McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Insider Sells $93,276.63 in Stock

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) insider Joseph Erlinger sold 333 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.11, for a total value of $93,276.63. Following the sale, the insider owned 7,734 shares in the company, valued at $2,166,370.74. This trade represents a 4.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of MCD stock traded up $1.83 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $281.09. 3,801,400 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,485,466. McDonald’s Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $271.98 and a fifty-two week high of $341.75. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $297.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $309.05. The stock has a market cap of $199.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.17, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.43.

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

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on MCD shares. Citigroup lifted their target price on McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Tigress Financial lifted their target price on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Guggenheim dropped their target price on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Erste Group Bank lowered McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $334.45.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On McDonald’s

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MCD. Norges Bank acquired a new position in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth about $2,890,438,000. Diamant Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in McDonald’s by 30,979.0% in the first quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,596,340 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $806,917,000 after purchasing an additional 2,587,986 shares in the last quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP grew its stake in McDonald’s by 9,867.5% in the fourth quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP now owns 2,541,008 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $776,608,000 after purchasing an additional 2,515,515 shares in the last quarter. Viking Global Investors LP grew its stake in McDonald’s by 171.7% in the second quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 3,125,432 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $913,157,000 after purchasing an additional 1,974,998 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in McDonald’s by 36.6% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,396,837 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,336,155,000 after purchasing an additional 1,179,244 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is rolling out new limited-time offerings tied to major consumer appeal, including Refreshers/dirty sodas in some locations and 2026 FIFA World Cup Happy Meal Squishmallows, which could support traffic and engagement. Refreshers, dirty sodas available at Michiana-area McDonald’s restaurants McDonald’s unveils 2026 FIFA World Cup Happy Meal
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s continues expanding internationally, including new restaurants in Kyiv and Lviv, which supports the company’s growth story outside the U.S. McDonald’s expands in Ukraine; Penetron technology helps protect concrete
• Positive Sentiment: Investor-focused coverage calling McDonald’s a “blue-chip” stock and arguing it still has a strong economic moat may be helping support the shares by highlighting its dividend and long-term resilience. 5 Battered Blue-Chip Stocks That Pay Huge Dividends and Won’t Be Down Forever McDonald’s: Still Lovin’ The Moat
• Neutral Sentiment: Several lifestyle and nostalgia pieces about discontinued menu items, ordering habits, and classic burgers keep McDonald’s in the cultural conversation, but they are unlikely to materially affect earnings. How This McDonald’s Burger Tried And Failed To Compete With Burger King’s Whopper In The ’90s We asked dietitians their favorite McDonald’s burger—they all picked the same one 20 Discontinued McDonald’s Menu Items You’ll Never See Again
• Negative Sentiment: A report saying McDonald’s cannot meet its 2030 emissions targets could create ESG-related pressure, even though the company says it still plans to keep its long-term goals. McDonald’s can’t meet its 2030 emissions targets

McDonald’s Company 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.