Fast-food chain McDonald's today posted flat US same-store sales in December.
The company said fourth-quarter net income was $1.27 billion, or $1.06 a share, compared with $1.24 billion, or $1.00 a share, a year earlier.
Excluding tax items, earnings were 73 cents a share, compared with the average analyst estimate of 71 cents, according to Reuters Estimates.
Revenue rose 6 per cent to $5.75 billion. Analysts on average forecast $5.68 billion, according to analysts' estimates.
McDonald's blamed softer consumer spending and severe winter weather for the flat US December sales at restaurants open at least 13 months.
Same-store sales rose 8.3 per cent in the fourth quarter in Europe, 3.3 per cent in the United States and 11.4 per cent in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa segment.