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Data last updated: Sep 01, 2026
Snapshot (as of Sep 01, 2026): McDonald's Corporation (MCD) pays a $7.44 annual dividend ($1.86 quarterly), yielding 2.85% at $261.33/share. Next ex-dividend date 2026-09-01. 49+ consecutive years of dividend growth (Dividend Aristocrat). Source: Yahoo Finance, aggregated by MerryDiv.
Dividend Yield: 2.85%
Annual Dividend: $7.44 per share
Payout Ratio: 59.5%
Ex-Dividend Date: 2026-09-01
Dividend Frequency: quarterly
Sector: Consumer Cyclical
Years of Dividend History: 52
McDonald's Corporation dividend has been paid without interruption for decades, backed by a global fast-food network spanning over 40,000 locations as of 2021. MCD currently yields 2.77%, with a trailing annual dividend rate of $7.35 per share paid quarterly. The next ex-dividend date is September 1, 2026. A beta of 0.419 makes this a low-volatility holding, which suits income investors who prioritize steadiness over aggressive growth.
McDonald's Corporation pays out 59.5% of earnings as dividends, a payout ratio classified as moderate (40–60%). That level leaves a meaningful buffer, supported by a business model built on licensing fees and a globally recognized menu anchoring everyday consumer spending on items like burgers, chicken, and breakfast offerings. McDonald's Corporation dividend safety faces its most direct pressure from the payout ratio sitting near the upper boundary of the moderate range, leaving less room to absorb an earnings decline than a lower ratio would.
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 is a partial year 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 dividend investors who want a combination of income and steady per-share growth from a globally scaled business. The yield sits at 2.77%, within the moderate (2–4%) range and above the 5-year average of 2.35%, meaning the current entry point offers more income than the historical norm. Forty-nine consecutive years of dividend increases make MCD a Dividend Aristocrat with one of the longer unbroken streaks in the market. The trade-off is straightforward: growth runs at 7.7% annually, which compounds well over time, but the yield alone will not satisfy investors seeking high current income.
MCD is a Dividend Aristocrat with 49 consecutive years of dividend increases.
| Payment Date | Amount per Share |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2024-06-03 | $1.6700 |
| Year | Total Dividends |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $5.5800 |
| 2025 | $7.1700 |
| 2024 | $6.7800 |
| 2023 | $6.2300 |
| 2022 | $5.6600 |
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