Comp-store sales for McDonald's restaurants worldwide increased 6.8% for the month, and 4.6% for the quarter. Global companywide sales for McDonald's increased 11.2% in March and 8% for the first quarter, compared with the same periods in 2004. In constant currencies, these increases were 8% and 5.7% for the month and quarter, respectively.

The company estimated that it would turn in earnings of $0.56 per share for the quarter, up 40% from a year ago. Even after a tax benefit and expenses from stock-based compensation are removed from its earnings, McDonald's will post $0.46 per share earnings, beating analysts' predictions.

"Our global results for the quarter are a testament to the effectiveness of McDonald's Plan to Win," noted CEO Jim Skinner, referring to the various strategies that the company has undertaken in recent years to turn itself around. "For the month of March, comparable sales in the U.S. were strong—up 6.8% on top of a very strong increase in March 2004," he added.

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