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How McDonald's (MCD) makes money
McDonald's (MCD) made $7.2B of revenue in the third quarter 2026 (Q3 2026), +1% from a year earlier. International Operated Markets brought in $3.7B (51%); U.S. Market brought in $2.8B (39%); International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate brought in $709M (10%). Of every dollar of revenue, 50¢ was left as operating profit, 35¢ was left as net earnings.
Drawing the Sankey…
Revenue by segment, Q3 2026
| Segment | Revenue | Share | Q/Q | Y/Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Operated Markets | $3.7B | 51.2% | +2% | +0.1% |
| U.S. Market | $2.8B | 38.9% | -1% | +0.5% |
| International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate | $709M | 9.9% | +6% | +9% |
Where each dollar of revenue goes
| Line | Q3 2026 | % of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $7.2B | 100.0% |
| Operating profit | $3.6B | 50.2% |
| Income tax | $702M | 9.8% |
| Net earnings | $2.5B | 34.7% |
| Operating cash flow | $3.0B | 42.4% |
| Free cash flow | $2.1B | 30.0% |
Revenue, quarter by quarter
| Quarter | Revenue | Y/Y |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $7.2B | +1% |
| Q2 2026 | $7.1B | +4% |
| Q1 2026 | $6.5B | +9% |
| Q4 2025 | $7.0B | +10% |
| Q3 2025 | $7.1B | +3% |
| Q2 2025 | $6.8B | +5% |
| Q1 2025 | $6.0B | -4% |
From McDonald's 10-Q filed Nov 6, 2026 (on EDGAR).
Questions
How does McDonald's make money?
McDonald's (MCD) made $7.2B of revenue in the third quarter 2026 (Q3 2026), +1% from a year earlier. International Operated Markets brought in $3.7B (51%); U.S. Market brought in $2.8B (39%); International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate brought in $709M (10%). Of every dollar of revenue, 50¢ was left as operating profit, 35¢ was left as net earnings.
What is McDonald's biggest business?
International Operated Markets: $3.7B in the third quarter 2026, 51% of revenue, +0.1% from a year earlier.
What is McDonald's profit margin?
Net earnings were $2.5B, 34.7% of revenue, in the third quarter 2026; the operating margin was 50.2%.
Updated Nov 8, 2026. Read automatically from SEC filings and public data; errors are possible. Not investment advice.