McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Shares Sold by J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.

J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. cut its stake in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 5.6% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 37,836 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 2,236 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $11,564,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Prudential PLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 8.8% in the fourth quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 98,167 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $30,003,000 after acquiring an additional 7,950 shares during the period. Convergence Financial LLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 6.5% in the fourth quarter. Convergence Financial LLC now owns 1,432 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $438,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP acquired a new position in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $5,427,000. Vise Technologies Inc. lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 60.1% in the fourth quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 20,153 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $6,159,000 after acquiring an additional 7,568 shares during the period. Finally, Continuum Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 4,161 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,272,000 after acquiring an additional 321 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

McDonald’s Price Performance

McDonald’s stock opened at $272.65 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $193.72 billion, a PE ratio of 22.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12 month low of $271.85 and a 12 month high of $341.75. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $292.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $307.73.

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, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.74 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.47 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 442.10% and a net margin of 31.62%.During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.67 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.11, for a total transaction of $93,276.63. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,166,370.74. The trade was a 4.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total value of $769,108.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,744,760.48. The trade was a 30.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 8,681 shares of company stock valued at $2,631,594 over the last quarter. 0.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MCD has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Guggenheim decreased their price target on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 13th. Robert W. Baird set a $305.00 price objective on McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on McDonald’s from $355.00 to $320.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, KeyCorp cut their price objective on McDonald’s from $345.00 to $330.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Sixteen 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, McDonald’s currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $335.50.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s launched a major global FIFA World Cup campaign featuring collectible cups, Squishmallows, and themed meals, which could boost traffic, engagement, and limited-time sales across key markets. McDonald’s launches global FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with collectible cups, Squishmallows
• Positive Sentiment: The company unveiled its “McDonald’s > NEXT” growth strategy, emphasizing automation and higher hospitality standards, which may improve efficiency and support long-term margins. McDonald’s unveils new ‘McDonald’s > NEXT’ growth strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and media highlighted McDonald’s as a stock to watch amid Gen Z spending trends, reinforcing the view that the brand remains relevant with younger consumers. Gen Z Trends Make These 3 Stocks Worth Watching (MCD)
• Neutral Sentiment: A McDonald’s executive, Desiree Ralls-Morrison, sold 2,763 shares, but the filing appears routine and does not necessarily signal a change in fundamentals. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison Sells 2,763 Shares
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles simply reiterated the World Cup promotion details, which may add near-term buzz but are unlikely by themselves to materially change earnings expectations. McDonald’s FIFA World Cup 26 meals with collectible cups
• Negative Sentiment: A new customer survey noted only 40% of customers view McDonald’s as a good value, highlighting a potential demand risk if consumers continue to feel pressured by pricing. Only 40% of customers think McDonald’s is a good value

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.