McDonald's Corp. on Thursday said it raised its quarterly dividend 6%, flipping more cash to shareholders as the fast-food giant continues to benefit from its turnaround plan.

The board declared a 94-cents-a-share quarterly dividend—$3.76 annually—ringing the company's fourth-quarter payout to nearly $800 million.

"I'm encouraged by the meaningful progress we've made against our turnaround plan," said Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook, adding the increase reflects the "strength and stability of our cash flow."

McDonald's has raised its dividend every year since paying its first one in 1976. The company said 2016 marks the final year of its plan to return $30 billion of cash to shareholders over three years. Through August, McDonald's returned $26 billion and is on track to fill out the remainder by year-end.

Shares, inactive premarket, have risen 18% over the past 12 months.

Write to Anne Steele at Anne.Steele@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 29, 2016 08:55 ET (12:55 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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