McDonald's comes roaring back as restrictions ease

A thank you sign sits in front of a McDonald's restaurant, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Waukee, Iowa. The burger giant said Thursday, April 29 its first quarter sales surpassed even those in 2019, led by a big jump in U.S. demand. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

A sign is displayed over a McDonald's restaurant, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa. The burger giant said Thursday, April 29 its first quarter sales surpassed even those in 2019, led by a big jump in U.S. demand. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The bounce back for McDonald's as restrictions were lifted across the U.S. was so strong in the first quarter that the company surpassed sales during the same period even in 2019, long before the pandemic broadsided the country.

McDonald's revenue jumped 9% to $5.1 billion for the January-March period, better than most had expected.

Last year at this time stores were closing globally and the world sheltered from spiking COVID-19 infections, so an improvement in sales during the same stretch this year was expected. How easily it topped 2019's first-quarter sales of $4.95 billion, however, was not.

U.S. same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, rose 13.6% in the January-March period. Fewer diners visited, and many dining rooms remain closed. But those who did visit ordered more. McDonald's said new products, including a crispy chicken sandwich and spicy nuggets, helped draw customers.

Any restaurant company with drive-thrus, such as McDonald's, escaped the worst of the economic damage over the past year because they could continue to sell food even during the worst stretches of the pandemic. The Chicago company has drive-thru windows at nearly all U.S. stores and two-thirds of stores in its biggest European markets. And at least 30,000 stores worldwide now offer delivery.

Worldwide, same-store sales rose 7.5%, well above the 5% gain analysts forecast. Strong sales in China and Japan helped offset softness in France and Germany, the company said.

Net income rose 39% to $1.5 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, the company earned $1.92 per share, easily beating Wall Street's forecast of $1.81, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

McDonald's shares were flat in premarket trading Thursday.

Other major fast food chains are seeing a similar rebound as most of the world emerges from the pandemic. Revenue at Yum Brands __ which owns Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC __ jumped 18% in the first quarter. The company reported this week that same-store sales rose 9%, with an especially strong performance in the U.S.

Like McDonald's, sales at Yum restaurants outpaced sales two years ago before COVID-19 shook the world.

Starbucks also reported better-than-expected results for the quarter this week, with sales up 11%.