In the US, comp sales rose 9.7%, which McDonald's execs said was due to the strength of the Plan-to-Win concept. In a statement, McDonald's chief executive officer Jim Skinner also attributed positive sales to a "strong breakfast business, popular core and premium menu choices, everyday value, extended hours, gift cards and mild January weather."

In Europe, comparable sales were down 0.5% for the month as France and Russia delivered strong sales performance, partly offsetting weak sales results in the UK and Germany. According to company execs, the UK and Germany faced difficult comparisons against successful national coupon promotions in the same year-ago period.

"In Germany, we are committed to our permanent value menu which is designed to drive sustainable growth," Skinner said. "The UK continues to supplement their value platform with brand building efforts to drive performance in a challenging environment. We continue to focus on building momentum across Europe through enhanced menu variety, compelling value and strong marketing."