It's so easy to kick a mustard- and ketchup-colored clown when it's down, and McDonald's (MCD +0.87%) has certainly earned the dissing.
It's coming off of five consecutive quarters of negative comps, and lately it's been blasted for everything from the quality of its grub to operational snags.
Instead of piling on, let's take a look at a few of the things that either have been going right or should start to go right for McDonald's this year.
1. Domestic comps are growing again
The market wasn't impressed when McDonald's announced that global comparable sales decreased 1.8% in January. It's just something that the market has grown used to since the chain's fundamentals began to slip in late 2013. However, the entirety of that decline was the result of fallout in Asia as a supplier scare in China and brand perception issues in Japan weighed on the overall performance.
The world's largest burger chain held up better closer to home. Sales in the U.S. rose 0.4%, with an even better 0.5% year-over-year uptick at the register in Europe. Boo birds will argue this still means sales aren't keeping up with inflation, but let's frame this correctly. This is the first month in more than a year that McDonald's has posted comps that are north of breakeven.
2. The new CEO could be a game changer
The Don Thompson era is coming to a close, and now the board is tasking Steve Easterbrook with turning the chain around as its new CEO. Yes, he's an internal hire. That may not seem very exciting at a time when McDonald's needs to think outside of the Happy Meal box, but he seems like the perfect candidate.
Easterbrook helped turn around the chain's operations in Europe before moving back to head up the restaurant's marketing department. He seems to have a firm grasp on the right message to woo back customers, and January's bounce could be the first sign.
3. Higher wages could benefit McDonald's
Consumer-facing chains are under fire for their low wages, and it wouldn't be a surprise if we see restaurant operators start to pay more this year. This will naturally inflate prices, but McDonald's may have a technological advantage in the form of automation.
McDonald's and its franchisees have been investing in machines that perform many mundane tasks. Smoothie machines get going at the press of a button. Updated drive-thru windows have soda fountain carousels that sort out cups and fill them with beverages as they are ordered. Smaller chains can't afford these high-tech automations, but it also means that McDonald's will be able to get by with fewer employees in the future.
4. The improving economy will raise all chains
Have you noticed the drive-thru lane at your local McDonald's getting longer in the morning? I have. With job creation on the rise again we're seeing more rushed commuters hitting the road, taking lunch breaks, and having more money at the end of the day to take their families out to dinner.
This is a trend that should be beneficial to all chains. McDonald's will be there.
5. The fundamentals are strong
McDonald's may not seem cheap for a mature and slow-growing company. The stock is trading at 19 times this year's expected earnings and a still steep 18 times next year's target. However, there's something to be said about a company with a predictable stream of fat royalty payments from franchisees. Net profit margins at McDonald's hovered around a juicy 20% for several years before last year's stumble, according to S&P Capital IQ data.
Along the way we have a company donning a chunky yield of 3.5% with a history of annual hikes dating back to when it started paying out dividends 39 years ago. McDonald's may not look so hot now, but it's in great shape to beat the market in 2015.
