McDonald's is showing signs of tarnish on the Golden Arches. Goldman Sachs downgraded its shares due to a slowdown in growth. And with challenges overseas and resurgent competition everywhere, things are unlikely to turn around anytime soon for the world's largest restaurant chain.
McDonald's expects food costs to rise between 4% and 4.5% in the U.S. and Europe this year, which puts the fast food leader between a rock and a hard place: Leave prices the same, and profit margins suffer. Raise them, and cash-strapped customers may start foregoing their Big Macs.
The fast food giant recorded another healthy profit as sales growth continued across the globe. Investors were lovin' the news from McDonald's, sending shares up nearly 2% in premarket trading. Will the stock close at another all-time high?