Cash & Equivalents
McDonald's Cash & Equivalents decreased by 67.9% to $774.00M in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 28.7%, from $1.09B to $774.00M. Over 5 years (FY 2020 to FY 2025), Cash & Equivalents shows a downward trend with a -25.8% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase signals improved liquidity and financial flexibility, while a decrease may indicate heavy capital expenditure, debt repayment, or aggressive share buybacks.
Detailed definition
Represents the most liquid assets on the balance sheet, including physical currency and short-term investments with matu...
Peer comparison
Large-cap technology peers often maintain high cash balances to fund rapid innovation and offset the cyclical nature of consumer electronics.
cash_and_equivalentsHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $3.05B | $4.31B | $4.70 | $2.34B | $1.87B | $2.83B | $2.58B | $3.71B | $1.63B | $3.50B | $4.58B | $838.00M | $792.00M | $1.22B | $1.09B | $1.24B | $1.88B | $2.41B | $774.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | +41.2% | -100.0% | >999% | -19.8% | +51.0% | -8.6% | +43.5% | -56.2% | +115.1% | +31.0% | -81.7% | -5.5% | +54.2% | -11.1% | +14.1% | +51.5% | +28.6% | -67.9% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -38.6% | -34.3% | >999% | +58.8% | -13.2% | +23.6% | +77.2% | -77.4% | -51.3% | -65.1% | -76.3% | +47.7% | +136.9% | +97.6% | -28.7% |
Cash & Equivalents at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is McDonald's's cash & equivalents?
- McDonald's (MCD) reported cash & equivalents of $774.00M in Q4 2025.
- How has McDonald's's cash & equivalents changed year-over-year?
- McDonald's's cash & equivalents decreased by 28.7% year-over-year, from $1.09B to $774.00M.
- What is the long-term trend for McDonald's's cash & equivalents?
- Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), McDonald's's cash & equivalents has grown at a -25.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $3.45B to $774.00M.
- What does cash & equivalents mean?
- Money in the bank and very short-term investments that can be turned into cash almost instantly.