Syon Capital LLC Sells 3,577 Shares of McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Syon Capital LLC trimmed its stake in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 33.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,248 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 3,577 shares during the period. Syon Capital LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,959,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MCD. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Abound Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. bought a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new position in McDonald’s during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total value of $1,493,248.64. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares in the company, valued at $2,198,930.88. This represents a 40.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on MCD shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on McDonald’s from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $350.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Guggenheim cut their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $320.00 to $290.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $322.00 to $319.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Freedom Capital raised shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $321.35.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Valuation may attract contrarian buyers: McDonald’s is trading at roughly 19.15 times earnings, below the restaurant industry’s average multiple. Analysts point to global expansion, digital initiatives and new product efforts as possible catalysts for a recovery. McDonald’s Trades at 19.15X P/E: Is This a Discounted Opportunity?
• Positive Sentiment: Promotional activity could support traffic: McDonald’s is bringing back popular menu items, launching a Texas-themed meal with collectible cups and promoting limited-time products. These campaigns may encourage visits and improve near-term sales, though their financial impact is unproven. McDonald’s launches exclusive state-themed meal
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand visibility remains high: Coverage of McDonald’s breakfast offerings, Grimace appearances, collectible merchandise and Warren Buffett’s long-standing affinity for the brand reinforces consumer awareness but is unlikely to materially change earnings expectations. The best McDonald’s breakfast sandwich isn’t on the menu
• Negative Sentiment: U.S. consumer weakness is the main concern: Reports describe consumer-focused stocks, including McDonald’s, as signaling softer spending in middle America. Articles also highlight customers shifting to competing fast-food chains, increasing pressure on traffic and comparable sales. Wall Street worried about consumer stocks
• Negative Sentiment: Value positioning remains problematic: Coverage says McDonald’s $3 value offering has not fully delivered for customers or the company, raising concerns about affordability, franchisee economics and the effectiveness of discounting. Why you can’t find McDonald’s $3 value menu

McDonald’s Stock Down 1.5%

Shares of McDonald’s stock opened at $255.69 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $269.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $289.39. The company has a market capitalization of $180.94 billion, a PE ratio of 20.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s Corporation has a 52 week low of $255.49 and a 52 week high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $7.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.13 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 572.06% and a net margin of 31.72%.The business’s revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.19 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.87 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be issued a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.44%.

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.