NEW YORK (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp reported a higher-than-expected 4.9 percent rise in April sales at established restaurants, sending its shares up.
The world's biggest fast-food chain has been outperforming its U.S. rivals with help from its coffee business and its discount "Dollar Menu."
Sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose 3.8 percent in the United States, 5.3 percent in Europe and 3.9 percent in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa region.
Strong demand for beverages, including new McCafe offerings like Frappes, and older items like Chicken McNuggets boosted April sales, the company said in a statement on Monday.
Jefferies & Co analyst Jeff Farmer said in a recent client note that he was looking for global same-restaurant sales to rise 4.9 percent, slightly above Wall Street's call for growth of 4.5 percent.
Farmer's forecast included a 3.8 percent rise in the United States -- below the Street's call for a 4.1 percent increase -- and gains of 4 percent in Europe and 5 percent in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
The pace of sales in the United States and Europe, its largest markets, however slowed from March levels.
In March, global same-store sales jump 5.2 percent. That included gains of 4.2 percent in the United States, 5.9 percent in Europe and 2.8 percent in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
Shares of McDonald's were up about 2.5 percent at $69.70 in trading before the market opened.
(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein and Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Derek Caney)
