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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2015-11-11 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 0 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0000063908 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> MCDONALDS CORP </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> MCD </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001395526 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Bensen Peter J </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> MCDONALD'S CORPORATION </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2> 2915 JORIE BOULEVARD </rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> OAK BROOK </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> IL </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 60523 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 0 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> 0 </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> 0 </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle> Chief Administrative Officer </officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2015-11-11 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> M </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 15870 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 36.37 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 30519 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2015-11-11 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> S </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 15870 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 113.78 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 14649 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | <nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 274.40 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> Profit Sharing Plan </value> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeHolding> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable> |
| | <derivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Options (Right to Buy) </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| <value> 36.37 </value> |
| </conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2015-11-11 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> M </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 15870 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <exerciseDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </exerciseDate> |
| | | <expirationDate> |
| <value> 2016-02-14 </value> |
| </expirationDate> |
| | | <underlyingSecurity> |
| <underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <underlyingSecurityShares> |
| <value> 15870 </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityShares> |
| </underlyingSecurity> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </derivativeTransaction> |
| | <derivativeHolding> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Phantom Stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| <footnoteId id="F3"/> |
| </conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| | | <exerciseDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F4"/> |
| </exerciseDate> |
| | | <expirationDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F4"/> |
| </expirationDate> |
| | | <underlyingSecurity> |
| <underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <underlyingSecurityShares> |
| <value> 23077.77 </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityShares> |
| </underlyingSecurity> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 23077.77 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> I </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <natureOfOwnership> |
| <value> Non-Qualified Benefit Plan </value> |
| </natureOfOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </derivativeHolding> |
| | </derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> This transaction was executed in multipes trades at prices ranging from $113.54 to $114.21 per share. The price reported represents the weighted average sales price of these trades. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full informatioin regarding the shares sold at each separate price. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F2"> Options become exercisable in 25% increments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the grant date. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F3"> Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive the cash value of one share of McDonald's Corporation common stock. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F4"> Shares of phantom stock are payable in cash following the reporting person's separation from service with McDonald's. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <remarks></remarks> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Christopher Weber, Attorney-in-fact </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2015-11-12 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |