Trailing Dividend / Share
$6.75
McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Dividend History
Income profile from 1976 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
2.4%
Payout Ratio
59.2%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
36 years
MCD Dividend Income Check
Safety
59.2% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
36 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 3.4% and trend is rising.
MCD Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield2.4%
Trailing DPS$6.75
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout59.2%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout66.1%
FCF SafetyAdequate
Piotroski F-Score7/9
Growth
Growth Streak36 years
3Y CAGR8.2%
5Y CAGR7.3%
Yield on Cost (5Y)3.4%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield1.4%
Total Shareholder Yield3.8%
1Y Total Return-8.0%
5Y Total Return34.4%
Div Contribution (5Y)13.5%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$13,44510Y ago$25,85120Y ago$102,324
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
MCD Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (51 years of payments)
MCD Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
McDonald's Corporation distributes 59.2% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 66.1%, rated "Adequate".
Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
MCD has raised its dividend for 36 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 8.2% and 5-year CAGR of 7.3%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, MCD returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 2.4% dividend yield, 1.4% buyback yield, 3.8% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 3.4% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 34.4%, with dividends contributing 13.5% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $25,851 today.
MCD Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$31.66
Avg/Payment$1.5830
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 2026Latest | $1.8600 | — | 2.19% | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Dec 1, 2025 | $1.8600 | ↑ +5.1% | 2.36% | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Sep 2, 2025 | $1.7700 | — | 2.24% | Sep 16, 2025 |
| Jun 2, 2025 | $1.7700 | — | 2.23% | Jun 16, 2025 |
| Mar 3, 2025 | $1.7700 | — | 2.26% | Mar 17, 2025 |
| Dec 2, 2024 | $1.7700 | ↑ +6.0% | 2.32% | Dec 16, 2024 |
| Sep 3, 2024 | $1.6700 | — | 2.34% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| Jun 3, 2024 | $1.6700 | — | 2.51% | Jun 17, 2024 |
MCD Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#4 yield in peer group
Div Yield
2.4%
#4 of 7
Safety
Sustainable
59.2% payout
Streak
36Y
7.3% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
3.8%
#4 of 7
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCDMcDonald's Corporati… | $202.3B | 2.4% | 59.2% | 36 | Sustainable |
 YUMYum! Brands, Inc. | $43.1B | 1.8% | 50.6% | 8 | Sustainable |
3rd  QSRRestaurant Brands In… | $26.7B | 3.1% | 1.4% | 14 | Sustainable |
1st  WENThe Wendy's Company | $1.3B | 15.0% | 1.1% | 4 | Sustainable |
2nd  JACKJack in the Box Inc. | $261M | 6.4% | — | 0 | Unknown |
 SBUXStarbucks Corporatio… | $121.3B | 2.3% | 1.5% | 16 | Sustainable |
 DPZDomino's Pizza, Inc. | $10.9B | 2.1% | 39.4% | 12 | Sustainable |
MCD Annual Dividend History (1976–2026)
51 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.86 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 0.9% |
| 2025 | $7.17 | 5.8% | 4 | — | — | — | 3.4% |
| 2024 | $6.78 | 8.8% | 4 | $11.39 | 59.5% | 1.68x | 3.2% |
| 2023 | $6.23 | 10.1% | 4 | $11.56 | 53.9% | 1.86x | 3.0% |
| 2022 | $5.66 | 7.8% | 4 | $8.33 | 67.9% | 1.47x | 2.7% |
| 2021 | $5.25 | 4.2% | 4 | $10.04 | 52.3% | 1.91x | 2.5% |
| 2020 | $5.04 | 6.6% | 4 | $6.31 | 79.9% | 1.25x | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $4.73 | 12.9% | 4 | $7.88 | 60.0% | 1.67x | 2.3% |
| 2018 | $4.19 | 9.4% | 4 | $7.54 | 55.6% | 1.80x | 2.0% |
| 2017 | $3.83 | 6.1% | 4 | $6.37 | 60.1% | 1.66x | 1.8% |
Full MCD Stock Analysis
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Should I Buy MCD Right Now?
Bull case, key risks, Wall St analyst verdict, and what council investors are saying — updated daily.
See MCD's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
Launch CalculatorIs MCD Undervalued?
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View ValuationCompare MCD vs AMZN
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Start ComparisonMCD — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying MCD stock.
How much dividend does MCD pay per share?
McDonald's Corporation (MCD) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $6.75 per share, with a current dividend yield of +2.4%. Payments are made Annual.
When is MCD's next ex-dividend date?
MCD's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. MCD typically pays dividends Annual.
Is MCD's dividend safe?
MCD's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +59.2% and FCF payout ratio of +66.1%. With 36 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is MCD a Dividend Aristocrat?
Yes, McDonald's Corporation is classified as a Dividend Aristocrat with 36 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +7.3%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does MCD pay dividends?
McDonald's Corporation pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $6.75 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 50+ years from 1976 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in MCD grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in MCD five years ago would be worth approximately $13,445 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is MCD's yield on cost for long-term holders?
MCD's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +3.4% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +2.4% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.