McDonald’s (MCD) Stock Seeks Upside as Push for Energy Drinks Targets Starbucks

TLDR

• McDonald’s is introducing energy drinks and crafted sodas to its U.S. menus, featuring options like a Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer.
• Beverages such as a Dirty Dr Pepper and a Mango Pineapple Refresher are scheduled to debut next month.
• The energy drink offerings are anticipated to arrive in August.
• McDonald’s intends to set prices for the new drinks lower than competitors such as Starbucks, Dutch Bros, and Sonic.
• MCD shares are nearly unchanged year-to-date, gaining a mere 0.02%, and hold a consensus Moderate Buy rating with an average price target of $349.48.

(SeaPRwire) –   McDonald’s will broaden its selection of cold beverages at U.S. outlets later this year, as per a Wall Street Journal report that references internal company materials.

MCDONALD’S TO ADD ENERGY DRINKS, CRAFTED SODAS TO MENUS

McDonald’s $MCD is planning a overhaul of its menu of cold drinks at its U.S. restaurants later this year … some of the new drinks include

a Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer, a Dirty Dr Pepper, and a Mango Pineapple… pic.twitter.com/z1dRaRSsiS

— Evan (@StockMKTNewz) April 13, 2026

The new selection features a Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer, a Dirty Dr Pepper, and a Mango Pineapple Refresher. The initial set of drinks is projected to appear on menus next month, with the energy drink lineup coming in August.

Reuters could not instantly confirm the report. McDonald’s offered no comment in response to an inquiry.

McDonald’s Corporation, MCD

McDonald’s has been experimenting with comparable ideas for some time. Concepts like a Sour Cherry Energy Burst and a Blackberry Mint Green Tea were tested via its now-discontinued CosMc’s brand.

The company is now applying those insights to its primary restaurant network, aiming to secure a portion of the global beverage market, which is valued at more than $100 billion.

Priced to Compete

McDonald’s strategy is to price the new beverages lower than its rivals. It aims to offer better value than chains including Starbucks (SBUX), Dutch Bros (BROS), and Sonic.

This approach to pricing aligns with the firm’s wider emphasis on value. Just this month, McDonald’s rolled out menu items priced at $3 or less and started a $4 breakfast meal deal in the United States.

In February, CEO Chris Kempczinski noted the value strategy was yielding positive outcomes, citing a rise in visits from customers with lower incomes.

The beverage initiative follows the same rationale — providing customers with additional incentives to pick McDonald’s instead of a more expensive competitor.

A High-Margin Opportunity

Drinks are some of the most lucrative products a restaurant can offer. Production costs are minimal, yet the selling price is comparatively high versus food items.

Numerous McDonald’s franchise owners have already upgraded their equipment to make these drinks. The corporation has collaborated with operators to ensure beverage preparation does not hinder service speed.

The anticipation is that the new drink assortment will provide robust profit margins for franchisees, who operate most McDonald’s restaurants.

Consumer interest in energy drinks and specialty sodas has grown as people look beyond traditional coffee and tea. McDonald’s views this as an opportunity to attract more of that consumer spending to its established locations.

MCD stock is basically flat for the year, up 0.02%, as investors have primarily concentrated on high-growth industries.

A consensus of 25 Wall Street analysts gives the stock a Moderate Buy rating, derived from 15 Buy and 10 Hold recommendations over the past three months.

The average price target is $349.48, suggesting approximately 14.3% potential growth from present levels.