McDonald's plans $20B payout to shareholders

McDonald's Corp. said it plans to increase its payout to shareholders by 10 to 20 percent over the next three years, rewarding investors at a time when the company is under pressure to improve sales performance in its core U.S. market.

The company plans to return up to $20 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks and dividends through 2016.

McDonald's records buybacks and dividends totaling $16.4 billion between 2011 and 2013, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Read more from the Wall Street Journal.