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Now that more than half the year is behind us, I thought it would be interesting to look at my top 5 performers through July 31, 2008. As dismal as the stock market has been this year, there are still some bright spots. My top five performers have all achieved double-digit positive total returns since I owned them and positive returns in 2008. Here they are with comments:

#5 - McDonald's (MCD) + 4.4% Total 2008 Return
Last November, I bought this burger maker for $57 in spite of only paying one dividend per year. I was rewarded by MCD moving to quarterly dividends and a 2008 total return of 4

Filed under: Industry, Market matters, McDonald's (MCD), Walgreen Co (WAG), Best Buy (BBY), Circuit City Stores (CC), CVS Corp (CVS), Darden Restaurants (DRI), Yum Brands (YUM), U.S. Steel (X), Stocks to Buy, Rite Aid Corp (RAD), Cramer on BloggingStocks

McDonald’s (MCD) reported total sales growth and same store comparable sales Friday which were McHuge. Here is how it breaks down:  

• Global MCD: Comp sales +8.0%; Systemwide sales in constant currency +9.5%;
• US: Comp sales +6.7%; Systemwide sales +7.6%;
• Europe: Comp sales +7.6%; Systemwide sales in constant currency +9.5%;
• Asia/Pac/MidEast: Comp sales +7.2%; Systemwide sales in constant currency +10.0%.

There is no denying the fact that MCD is able to capitalize on: more traffic flow in the US as consumers trade down (in economics we call this the “Substitution Effect”); expanded hours around

Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) just reported a great quarter. EPS of 31 cents on same store sales of 8.3%. The stock is surging and trading higher than the level at which I sold the first half of my position after the company last reported.

The restaurants are back. Yum Brands (YUM) is too cheap to ignore here. I added some to my personal account yesterday on top of my already full sized position for client accounts that I accumulated last week at lower prices.

Filed under: Forecasts, Consumer experience, Competitive strategy, Starbucks (SBUX), McDonald's (MCD), Stocks to Buy

I'll admit the headline is a bit deceptive. On one hand McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) has seen a resurgence in its business and frankly, the shares have done very well. In fact since McDonald's went through its own set of problems five years ago, the stock has since tripled in value.

The parallels between Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) and McDonald's are very eerie. Starbucks has hit the proverbial wall after a successful ride from 1992 to 2007 as one of the premier GameChanger stocks aroun

McDonald's Corporation (MCD), together with its subsidiaries, franchises and operates McDonald's restaurants worldwide. Its restaurants offer various food items, and soft drinks and other beverages.

MCD is a dividend aristocrat as well as a component of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials indexes. The company has been increasing its dividends for the past 31 consecutive years. From 1998 up until 2007 this dividend growth stock has delivered an annual average total return of 11.00 % to its shareholders.

If you're interested in a more conservative portfolio - one that provides an excellent yield (this one currently has 8.4%) and has a little growth potential - here's a starting point to start to put a diversified portfolio together. I'll be adding more candidates to the list in the future.

Canadian Oil Sands Trust (COSWF.PK)

Lost in the Lehman (LEH), Apple (AAPL) and Oil (USO) hysteria on Monday was the fact that McDonald's (MCD) turned in another undeniably fantastic month.

McDonald�s said on Monday that global sales in May were up a whopping 7.7% at established restaurants. Same-store sales, rose 4.3% at American McDonald�s restaurants open at least 13 months.

Analysts� average call was for an increase of 1%. Same-store sales rose 9.6% in Europe, led by strength in Britain, France and Russia, and 9.7% in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa division.

McDonald's Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner said, "We

By Mike Caggeso

Near double-digit sales growth overseas and relative domestic strength helped McDonald�s Corp. (MCD) post 7.7% same-store sales growth in May.

Filed under: Marketing and advertising, McDonald's (MCD), Yum Brands (YUM), Wendy's Intl (WEN), Burger King Hldgs (BKC), Stocks to Buy

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) announced its same-store sales results for the month of April Thursday, and the data indicate a healthy fast-food business ("healthy fast food" -- isn't that an oxymoron?).

Global comps as a whole increased 5%. Comps for European locations increased 6.3%, and the Asia/Pacific/Middle East/Africa segment saw a 7.8% rise in same-store sales. McDonald's restaurants in the States increased an anemic 2%. The weak domestic sales really need to