Suncoast Equity Management Sells 220 Shares of McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Suncoast Equity Management cut its stake in shares of McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) by 4.2% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 5,043 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 220 shares during the period. Suncoast Equity Management’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,495,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. DGS Capital Management LLC bought a new position in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter valued at $209,000. First American Trust FSB increased its holdings in McDonald’s by 7.4% during the fourth quarter. First American Trust FSB now owns 2,361 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $700,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. LifePlan Financial LLC purchased a new stake in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter worth about $326,000. Private Client Services LLC purchased a new stake in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter worth about $282,000. Finally, Aurora Private Wealth Inc. increased its holdings in McDonald’s by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Aurora Private Wealth Inc. now owns 4,164 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,235,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 1,099 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.38, for a total value of $312,533.62. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 18,075 shares in the company, valued at $5,140,168.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MCD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. BTIG Research downgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $340.00 to $335.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Oppenheimer reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Friday, January 5th. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $330.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $319.72.

McDonald’s Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MCD traded up $0.33 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $266.56. 1,021,233 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,218,388. The stock has a market capitalization of $192.19 billion, a PE ratio of 23.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.71. McDonald’s Co. has a one year low of $245.73 and a one year high of $302.39. The company’s 50 day moving average is $284.60 and its 200 day moving average is $280.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 5th. The fast-food giant reported $2.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.83 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $6.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.45 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 171.96% and a net margin of 33.22%. McDonald’s’s revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.59 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that McDonald’s Co. will post 12.35 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $1.67 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $6.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.51%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is currently 57.74%.

McDonald’s Company Profile

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. It offers food and beverages, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers, various chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, desserts, sundaes, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages; and full or limited breakfast, as well as sells various other products during limited-time promotions.