Here's How Much Investing $100 In McDonald's Stock Back In 2010 Would Be Worth Today

Investors who owned stocks in the 2010s generally experienced some big gains. In fact, the SPDR S&P 500 SPY total return for the decade was 250.5%. But there’s no question some big-name stocks did much better than others along the way.

McDonald’s Big Decade

One of the top performers of the decade was fast food giant McDonald's Corp MCD.

McDonald’s faces some significant challenges in the 2010s, including souring public opinion on processed foods and a trend toward organic, healthy menu items.

Following six consecutive quarters of U.S. same-restaurant sales declines, CEO Steve Easterbrook announced a turnaround plan back in 2015 that included corporate restructuring, large-scale refranchising and higher-quality menu items. In addition, Easterbrook launched the Experience of the Future initiative, which included a $6 billion commitment to restaurant remodels and a focus on technological innovation, such as kiosk and app ordering and delivery.

Easterbrook’s turnaround initiatives worked and helped jump-start McDonald’s stock in the second half of the decade.

McDonald's CEO To Employees: The Party's Over

McDonald's shares started the 2010s trading at around $63. The stock dipped as low as $61.06 in January 2010, it’s lowest point of the decade. From that point forward, McDonald's shares marched steadily higher for the next two years, reaching $102.22 in early 2012.

McDonald’s then traded sideways in a range of between around $85 and $105 for nearly four years before the turnaround initiatives began to gain traction.

2020 And Beyond

McDonald's reached its decade high of $221.93 in mid-2019 before cooling off over the past six months or so.

Still, $100 worth of McDonald's stock in 2010 would be worth about $447 today, assuming reinvested dividends.

Steve Easterbrook resigned as CEO in November pf 2019. The company's board of director's determined Easterbrook violated company policy and demonstrated poor judgment involving a consensual relationship with an employee. He was replaced with Chris Kempczinski.