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McDonald's ends year as top-performing restaurant stock

December 20, 2012

Fortune 500 just announced its list for the top-performing stocks in 2012. Nearly 80 percent of companies posted gains this year, with about 60 percent posting double-digit percentage increases.

McDonald's was the strongest 2012 performer in the restaurant category, finishing the year at No. 107 with $20,006 million in revenues and $5,503.1 million in profits. The Golden Arches was listed at No. 111 in May 2011, with $24,074.6 million in revenues and $4,946.3 million in profits.

Also on the list was Yum! Brands, parent company of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, at No. 213. Yum! earned $12,626 million  in revenues during 2012, and $1,319 million in profits.

At No. 227 is Starbucks, with $11,700.4 million in revenues and $1,245.7 million in profits.

The other foodservice company listed was Darden Restaurants, parent company of Red Lobster, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, at No. 342 ($7,500.2 million revenues; $476.3 million profits).

Food production companies on the list include:

• Archer Daniels Midland, No. 28
• Tyson Foods, No. 96
• Smithfield Foods, No. 218
• Corn Products International, No. 390
• Seabord, No. 427

Food consumer companies listed include:

• PepsiCo, No. 41
• Kraft Foods, No. 50
• General Mills, No. 181
• Kellogg, No. 205
• Dean Foods, No. 207
• Land O'Lakes, No. 210
• ConAgra Foods, No. 215
• Sara Lee, No. 220
• H.J. Heinz, No. 244
• Hormel Foods, No. 327
• Campbell Soup, No. 334
• Dole Food, No. 349
• Hershey, No. 404
• J.M. Smucker, No. 495

Other companies of note include Coca-Cola, at No. 59; Sysco, No. 69; Coca-Cola Enterprises, at No. 324; and Casey's General Stores, which has been focusing more on its pizza delivery business, listed at No. 473 on the year.

The full list is available online.

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