McDonald’s Sales Through April Rise 9%

McDonald’s Corp., the world’s largest fast-food chain, said sales at company-owned and franchised restaurants through the first four months of 2000 rose 9% from a year ago to $12.87 billion, when foreign currency changes are factored out. Including foreign currency changes, sales were up 7%, the company said. Wall Street analysts said the year-to-date sales results were in line with expectations. “I think the sales look solid, and it looks like they are headed for a good [second] quarter,” said Ann Gurkin, an analyst with Davenport & Co. “One area we are going to continue to have to watch is the euro.” Shares of Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald’s rose $1.63 to close at $38.63 on the New York Stock Exchange. McDonald’s operates more than 27,000 restaurants that serve more than 43 million people a day in 119 countries.

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