050415 McDonald's Lifts Profit Outlook for 1QApril 14, 2005Oak Brook, IL- McDonald's Corp., the nation's biggest fast-food restaurant chain, said that it expects to report a first-quarter profit above Wall Street estimates. McDonald's cited particularly strong March sales as contributing to the better-than-expected showing, which analysts attributed to higher-priced menu items and operational improvements. The company expects to post profit of 56 cents per share, up 40 percent from a year ago. Excluding a tax benefit and expenses from stock-based compensation, McDonald's said earnings will be 46 cents per share. That surpasses the 42-cent consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. * Going the Extra Mile, Frequently * Americans Battle Commuter Hell * Latest Market Details McDonald's said global same-store sales, which include only restaurants that have been open at least a year, rose 6.8 percent in March and 4.6 percent for the January-March period. U.S. same-stores sales rose 6.8 percent in March and 5.2 percent for the quarter. Sales in Europe rose 6.6 percent for the month and 2.9 percent for the quarter. In other regions, Japan, Australia and Taiwan all posted strong sales results, McDonald's said. Total sales increased 8 percent for the quarter compared with a year ago. Excluding exchange rate effects, sales would have risen a more modest 6 percent, McDonald's said. So far this year, McDonald's same-store sales are up 4.6 percent from the same period of 2004. The company's shares rose 69 cents, or 2 percent, to $31.53 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has traded in a 52-week range of $25.05 to $34.56.
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