Beyond the Fries: The Critical Factors in McDonald’s Upcoming Q3 Earnings

Swaraj

Published on November 11, 2025

McDonald’s is set to report Q3 2025 earnings on November 5, with modest growth expected in revenue and profit. Analysts see international markets as key drivers, though inflation and margin pressures may limit gains despite strong value-driven promotions and global expansion

While the company has experienced pricing pressure, consumer hesitancy, and changing menu strategies, McDonald’s is likely to release its Q3 2025 results on November 5. The analyst consensus suggests a slight increase in adjusted earnings per share to about US$3.33, from approximately US$3.23 in the previous year, which indicates a 2.8% increase year-over-year. The income is expected to be around US$7.07 billion.

The slow but steady growth of the top line has not gone unnoticed by the analysts who have identified several underlying forces attracting their interest. Inflation is eating up the disposable income of lower-income Americans and, as a result, U.S. traffic remains strained. At the same time, McDonald’s is giving a heavy push on value promotions, package deals, and menu innovation to retain and attract consumers.

The best potential may be in the international markets. Analysts highlight areas like Developmental Licensed Markets and International Operated Markets as more favorable for similar-store growth. For instance, the quarter’s predictions show low-single-digit growth in U.S. company-operated revenue but larger gains overseas. Analysts, despite revenue growth, predict EPS upside will be limited due to margin headwinds. McDonald’s is rated as a ‘Moderate Buy’ from an investment perspective, with an average analyst price target of around US$326. That implies a potential upside of about 9-10% from current stock prices, depending on successful execution and increasing traffic trends.

As soon as the results are out, the management commentary will attract quite some attention. Investors will look for U.S.consumer behavior insights, global market momentum, margin trajectory, and whether value-oriented products are driving long-term comparable sales growth instead of brief gains. McDonald’s might not be very confident for a breakout quarter, but the attitude it sets could highly impact the expectations for how it tackles inflation.