Brokerages Set McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Price Target at $325.88

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) has been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-seven research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $322.9583.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on McDonald’s from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Freedom Capital raised McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $305.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Morgan Stanley lowered 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 report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, UBS Group set a $305.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is bringing back Spicy Chicken McNuggets on September 1 after a two-year absence. The limited-time offering has generated substantial customer interest and could provide a short-term traffic and sales lift. McDonald’s to bring back spicy McNuggets
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains constructive despite a lower valuation target: Argus reduced its price target from $320 to $310 but retained a “buy” rating, implying significant upside from recent levels. Argus analyst action
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s unified digital platform is nearing completion across major markets. Greater integration could improve personalization, customer engagement, operating productivity and long-term growth. McDonald’s unified digital platform
• Positive Sentiment: A temporary 90-day waiver on beef import tariffs could reduce input-cost pressure for restaurants, potentially benefiting McDonald’s margins if the company obtains lower-cost beef supplies. Beef tariff waiver

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares in the company, valued at $2,198,930.88. The trade was a 40.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonald’s

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. bought a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Abound Financial LLC purchased a new stake in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. purchased a new stake in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Price Performance

Shares of MCD stock opened at $266.88 on Monday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $271.33 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $292.38. McDonald’s has a 1 year low of $260.96 and a 1 year high of $341.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $188.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.68, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.41.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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. The firm had revenue of $7.10 billion during 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 for the quarter was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.19 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s will post 12.88 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be issued a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.44%.

About McDonald’s

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.