McDonald's Corp reported higher quarterly profit on Friday as strength in international markets offset its weakening U.S. business, which is grappling with high unemployment and rampant discounting.

The world's biggest hamburger chain said fourth-quarter profit was $1.22 billion, or $1.11 a share, up from $985.3 million, or 87 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding one-time items, McDonald's earned $1.03 a share. On that basis, analysts' average forecast was $1.02, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue, which includes sales from company-owned restaurants plus fees like royalties from franchisees, rose 7 percent to $5.97 billion.

Shares edged up 0.3 percent to $63.39 in premarket trading.

(Reporting by Brad Dorfman and Lisa Baertlein; editing by John Wallace)