CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- McDonald's Corp. reported a 23% increase in fourth-quarter profit, helped by the weak dollar and higher demand from the U.S. and France to Russia and Australia.

Net income rose to $1.22 billion, or $1.11 a share, from $985.3 million, or 87 cents, in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose 7% to $5.97 billion from $5.57 billion, McDonald's MCD, +0.37% said Friday.

Excluding the benefit of currency translation, revenue was up 2%.

The fourth-quarter per-share results include benefits of 7 cents from foreign-currency translations and 8 cents from the resolution of certain liabilities, the Oak Brook, Ill., company said.

Analysts estimated the fast-food giant earned $1.01 a share on revenue of $5.92 billion, according to FactSet.

McDonald's shares rose 19 cents to close at $63.39.

Global same-store sales, or those at outlets open at least 13 months, rose 2.3% with all segments reporting positive results, McDonald's said.

In the U.S., operating profit rose 5% as commodities costs eased and McCafe espresso-based coffees and the Angus Third Pounder helped drive demand.

In Europe, the U.K., France and Russia led profit growth.

Its Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa unit saw a double-digit gain in operating profit, led by Australia. There was expansion in China while commodity costs also declined.

"As we begin 2010, McDonald's January global-comparable-sales trend remains positive," said Jim Skinner, chief executive, in a statement.

He also noted the chain served an average 60 million customers a day in 2009, up 2 million a day over the prior year.

The company has been among the few beneficiaries of the global recession as consumers trade down from higher-priced restaurant fare. It has overhauled its menu in recent years while extending hours and aggressively expanding into some fast-growing international markets.

And "they are outpacing a lot of their competitors," said Garth Snider, president of FranchiseOpportunities.com, an online franchising network.

"They have made very few operational mistakes," while a massive global footprint has allowed the company "to weather the storm a little better than most quick-service restaurants," he added.

Further, "they continue to expand their menu and they clearly have their finger on the pulse not only of the American consumer but international consumers as well," Snider said.

There are roughly 32,000 McDonald's outlets worldwide, with the company owning about 6,500 and the rest franchised.