McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Given New $330.00 Price Target at KeyCorp

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) had its price target cut by research analysts at KeyCorp from $345.00 to $330.00 in a research note issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “overweight” rating on the fast-food giant’s stock. KeyCorp’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 16.25% from the company’s previous close.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on MCD. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $305.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Guggenheim decreased their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 13th. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $370.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on McDonald’s from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $337.48.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $283.87 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $201.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.75, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.43. McDonald’s has a 52-week low of $282.15 and a 52-week high of $341.75. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $311.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $311.40.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The business’s revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.67 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that McDonald’s will post 13.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,276 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.54, for a total value of $8,764,097.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at $7,638,066. This represents a 53.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.72, for a total transaction of $100,805.76. Following the transaction, the insider owned 8,067 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,442,042.24. This represents a 3.96% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 71,990 shares of company stock valued at $23,824,113. 0.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 162.5% during the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP acquired a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Park Place Capital Corp raised its stake in McDonald’s by 95.7% during the fourth quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 92 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Abound Financial LLC purchased a new stake in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat — McDonald’s reported Q1 revenue of about $6.52B and adjusted EPS of $2.83, topping estimates; global comparable sales rose ~3.8% and systemwide sales topped $34B, which drove the stock lift after the print. McDONALD’S REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
• Positive Sentiment: Value + loyalty momentum — Management credited value-focused menus, digital loyalty programs and viral menu hits (e.g., the Big Arch burger and new drinks) for driving traffic and higher checks, signaling the company can defend sales even in a tougher consumer backdrop. McDonald’s Value Menu and Loyalty Fueled Q1 Beat Could Be A Game Changer For McDonald’s (MCD)
• Positive Sentiment: International expansion — McDonald’s highlighted China as a key growth market, targeting aggressive unit growth (10,000 mainland China locations by end of 2028), which supports longer-term revenue upside. While many international brands retreat, McDonald’s is supersizing its China business
• Neutral Sentiment: Options and trader interest — Elevated options activity and attention from traders after the beat could amplify intraday volatility but doesn’t change fundamentals; worth watching for short-term flow.
• Negative Sentiment: Management caution — CEO Chris Kempczinski warned of a worsening “K‑shaped” consumer environment and said higher gas prices could disproportionately hit lower-income customers, which could pressure traffic if fuel/headline inflation stays elevated. McDonald’s CEO just shared some bad news about the K-shaped economy
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst/pricing pushback — TD Cowen trimmed its price target (from $330 to $300) and gave a “hold,” reflecting upside limits and reminding investors some analysts view the beat as priced-in or short-lived.
• Negative Sentiment: Reputational/operational headwinds — Recent reports of consumer pushback on certain actions and intensified competition in chicken/value segments could increase marketing or promotional costs and margin pressure if sustained. McDonald’s Is Facing Intense Pushback After It Did What No Company Should Ever Do

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.