McDonald’s falls short, warns of tough year

In this Jan. 20, 2012 photo, the McDonald’s logo and a Happy Meal box with french fries and a drink are posed at McDonald’s, in Springfield, Ill. McDonald’s Corp. reports quarterly earnings on Monday, July 22, 2013. AP

NEW YORK — McDonald’s Corp. reported a second-quarter profit that fell shy of expectations and warned of a tough year ahead.

The world’s biggest hamburger chain also said July sales are expected to be flat.

The company, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, says global sales edged up 1 percent at restaurants open at least a year in the quarter. The figure rose by the same amount in the U.S., where the company has been introducing new menu items such as chicken wraps and egg-white breakfast sandwiches

For the quarter, the company earned $1.4 billion, or $1.38 per share. That’s up from $1.35 billion, or $1.32 per share, a year ago.

Earnings were short of the $1.40 analysts expected.

Revenue rose to $7.08 billion, in line with expectations.