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Data last updated: Oct 16, 2026
Snapshot (as of Oct 16, 2026): McDonald's Corporation (MCD) pays a $7.35 annual dividend ($1.86 quarterly), yielding 3.18% at $242.38/share. Next ex-dividend date 2026-12-01. 36 consecutive years of dividend growth (Dividend Aristocrat). Source: Yahoo Finance, aggregated by MerryDiv.
Dividend Yield: 3.18%
Annual Dividend: $7.35 per share
Payout Ratio: 59.7%
Ex-Dividend Date: 2026-12-01
Dividend Frequency: quarterly
Sector: Consumer Cyclical
Years of Dividend History: 52
McDonald's Corporation dividend has been paid without interruption for over five decades, making MCD one of the most recognized income names in the restaurant sector. The current yield stands at 3.28%, backed by a trailing annual dividend rate of $7.35 per share paid quarterly. The next ex-dividend date is December 1, 2026. With a beta of 0.447, MCD stock moves at less than half the volatility of the broader market, a characteristic that appeals to income-focused investors who prioritize steadiness over price swings.
McDonald's Corporation pays out 59.7% of earnings as dividends, a payout ratio classified as moderate (40-60%). That level leaves a meaningful buffer, and the company's franchise-heavy model, spanning conventional franchises, developmental licenses, and affiliates across the U.S. and internationally, generates recurring fee-based revenue that supports the current payout. McDonald's Corporation dividend safety gets its clearest test from the debt obligations that come with operating a global restaurant network at scale, which represents the most data-supported pressure point on the payout.
Over the past 14 years, McDonald's Corporation dividend history shows a CAGR of 7.7% per year from 2011 to 2025. Per-share payments grew from $2.53 to $7.17 over that window (2026 data is partial and excluded from this calculation). The smallest annual increase in the window was 4.2% in 2021, which sets a floor for what slower growth looks like even in a difficult year.
| Period | CAGR | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Year | +8.2% | $5.66 (2022) | $7.17 (2025) |
| 5-Year | +7.3% | $5.04 (2020) | $7.17 (2025) |
| 10-Year | +7.6% | $3.44 (2015) | $7.17 (2025) |
McDonald's Corporation fits income-focused investors who want a moderate (2-4%) yield from a globally franchised restaurant business with a long record of annual increases. At 3.28%, the current yield runs well above the 5-year average of 2.25%, giving income buyers more per dollar than the stock has historically offered. MCD is a Dividend Aristocrat with 36 consecutive years of dividend increases, a streak that reflects the durability of the franchise model. The trade-off is straightforward: growth at 7.7% per year is real but not fast, and investors accept that pace in exchange for low volatility and a payout ratio that leaves room to keep the streak alive.
MCD is a Dividend Aristocrat with 36 consecutive years of dividend increases.
| Payment Date | Amount per Share |
|---|---|
| 2026-12-01 | $1.9300 |
| 2026-09-01 | $1.8600 |
| 2026-06-02 | $1.8600 |
| 2026-03-03 | $1.8600 |
| 2025-12-01 | $1.8600 |
| 2025-09-02 | $1.7700 |
| 2025-06-02 | $1.7700 |
| 2025-03-03 | $1.7700 |
| 2024-12-02 | $1.7700 |
| 2024-09-03 | $1.6700 |
| Year | Total Dividends |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.5100 |
| 2025 | $7.1700 |
| 2024 | $6.7800 |
| 2023 | $6.2300 |
| 2022 | $5.6600 |
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