McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) — Free Cash Flow Generation Index

Latest as of March 2026: 0.72x

McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) has a Free Cash Flow Generation Index of 0.72x as of March 2026. Free cash flow of $1.73 Billion represents 1% of operating cash flow ($2.41 Billion). Read McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) total liabilities for a breakdown of total debt and financial obligations.

FCF Generation Index

0.72x
Free Cash Flow / Operating CF

Free Cash Flow

$1.73 Billion
USD

Operating Cash Flow

$2.41 Billion
USD

Capital Expenditures

$682.00 Million
USD

McDonald’s Corporation Free Cash Flow Generation Index (1989–2025)

Historical FCF Generation Index trend for McDonald’s Corporation across 37 annual periods. Explore McDonald’s Corporation capex to cash flow ratio to see what proportion of operating cash flow is directed to capital expenditures.

Annual Free Cash Flow Generation for McDonald’s Corporation (1989–2025)

Year-by-year Free Cash Flow Generation Index for McDonald’s Corporation. For the full company profile including market capitalisation, see McDonald’s Corporation market cap and net worth.

Year FCG Index Free Cash Flow (USD) Operating CF Capital Expenditures YoY Change
2025 0.68x $7.19 Billion $10.55 Billion $3.37 Billion ▼ -3.6%
2024 0.71x $6.67 Billion $9.45 Billion $2.77 Billion ▼ -6.4%
2023 0.75x $7.25 Billion $9.61 Billion $2.36 Billion ▲ +1.6%
2022 0.74x $5.49 Billion $7.39 Billion $1.90 Billion ▼ -4.4%
2021 0.78x $7.10 Billion $9.14 Billion $2.04 Billion ▲ +5.2%
2020 0.74x $4.62 Billion $6.27 Billion $1.64 Billion ▲ +4.7%
2019 0.71x $5.73 Billion $8.12 Billion $2.39 Billion ▲ +16.3%
2018 0.61x $4.22 Billion $6.97 Billion $2.74 Billion ▼ -9.0%
2017 0.67x $3.70 Billion $5.55 Billion $1.85 Billion ▼ -4.8%
2016 0.70x $4.24 Billion $6.06 Billion $1.82 Billion ▼ -3.2%
2015 0.72x $4.73 Billion $6.54 Billion $1.81 Billion ▲ +17.3%
2014 0.62x $4.15 Billion $6.73 Billion $2.58 Billion ▲ +2.1%
2013 0.60x $4.30 Billion $7.12 Billion $2.82 Billion ▲ +7.3%
2012 0.56x $3.92 Billion $6.97 Billion $3.05 Billion ▼ -9.0%
2011 0.62x $4.42 Billion $7.15 Billion $2.73 Billion ▼ -6.8%
2010 0.66x $4.21 Billion $6.34 Billion $2.14 Billion ▲ +0.4%
2009 0.66x $3.80 Billion $5.75 Billion $1.95 Billion ▲ +3.4%
2008 0.64x $3.78 Billion $5.92 Billion $2.14 Billion ▲ +6.4%
2007 0.60x $2.93 Billion $4.88 Billion $1.95 Billion ▲ +0.3%
2006 0.60x $2.60 Billion $4.34 Billion $1.74 Billion ▼ -4.9%
2005 0.63x $2.73 Billion $4.34 Billion $1.61 Billion ▲ +5.3%
2004 0.60x $2.33 Billion $3.90 Billion $1.57 Billion ▲ +23.3%
2003 0.49x $1.59 Billion $3.27 Billion $1.68 Billion ▲ +314.9%
2002 0.12x $337.90 Million $2.89 Billion $2.55 Billion ▼ -30.2%
2001 0.17x $450.50 Million $2.69 Billion $2.24 Billion ▲ +21.1%
2000 0.14x $380.90 Million $2.75 Billion $2.37 Billion ▼ -48.0%
1999 0.27x $800.40 Million $3.01 Billion $2.21 Billion ▼ -4.3%
1998 0.28x $768.60 Million $2.77 Billion $2.00 Billion ▲ +212.0%
1997 0.09x $217.50 Million $2.44 Billion $2.22 Billion ▲ +521.5%
1996 -0.02x $-52.00 Million $2.46 Billion $2.51 Billion ▼ -120.9%
1995 0.10x $232.50 Million $2.30 Billion $2.06 Billion ▼ -49.7%
1994 0.20x $387.60 Million $1.93 Billion $1.54 Billion ▼ -6.9%
1993 0.22x $362.90 Million $1.68 Billion $1.32 Billion ▲ +12.1%
1992 0.19x $274.90 Million $1.43 Billion $1.15 Billion ▼ -6.8%
1991 0.21x $294.40 Million $1.42 Billion $1.13 Billion ▲ +199.8%
1990 -0.21x $-269.70 Million $1.30 Billion $1.57 Billion ▲ +16.4%
1989 -0.25x $-309.00 Million $1.25 Billion $1.55 Billion
FCG Index = Free Cash Flow / Operating Cash Flow. FCF = Operating CF + Capital Expenditures (capex stored negative).