McDonald's U.S. sales rose for the first quarter in two years, snapping a streak that had the company consistently seeing quarterly declines.
The company reported Thursday morning that its third-quarter earnings results topped analysts' forecasts, also revealing that sales rose 4 percent on a global basis at established locations, while the figure rose 0.9 percent in the U.S, reported ABC News. The last time the figure increased in the U.S. was for the third quarter of 2013.
The company also said it expects the sales figures to rise both globally and in the U.S. for the final three months of the year.
Shares of the leading burger joint followed suit, jumping more than 8 percent to a record $110.88 in early trading.
McDonald's attributed the sales growth to a turnaround strategy that included the introduction of a new Premium Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Deluxe sandwich, customizable selections, using butter and regular English muffins again, and most recently, the all-day breakfast menu, according to Business Insider.
"The progress we have made in a short amount of time gives me confidence we're making the right moves to turn around our business and reposition McDonald's as a modern, progressive burger company," CEO Steve Easterbrook said on a conference call with analysts and investors.
This data appears to contradict complaints from some domestic franchisees who said the all-day breakfast and customizable sandwiches are omplicating operations and slowing service, reported Reuters. They most notably feared that the breakfast menu would cannibalize sales from the normal menu, having the same amount of sales but generating less profit.
To the contrary, Easterbook said restaurant operations have embraced all-day breakfast, and a preliminary analysis suggests the menu is "an incremental profitable business" that is enticing both new and existing customers alike.
