Its renewed focus will spur your income

Article Excerpt

In the past few years, McDonald’s has transferred responsibility for most of its outlets to its franchisees. That lets it concentrate on what it does best—marketing and developing new products. This “asset-light” model also gives it more cash for dividends. MCDONALD’S CORP. $219 is a buy. This original fast-food giant (New York symbol MCD; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 745.1 million; Market cap: $163.2 billion; Dividend yield: 2.4%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.mcdonalds.com) creates value for investors through its 38,000 restaurants in 120 countries. The company has raised your dividend each year since 1976. McDonald’s will lift that quarterly payment to $1.29 a share starting December 2020. That’s up 3.0% from $1.25. The new annual rate of $5.16 yields 2.4%. McDonald’s continues to sell company-owned restaurants to franchisees. That adds value for investors by freeing it from maintaining and upgrading these outlets. As part of that plan, in 2017 the company sold 80% of its chain in China (with 2,700 locations) to a group led by…