McDonald's reported a stable profit in the second quarter while appointing a new head of its US operations. The company faces pressure in its domestic market as many American consumers become more cautious with their spending.

McDonald's disclosed that US same-store sales (sales at locations open for at least a year) rose a modest 0.8%, a noticeable deceleration from the 2.5% growth recorded in the same period last year. Last year, the company benefited from a strong performance tied to its Minecraft Movie meal promotion. Globally, the company's same-store sales increased by 1.3%.

McDonald's had already warned in May that high gasoline prices and market concerns stemming from the US-Iran conflict could weigh on store sales. According to data from the American Automobile Association, the national average price for regular gasoline hit a recent peak on May 21, reaching $4.56 per gallon.

The Chicago-based burger chain reported a net profit of $2.36 billion for the three months ending June 30, translating to earnings of $3.32 per share. This compares to a net profit of $2.25 billion, or $3.14 per share, in the same period last year.

Excluding one-time items, adjusted earnings per share came in at $3.38, surpassing the consensus estimate of $3.32 from analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Revenue increased to $7.1 billion from $6.84 billion in the prior year, though it fell slightly short of Wall Street's expectation of $7.13 billion.

Rising prices have had the most significant impact on lower-income groups, squeezing their discretionary spending.

McDonald's continues to adjust its menu, relying on value meals and various promotional offers to attract customers. In April, the company launched a streamlined value menu featuring 10 items priced at $3 or less.

On Tuesday, McDonald's announced that Skye Anderson has been appointed as the president of its US division.

Following the earnings release, the company's shares rose 1.6% in pre-market trading.