McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Insider Sells $1,493,248.64 in Stock

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) insider Joseph Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the sale, the insider owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,198,930.88. The trade was a 40.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.3%

NYSE:MCD traded up $0.73 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $282.98. 3,972,573 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,577,885. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $290.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $307.22. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12 month low of $271.85 and a 12 month high of $341.75. The company has a market capitalization of $201.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.41.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.74 by $0.09. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.62% and a negative return on equity of 442.10%. The firm had revenue of $6.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.47 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.67 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be paid a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 2nd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.34%.

Institutional Trading of McDonald’s

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MCD. Curry Webb Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the 1st quarter worth about $444,000. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. raised its stake in McDonald’s by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 9,469 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,943,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Farmers National Bank raised its stake in McDonald’s by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Farmers National Bank now owns 29,724 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $9,238,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Wealthquest Corp raised its stake in McDonald’s by 7.2% in the 1st quarter. Wealthquest Corp now owns 3,245 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,009,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stillwater Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the 1st quarter worth about $668,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is testing and reintroducing AI-powered drive-thru ordering at select U.S. locations, which could improve labor efficiency, speed, and long-term margins if the technology works as intended. McDonald’s new AI drive-thru has to prove it can handle hungry people
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is also rolling out a FIFA World Cup-themed meal with collectible cups and limited-time items, a marketing push that could support traffic and sales through promotion-driven demand. McDonald’s World Cup 2026 meal deal – how to collect all the cups and which players are on them
• Positive Sentiment: Jim Cramer’s remarks that investors do not need to worry about McDonald’s may be helping sentiment, reinforcing the stock’s image as a defensive, high-quality name during market volatility. Jim Cramer Discusses a Strategic Buying Plan to Build a Great Cost Basis in McDonald’s
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains constructive, with McDonald’s receiving a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating, which supports the case that the stock remains a favored large-cap consumer staple. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles frame McDonald’s as a long-term value or contrarian holding, but these are opinion pieces rather than new fundamental developments, so they are unlikely to move the stock on their own. 1 Unstoppable Fast-Food Giant to Buy Hand Over Fist and Hold for 25 Years
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s is also seeing coverage around its strategic course and valuation, but these are more commentary-driven than event-driven. McDonald’s outlines new strategic course
• Negative Sentiment: Some reports say customers are frustrated by changes to the drive-thru experience, and broader skepticism around AI ordering suggests execution risk if the rollout creates inconvenience instead of efficiency. McDonald’s quietly makes a major change to its drive thru and customers are furious
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s is also facing workplace-safety and culture scrutiny after serious employee incidents in the U.S. and harassment concerns in the UK, which could weigh on sentiment if they broaden into a larger reputational issue. McDonald’s Workplace Incidents Put Culture Risks And Investor Focus In Spotlight

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $380.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $336.26.

About McDonald’s

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.