<h1>McDonald's International Sales Growth Offsets US Decline Amid E. Coli Outbreak; Revenue and Earnings Miss Expectations</h1> Improving international sales helped McDonald's offset a 1.4% decline in US same-store sales during the fourth quarter, attributed to an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder hamburgers. Overseas, same-store sales rose 4.1%, with notable growth in the Middle East and Japan. Globally, same-store sales increased by less than 1%, surpassing Wall Street's forecasted 1.1% decline. Fourth-quarter revenue slightly decreased to USD 6.38 billion, below the expected USD 6.45 billion. Net income fell 1% to USD 2.01 billion, and adjusted earnings per share were USD 2.83, marginally underperforming the anticipated USD 2.85 per share.