McDonald's Plans 2,500 New Restaurants in 2026

The Golden Arches are still multiplying, just a little slower. McDonald's said on November 4 that it now expects about 2,500 gross restaurant openings in 2026, according to its third quarter investor release ^[2]. That is a slight cut from its earlier plan, though the company still expects about 2,100 net additions ^[4].

By the numbers

• Global systemwide sales rose 4% to more than $38 billion in the quarter, McDonald's reported ^[1].
• Revenue from franchised restaurants rose 3% to $4.49 billion in the quarter ^[1].
• Gains on selling restaurant businesses jumped to $97 million from $35 million a year earlier, reflecting more U.S. sales to franchisees ^[2].
• About 175 restaurants have been refranchised so far this year as McDonald's works toward a 98% franchised system by 2028 ^[4].

But the American customer is still hesitant. U.S. comparable sales dipped 0.2% as fewer guest visits offset bigger checks, the company said ^[1]. Revenue of $7.16 billion missed the Zacks consensus of $7.28 billion, Zacks noted, even as adjusted earnings beat ^[3]. McDonald's also expects full year interest expense to climb 4% to 6%, driven mainly by higher average rates ^[2].

What it means for you

McDonald's is a landlord as much as a burger seller: it generally owns or holds long leases on the land and buildings under its restaurants ^[2]. Of the 2,500 planned openings, McDonald's itself funds the roughly 700 in the U.S. and International Operated Markets, and licensees cover about 1,800 ^[2]. By our math, if all $3.7 billion went to those 700 sites, that would be about $5.3 million each, an upper bound since some of the money funds remodels. For anyone watching pad sites and net lease retail, that pace signals steady demand for well located corners.

Zoom out

With the 30-year mortgage rate at 7.18% and the 10-year Treasury at 4.9%, borrowing is expensive for everyone, per Freddie Mac and the Treasury ^[5]. McDonald's is still choosing to build, and it is funding part of that push by selling company stores to franchisees.