McDonald's Q3 Sales Still Expected to Be Weak Despite September Rebound

McDonald's is heading for its worst month since March 2020 when pandemic shutdowns devastated restaurant sales. The company expects U.S. sales to turn positive in September, but CFO Ian Borden still forecasts that they will be 'slightly negative' for the full third quarter.

The stock has declined 5% on Wednesday and is down 9% so far this month, marking its worst one-day decline since April 2025. Shares have dropped in six of the past seven months, with a year-to-date decline of 20%.

McDonald's NEXT strategy aims to gain market share in chicken and beverage sales while improving restaurant efficiency and expanding its presence. The company estimates that efficiency gains could add $100,000 annually to each U.S. restaurant's cash flow by 2027.