McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) EVP Sells $769,108.68 in Stock

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total transaction of $769,108.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at $1,744,760.48. This represents a 30.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link.

McDonald’s Trading Down 1.0%

Shares of NYSE MCD opened at $273.50 on Thursday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $293.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $307.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $194.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1-year low of $271.98 and a 1-year high of $341.75.

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

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 2nd. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is presently 61.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $305.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $340.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $355.00 to $320.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $380.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $334.45.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s unveiled its new “McDonald’s NEXT” growth strategy, emphasizing automation, higher hospitality standards, improved restaurant design, and better food quality. Investors may view the plan as a sign the company is proactively investing to defend traffic and margins. McDonald’s unveils McDonald’s Next global growth strategy 2026
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is also rolling out World Cup-themed meals, collectibles, and marketing campaigns, which could support short-term sales and brand engagement. The World Cup comes to McDonald’s in new Wieden+Kennedy campaign
• Positive Sentiment: Recent commentary suggests McDonald’s is benefiting from value-oriented consumer demand and menu innovation, which may help it hold up better than some peers in a cautious spending environment. Jim Cramer says look to buy these 5 stocks outside the AI trade for diversification
• Neutral Sentiment: An executive vice president sold 2,763 shares, a headline that can weigh on sentiment but does not by itself signal a change in the company’s fundamentals. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison Sells 2,763 Shares
• Neutral Sentiment: BridgeCore Capital’s financing of a McDonald’s property in Alabama reflects ongoing real estate activity around the brand, but it is not a direct operating catalyst for MCD shares. BridgeCore Capital Finances McDonald’s Property in Saraland, Alabama
• Negative Sentiment: The insider sale and the fact that McDonald’s stock has been weak recently may reinforce concerns that the market wants proof the new strategy will translate into stronger results soon.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On McDonald’s

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in McDonald’s by 21.6% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,286 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,692,000 after acquiring an additional 1,649 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in McDonald’s by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,942 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $563,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its position in McDonald’s by 11.4% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,017 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $589,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares during the period. United Bank raised its position in McDonald’s by 6.0% in the second quarter. United Bank now owns 8,102 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,367,000 after acquiring an additional 459 shares during the period. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. raised its position in McDonald’s by 2.5% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 12,938 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $3,780,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.