Insider Selling: McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) EVP Sells 6,201 Shares of Stock

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total value of $2,066,731.29. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $763,567.39. The trade was a 73.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MCD traded down $0.43 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $332.62. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 823,463 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,373,010. The company has a market cap of $236.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.52. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12-month low of $283.47 and a 12-month high of $336.00. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $315.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $309.60.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 business 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 firm earned $2.83 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be issued a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.26%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MCD has been the topic of several analyst reports. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Robert W. Baird set a $335.00 price target on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Sixteen equities research 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 currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $337.57.

More McDonald’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is rolling its internationally successful “Big Arch” burger into U.S. menus for a limited time — a high-profile product launch that can drive traffic and near-term sales. McDonald’s to Bring Successful Big Arch Burger to U.S. Menus
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is also introducing a best‑selling international burger to the U.S. for a limited time — another limited‑time offer that can boost traffic and AUVs (average unit volumes) during the promotion. McDonald’s is bringing its best-selling international burger to the US for a limited time
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment has improved: JPMorgan raised its price target and kept an overweight stance, and Erste Group upgraded MCD to Buy — both lend credibility that earnings/sales could firm in 2026. Benzinga – JPMorgan price target raise Erste Group Sees McDonald’s Benefiting
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s has quietly outperformed the broader consumer discretionary sector over the past year — positive evidence of resilience, though much of that strength may already be priced in. McDonald’s Stock: Is MCD Outperforming the Consumer Discretionary Sector?
• Neutral Sentiment: Regional marketing (McDonald’s India Protein Week) and seasonal items (Shamrock Shake coverage) highlight ongoing localized promotions that support same‑store sales but have limited, uneven impact globally. McDonald’s India Celebrates Protein Week
• Neutral Sentiment: Peer results (Domino’s) show industry-level pricing and traffic dynamics are in flux — useful for context but not a direct driver of MCD’s near‑term moves. Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (DMZPY) Earnings Highlights
• Negative Sentiment: Broader market weakness (index declines and risk‑off action) and recent strong multi‑year gains in MCD have likely prompted short‑term profit‑taking, which is pressuring the stock despite company-level positives. Stock Market Today: Dow Dives (Market Headwinds)

Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonald’s

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in McDonald’s by 84.1% in the second quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 141,775 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $41,422,000 after buying an additional 64,757 shares in the last quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. boosted its position in McDonald’s by 236.7% during the 3rd quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 6,502 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,976,000 after buying an additional 4,571 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 2.7% during the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 143,492 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $43,606,000 after purchasing an additional 3,774 shares during the period. Choreo LLC grew its position in shares of McDonald’s by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 58,515 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $17,096,000 after buying an additional 954 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in McDonald’s during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,120,000. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

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.