McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Stock: NFSG Corp Trims Holdings

NFSG Corp decreased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 75.4% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 2,929 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 8,970 shares during the period. NFSG Corp’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $676,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Purpose Unlimited Inc. purchased a new position in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Merkkuri Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the 1st quarter worth $43,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 1st quarter worth $51,000. Finally, Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 30.5% during the 1st quarter. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. now owns 171 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MCD has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. DZ Bank reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, September 24th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $282.00 to $270.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Guggenheim lowered their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $290.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 5th. Melius Research dropped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $250.00 to $230.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Finally, KeyCorp cut their price objective on McDonald’s from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $295.94.

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of MCD traded up $0.49 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $242.99. 7,235,673 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,700,715. The stock has a market capitalization of $171.95 billion, a PE ratio of 19.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.44. McDonald’s Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $229.20 and a fifty-two week high of $341.75. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $252.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $272.09.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.06. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 572.06% and a net margin of 31.72%. The firm had revenue of $7.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.19 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be issued a $1.93 dividend. This is a positive change from McDonald’s’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 1st. This represents a $7.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is currently 60.44%.

Key Stories Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is bringing back a popular limited-time meal, while Halloween Boo Buckets are returning with a Disney-themed design. The promotions could support traffic, customer engagement and comparable-store sales. McDonald’s Is Bringing Back a Fan-Favorite Meal
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s dividend remains a key attraction: the company has joined the “Dividend King” group after decades of consecutive increases. Income-oriented investors may view the yield above 3% and recurring franchise cash flow favorably. McDonald’s Dividend King Status
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option activity and a broader rotation from technology into beaten-down consumer stocks may be providing additional short-term support for MCD. Consumer Stocks Get a Lift as Investors Rotate Out of Tech
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and market commentators generally see the stock as near fair value following its dividend increase. McDonald’s has fallen substantially this year, but investors still need evidence that cash-flow and earnings growth can justify the valuation. McDonald’s May Trade Near Fair Value
• Neutral Sentiment: The company’s planned multibillion-dollar modernization, including drive-thru technology and the “Archy” AI initiative, could improve efficiency over time, although execution and return-on-investment risks remain. McDonald’s Overhaul and AI Drive-Thru
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s faces a challenging third-quarter outlook, with weak U.S. sales and questions about value-menu execution. Renewed promotions and operational fixes will need to translate into sustained traffic and earnings growth. Challenging Q3 Outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Some investors argue that an attractive dividend alone is insufficient because the stock’s valuation leaves limited room for disappointment if sales and earnings remain pressured. McDonald’s Dividend Yield and Valuation

McDonald’s Profile

McDonald’s Corporation is a global quick-service restaurant company that operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald’s brand. Its restaurants serve a menu that includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, breakfast items, desserts, salads, beverages and coffee. Offerings vary by market, and many locations provide drive-thru service, delivery and digital ordering through the McDonald’s mobile app.

The company operates through a heavily franchised business model, with restaurants owned and operated by independent franchisees, affiliates and the company itself.