McDonald’s Seeks Advice on Race; Lowe’s Holders Back Report (2)

McDonald’s Corp., whose investors last week approved a shareholder resolution calling for an independent civil-rights audit of the fast-food giant, said it has engaged an outside firm to take a step toward such an effort.

“We are committed to providing equitable opportunities for our employees, franchisees, and suppliers,” the company said in an emailed statement Thursday. “While we are proud of our progress, our efforts are ongoing, and we will continue to focus on actions that have meaningful impact. Consistent with these efforts, we have engaged a third party to conduct an assessment.”

It wasn’t clear if the assessment ...