Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Purchases 2,744 Shares of McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 28.8% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 12,280 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,744 shares during the quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $3,721,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of McDonald’s by 21.6% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,286 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,692,000 after buying an additional 1,649 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,942 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $563,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in McDonald’s by 11.4% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,017 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $589,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the period. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 12.6% in the second quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 2,465 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $720,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Callan Family Office LLC raised its position in shares of McDonald’s by 162.1% in the second quarter. Callan Family Office LLC now owns 17,950 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $5,244,000 after purchasing an additional 11,101 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 2,626 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.58, for a total transaction of $805,079.08. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 5,398 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,654,918.84. This represents a 32.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Manuel Jm Steijaert sold 6,567 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.50, for a total transaction of $2,006,218.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 4,606 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,407,133. This represents a 58.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders sold 32,008 shares of company stock worth $9,895,452. 0.25% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and previews expect Q4 tailwinds from value meals, digital engagement and international growth, which could support comparable-sales gains and cushion margins. Zacks’ Q4 preview highlights these drivers even as it notes cost pressures. McDonald’s to Post Q4 Earnings: What’s in the Cards for the Stock?
• Positive Sentiment: MarketBeat and other previews argue that strong execution, menu innovation and value promotions could reinforce McDonald’s defensive appeal into earnings—analysts have been raising some price targets (BTIG/UBS recently higher), signaling confidence ahead of results. McDonald’s Earnings Could Cement Its Defensive Appeal
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s declared its quarterly cash dividend of $1.86/share (payable March 17; record/ex-dividend dates announced), supporting income-focused investor demand and reinforcing MCD’s blue‑chip/dividend‑king narrative. McDONALD’S ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
• Positive Sentiment: Consumer marketing and limited-time promotions (Valentine’s McNugget “caviar” kits, return of a popular Happy Meal toy) are boosting engagement and social buzz—small but helpful for traffic and brand momentum. McDonald’s is giving away free caviar kits…
• Neutral Sentiment: Brokerage consensus remains mixed: Mizuho raised its price target (to $325) but kept a neutral rating; overall analyst coverage averages to a “Hold.” That suggests limited immediate upside from ratings alone but keeps MCD squarely on the radar. McDonald’s Stock: Analyst Estimates & Ratings
• Neutral Sentiment: Deeper analyst note coverage is focused on traffic mix (notably lower‑income consumer trends), pricing power and promotional intensity beyond raw EPS/revenue—useful context but not an immediate catalyst until management guidance. Exploring Analyst Estimates for McDonald’s Q4 Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Local expansion news (e.g., approval for a 24‑hour drive‑through in Tinley Park) shows continued unit-level growth potential but is unlikely to move the stock materially on its own. McDonalds OK’d to open 24-hour drive through in Tinley Park
• Negative Sentiment: Brand/operational headwinds: a consumer piece highlighting perceived declines in several menu items and a NYT report that McDonald’s opted out of selling food/drink at some official World Cup Fan Fests could dent incremental sales/opportunity and raise short‑term concern about international event exposure. World Cup 2026 – McDonald’s opts out… 7 McDonald’s Menu Items Fans Say Have Quietly Gone Downhill

McDonald’s Trading Up 1.2%

NYSE MCD opened at $327.29 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $233.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.93, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a 50 day moving average of $310.96 and a 200-day moving average of $307.31. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1-year low of $283.47 and a 1-year high of $328.06.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The fast-food giant reported $3.22 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.33 by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.10 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 280.89% and a net margin of 32.04%.McDonald’s’s revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.23 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is 63.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on MCD shares. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, November 6th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Citigroup dropped their price target on McDonald’s from $381.00 to $375.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on McDonald’s from $350.00 to $356.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $332.30.

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.