Why you should add McDonald's (MCD) to your portfolio

McDonald's Corporation (Public, NYSE:MCD) can be described in one word: Bulletproof.

Since the Financial Crisis and Economic downturn, McDonald's has traded in the range of 50 - 63, not bad when compared to other stocks during the same time period.

 The company saw its first-quarter profit rise nearly 4 percent as more customers worldwide came to the Golden Arches for a discount meal.

Sales of chicken, breakfast and beverages were particularly strong, McDonald's said.

MCD 1 year chart:

The nation's No. 1 hamburger chain said it is capturing a bigger bite of the market in nearly every part of the world as consumers cut back on their spending and look for a less-expensive alternative to sit-down restaurants.

"They're scaling back and being more discernible about what they purchase," Chief Executive Jim Skinner said Wednesday on a conference call with investors.

New fried chicken menu items and espresso-based drinks have been boosting sales for several quarters.

The espresso drinks are now on the menu at 10,000 of the company's 14,000 U.S. restaurants and are expected to be at all of them this summer. Once the rollout is finished, Skinner said the company will begin a major ad campaign to promote the drinks.

Analysts have said the new espresso beverages could make the fast-food chain a big player in the specialty coffee sector once ruled by Starbucks Corp., which has been closing stores and cutting jobs.

Skinner also confirmed reports that the company will launch its hefty Angus Burger in all U.S. locations this year. The burger has been sold in several test markets but the company held back from introducing it to all U.S. consumers in favor of focusing on its core menu. The burger is slightly more expensive than McDonald's other burgers.

If you're looking to avoid volatility in your portflio, McDonald's is your answer. Add in their Dividen increase to .50 a share last November, and you can say winner, winner, Chicken Dinner.