McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Shares Sold by Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc.

Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. decreased its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 25.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,919 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 1,712 shares during the quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,503,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in McDonald’s by 162.5% in the third quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Park Place Capital Corp raised its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 95.7% in the fourth quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 92 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Painted Porch Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 735.7% during the third quarter. Painted Porch Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the period. Davis Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the third quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Saranac Partners Ltd purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the third quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $307.27 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $218.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.71, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.53. McDonald’s Corporation has a 52 week low of $283.47 and a 52 week high of $341.75. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $321.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $311.50.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 343.90% and a net margin of 31.85%.The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.83 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were paid a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is 62.26%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total transaction of $2,066,731.29. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $763,567.39. This represents a 73.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 4,692 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $331.00, for a total value of $1,553,052.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer owned 6,200 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,052,200. The trade was a 43.08% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 71,657 shares of company stock valued at $23,722,204 in the last three months. 0.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

Here are the key news stories impacting McDonald’s this week:

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is targeting a large beverage opportunity — aiming at a ~$100 billion beverage market with new McCafé drinks planned for a 2026 U.S. and global rollout, a potential multi-year growth driver and same‑store check boost. Can McDonald’s Tap a $100B Beverage Opportunity in 2026?
• Positive Sentiment: The company is launching a new $3 value menu and $4 meal, a tactical move to drive traffic and affordability that could support sales and offset margin pressure if adoption is strong. McDonald’s to launch new $3 value menu, $4 meal this week
• Positive Sentiment: Lower potato input costs reported for suppliers (Lamb Weston) could indirectly help McDonald’s margins if those savings flow through to the chain, reducing a key commodity pressure. Frozen Out: Lamb Weston Beats Earnings, but the Stock Still Slides
• Positive Sentiment: Operational leadership moves: Skye Anderson returns as U.S. COO and other executive adjustments aim to sharpen U.S. operations and franchising/delivery focus, which could improve execution if transitions go smoothly. McDonald’s creates US COO role
• Neutral Sentiment: Marketing/promotions: the global “KPop Demon Hunters” McFlurry and themed meal rollout is generating buzz and likely a short‑term traffic lift, but the impact is promotional and temporary rather than structural. McDonald’s menu has new ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ McFlurry. What’s in it?
• Negative Sentiment: Shares moved lower amid a broader market uptick, signaling some investor caution about near‑term upside despite recent initiatives. McDonald’s (MCD) Stock Falls Amid Market Uptick: What Investors Need to Know
• Negative Sentiment: Investor questions around the leadership shuffle and ESG focus highlight execution and strategic clarity risks; coupled with reports that some new premium product tests (e.g., a $12 burger) are receiving mixed consumer reaction, these factors could weigh on sentiment if trends persist. McDonald’s Leadership Shuffle And ESG Focus Raise Fresh Investor Questions

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MCD has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays upped their price objective on McDonald’s from $372.00 to $380.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on McDonald’s from $323.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating and set a $320.00 price target on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $339.69.

McDonald’s Profile

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is a global quick-service restaurant company best known for its hamburgers, French fries and breakfast offerings. The company develops, operates and franchises a system of restaurants that sell a range of food and beverage items, including signature products such as the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, McCafé coffee beverages and a variety of salads, desserts and seasonal menu items. McDonald’s serves customers through company-operated restaurants and franchised locations, and it supports sales via dine-in, drive-thru, digital ordering platforms and third-party delivery partnerships.

Founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a single San Bernardino, California restaurant, the business was transformed into a franchising model after Ray Kroc joined in the mid-1950s and led the brand’s national and international expansion.