the company has not only bolstered its revenue but also established a remarkable degree of stability in an otherwise unpredictable industry.

This unique approach has resulted in consistent growth in revenue, net income, and dividend payments. Coupled with its comparatively low P/E ratio, McDonald’s emerges as an attractive option for investors seeking opportunities in the restaurant sector or those searching for a reliable source of dividend income.

In summary, McDonald’s has effectively harnessed its distinctive business model to create a compelling investment proposition, making it a stock worthy of consideration for discerning investors.