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). Explore McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) reinvestment ratio to see what proportion of operating cash flow is directed to capital expenditures.

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. For the full cash flow conversion analysis, see McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) cash conversion ratio.

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

Year-by-year Free Cash Flow Generation Index for McDonald’s Corporation. Check McDonald’s Corporation cash flow reinvestment rate to assess the company's total reinvestment commitment from operating cash flow.

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).