Azernews.Az

By Bloomberg

McDonald’s Corp. reported April sales that topped analysts’ projections after its U.S. business slowed its decline.

Same-store sales fell 0.6 percent globally, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said in a statement on Friday. Analysts estimated a 1.8 percent drop, according to Consensus Metrix. U.S. sales at stores open at least 13 months fell 2.3 percent, matching analysts’ projections and improving from a 3.9 percent slide in March.

The world’s biggest restaurant chain has been struggling to revive its sluggish U.S. business, which has been hurt by new competition and a complicated menu. McDonald’s recently began selling a new sirloin burger and is testing all-day breakfast in a bid to lure more American diners.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook, who took the helm in March, earlier this week unveiled a plan to revive McDonald’s sales and profitability. The changes include a leadership reorganization, cost cuts and a push to sell more company-owned locations to franchisees.

The shares rose 0.3 percent to $97.03 at 8 a.m. in New York in early trading. Through Thursday, they’d gained 3.3 percent this year, compared with a 10 percent increase for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Restaurants Index.