MCD

In October 2026, McDonald's shares dropped below $230 for the first time in over four years, coinciding with a federal class-action lawsuit filed on October 2, 2026, accusing the company of using an AI tool for coercive price-fixing. Analysts subsequently trimmed price targets due to concerns over the lawsuit and the company's value strategy. In Q2 2026, McDonald's acknowledged that an 'overloaded promotional calendar' and the 'Under $3 Menu' failed to resonate with customers, negatively impacting U.S. comparable sales growth and traffic. Despite these challenges, U.S. comparable sales increased by 0.8% in Q2 2026. The company is scheduled to report Q3 earnings on November 4, 2026, with the CFO forecasting slightly negative U.S. comparable sales for the quarter. McDonald's also boosted its quarterly dividend, becoming a 'Dividend King'.