What is McDonald's Corporation's average annual return?

Since 1971, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) has returned about 14.3% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 18.5%.

What were McDonald's Corporation's best and worst years?

Over 1971–2026, the best year was 1971 (+145.0%) and the worst was 1974 (-48.5%).

How often is McDonald's Corporation up in a year?

43 of the 55 full years since 1971 were positive — about 78% of the time.

MCD

McDonald's CorporationStock · Consumer Discretionary

$280.63+$11.20 (+4.16%)as of market close, Jul 2, 2026

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MCD returns by year

McDonald's Corporation has returned +14.3% annually (CAGR) since 1971. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for McDonald's Corporation (MCD) below, through July 2, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+14.3%

1971–2026

Average year

+18.5%

55 full years

Best year

+145.0%

1971

Worst year

-48.5%

1974

Positive years

43/55

78% up

McDonald's Corporation returns by year (1971–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).

McDonald's Corporation annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$305.63	$280.63	+1.1%	-7.0%
2025	$289.89	$305.63	+2.4%	+7.9%
2024	$296.51	$289.89	+2.4%	+0.1%
2023	$263.53	$296.51	+2.5%	+15.0%
2022	$268.07	$263.53	+2.2%	+0.5%
2021	$214.58	$268.07	+2.8%	+27.8%
2020	$197.61	$214.58	+2.7%	+11.3%
2019	$177.57	$197.61	+2.7%	+14.0%
2018	$172.12	$177.57	+2.6%	+5.8%
2017	$121.72	$172.12	+3.6%	+45.0%
2016	$118.14	$121.72	+3.2%	+6.2%
2015	$93.70	$118.14	+4.3%	+30.4%
2014	$97.03	$93.70	+3.3%	-0.1%
2013	$88.21	$97.03	+3.6%	+13.6%
2012	$100.33	$88.21	+2.8%	-9.3%
2011	$76.76	$100.33	+3.9%	+34.6%
2010	$62.44	$76.76	+4.0%	+26.9%
2009	$62.19	$62.44	+3.5%	+3.9%
2008	$58.91	$62.19	+3.0%	+8.6%
2007	$44.33	$58.91	+3.4%	+36.3%
2006	$33.72	$44.33	+3.1%	+34.6%
2005	$32.06	$33.72	+2.1%	+7.3%
2004	$24.83	$32.06	+2.4%	+31.5%
2003	$16.08	$24.83	+2.4%	+56.8%
2002	$26.47	$16.08	+0.8%	-38.4%
2001	$34.00	$26.47	+0.7%	-21.5%
2000	$40.31	$34.00	+0.5%	-15.1%
1999	$38.41	$40.31	+0.5%	+5.4%
1998	$23.88	$38.41	+0.9%	+61.8%
1997	$22.69	$23.88	+0.7%	+5.9%
1996	$22.56	$22.69	+0.6%	+1.2%
1995	$14.63	$22.56	+1.1%	+55.4%
1994	$14.25	$14.63	+0.8%	+3.5%
1993	$12.19	$14.25	+0.9%	+17.9%
1992	$9.50	$12.19	+1.1%	+29.4%
1991	$7.28	$9.50	+1.4%	+31.9%
1990	$8.63	$7.28	+0.9%	-14.7%
1989	$6.02	$8.63	+1.5%	+44.9%
1988	$5.50	$6.02	+1.4%	+10.8%
1987	$5.07	$5.50	+0.4%	+8.8%
1986	$4.49	$5.07	+0.0%	+12.9%
1985	$2.87	$4.49	+0.0%	+56.7%
1984	$2.61	$2.87	+0.0%	+9.8%
1983	$2.24	$2.61	+0.0%	+16.8%
1982	$1.61	$2.24	+0.0%	+38.5%
1981	$1.20	$1.61	+0.0%	+34.1%
1980	$1.07	$1.20	+0.0%	+12.4%
1979	$1.14	$1.07	+0.0%	-6.2%
1978	$1.27	$1.14	+0.0%	-10.2%
1977	$1.32	$1.27	+0.0%	-3.5%
1976	$1.44	$1.32	+0.0%	-8.6%
1975	$0.73	$1.44	+0.0%	+98.7%
1974	$1.41	$0.73	+0.0%	-48.5%
1973	$1.88	$1.41	+0.0%	-25.2%
1972	$0.94	$1.88	+0.0%	+101.3%
1971	$0.38	$0.94	+0.0%	+145.0%

Total return by period

-100%-50%+0%+50%+100%

'71'76'81'86'91'96'01'06'11'16'21'26

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from MCD's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

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FAQ

What is McDonald's Corporation's average annual return?: Since 1971, McDonald's Corporation (MCD) has returned about 14.3% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 18.5%.
What were McDonald's Corporation's best and worst years?: Over 1971–2026, the best year was 1971 (+145.0%) and the worst was 1974 (-48.5%).
How often is McDonald's Corporation up in a year?: 43 of the 55 full years since 1971 were positive — about 78% of the time.