This is a new entry into his portfolio. It owns 37,000 restaurants, 92% of them franchised. They typically own the land that the restaurant is on and the franchisee leases it. This creates a very stable flow of cash. Same store sales are growing well. They are innovating in food choices and in payment methods. They have allocated $6 billion for upgrading their restaurants by 2022. The average spend at restaurants is increasing and at all time highs. Yield 2.5%. (Analysts’ price target is $184.20)

Likes it. Management has done a fine job transforming the company by introducing fresh food, the all-day breakfast, and now fresh burger meat. They are Doing well in mobile pay and introducing delivery. They are keeping current with the times. It isn't a cheap stock, but decent.

Fast food is cyclical based on gas prices. Restaurant sales took off when gas prices plunged in 2014. Also, restaurant haven't seen earnings growth vs. other consumer discretionary spaces. He doesn't see a catalyst for this stock to
improve. That said, it's had a good, long history and their foreign sales are a tailwind.

It's a both a quick-service restaurant and a REIT. REITs are under pressure, because they're interest-rate sensitive. Restaurants are performing pretty well, including McDonald's. Building digital kiosks in their stores is a good move. But other restaurants, such as Domino's Pizza, have a better growth rate. McDonald's will grow its dividend over time and probably operform in the middle of the pack for a while.

It recently touched its last low. It's a so-so chart over the past 3 years. Hold it, but don't be a new buyer.

In 2014 you were seeing negative same store sales. They brought in a new CEO, and have done a really good job of getting the menu shifted to consumer preferences. The company is really doing well. 6% same-store sales growth in the last quarter. The trade-off is that valuations have moved up with all the good news. Now it has gotten pricey and is too pricey for her.