Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Quarterly Data
The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.
Liabilities represents obligations of a company arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow of economic benefits from the entity.
McDonald’s Corp., consolidated balance sheet: liabilities and stockholders’ equity (quarterly data)
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31).
The financial position is characterized by a substantial reliance on long-term debt and a persistent, though narrowing, shareholders' deficit. Total liabilities have exhibited a gradual upward trend, increasing from 58,339 million US dollars in March 2021 to 60,943 million US dollars by June 2026, reflecting a steady expansion of the company's obligations.
- Long-Term Debt and Lease Obligations
- Long-term debt, excluding current maturities, demonstrates a consistent growth pattern, rising from 34,823 million US dollars in early 2021 to 39,863 million US dollars by mid-2026. This indicates a strategic reliance on long-term borrowing to fund operations or capital expenditures. Long-term lease liabilities have remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 11,767 million US dollars and 14,146 million US dollars, suggesting a consistent footprint in leased assets.
- Current Liabilities and Short-Term Volatility
- Current liabilities show significant periodic volatility, with a notable peak of 6,859 million US dollars in December 2023 and another rise to 6,308 million US dollars in September 2024. This volatility is partially driven by fluctuations in short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt, which spiked to 2,192 million US dollars in December 2023 and 1,800 million US dollars in June 2025. Accounts payable have trended upward over the period, moving from 670 million US dollars to 1,114 million US dollars.
- Retained Earnings and Treasury Stock
- A strong growth trend is observed in retained earnings, which climbed from 54,483 million US dollars in March 2021 to 71,987 million US dollars by June 2026. Simultaneously, there is a significant increase in the cost of common stock held in treasury, growing from 67,058 million US dollars to 80,528 million US dollars. This indicates an aggressive share repurchase program that offsets the accumulation of retained earnings.
- Shareholders' Deficit Trajectory
- The company has maintained a shareholders' deficit throughout the analyzed period, a condition where total liabilities exceed total assets. However, the magnitude of this deficit has decreased substantially. The deficit narrowed from 7,236 million US dollars in March 2021 to 1,023 million US dollars by June 2026, signaling a move toward a more balanced equity position despite the ongoing treasury stock acquisitions.
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