Fast-food still a good pick for your portfolio

Article Excerpt

In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, these four fast-food operators have closed their dine-in areas. However, they continue to serve customers with take-out and drive-thru facilities. Recent investments in their home-delivery operations have proven timely, as those upgrades are now helping them cope as more people eat at home. We feel that all four will rebound quickly in the next few months once they resume normal operations. The slowdown of the outbreak in China is also good news for them, as that country still represents a major area of new growth for American fast-food companies. Despite the current turmoil, all four are either raising or maintaining their dividends. That signals the continuing confidence in their future prospects. MCDONALD’S CORP. $163 is a buy for investors. This original fast-food giant (New York symbol MCD; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector, Shares outstanding: 753.1 million; Market cap: $122.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.8; Dividend yield: 3.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.mcdonalds.com) now operates 38,695 restaurants in 120 countries. In the…