After lagging the market badly in 2013, McDonald's (MCD 0.22%) has a chance next week to kick the new year off on a higher note. The fast-food giant is set to announce quarterly earnings results on Jan. 23 -- and investors aren't expecting much.
In the video below, Fool contributor Demitrios Kalogeropoulos provides a preview to that earnings report, noting that comparable-store sales growth will be the key figure to watch. Competitors like Wendy's (WEN 0.94%) have seen more success in that metric lately thanks to popular new menu additions. McDonald's own Mighty Wings innovation sold poorly in the quarter, so investors will be eager to hear management's plans for any new menu items this year. Meanwhile, McDonald's saw its service levels slip last year as waiting times crept higher. If it wants to return to its market-beating growth, Mickey D's will need to get those register lines humming at full speed again.
