McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Shares Sold by World Equity Group Inc.

World Equity Group Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 51.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,876 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 6,170 shares during the quarter. World Equity Group Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,785,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its position in shares of McDonald’s by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 365,619 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $111,108,000 after purchasing an additional 2,556 shares during the last quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors lifted its position in McDonald’s by 1.2% in the third quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 8,280 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,516,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC boosted its stake in McDonald’s by 12.6% during the third quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC now owns 3,119 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $904,000 after buying an additional 349 shares during the period. Valmark Advisers Inc. boosted its stake in McDonald’s by 2.9% during the third quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. now owns 17,289 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $5,254,000 after buying an additional 481 shares during the period. Finally, Pioneer Trust Bank N A OR increased its position in shares of McDonald’s by 1.5% during the third quarter. Pioneer Trust Bank N A OR now owns 17,186 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $5,223,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Stock Down 0.5%

NYSE:MCD opened at $307.27 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $307.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $304.78. The company has a market cap of $218.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.53. McDonald’s Corporation has a 52 week low of $276.53 and a 52 week high of $326.32.

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

McDonald’s Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This is a boost from McDonald’s’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.48%.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays published a bullish forecast for MCD, signaling strong expected price appreciation and supporting upside vs. peers. Barclays Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an overweight rating, suggesting confidence in growth/strategy that can support longer-term multiple expansion. Sanford C. Bernstein Overweight (coverage roundup)
• Neutral Sentiment: TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” with a $320 target — implies limited near-term catalyst but indicates room for modest upside from current levels. TD Cowen Hold Rating Reaffirmed
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s announced new and returning global menu items for 2026 — potential to boost customer traffic and average check if launches resonate. McDonald’s to Launch New and Returning Menu Items Worldwide in 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Company says it’s changing its drive-thrus (operational update) — could improve throughput/experience but is execution-dependent. McDonald’s Is Changing Its Drive-Thrus
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple outlets report a new lawsuit alleging McDonald’s “deceived” customers about McRib ingredients — this raises near-term PR/legal risk and could pressure sales of a promoted product. McDonald’s is facing serious allegations about the McRib McDonald’s Faces Lawsuit Claiming It ‘Deceived’ Customers About the McRib
• Negative Sentiment: Unions have accused McDonald’s of repeated harassment of mostly teenage staff — intensifies labor/PR scrutiny that can lead to fines, protests, or higher labor costs if issues persist. Unions accuse McDonald’s of ‘repeated harassment’ against ‘mostly teenage’ staff
• Neutral Sentiment: Local openings (e.g., Biltmore grand opening) signal continued unit activity but have limited immediate impact on the stock. Biltmore McDonald’s celebrates grand opening

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MCD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on McDonald’s from $350.00 to $356.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on McDonald’s from $322.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Barclays lifted their price objective on McDonald’s from $358.00 to $372.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $335.00 price objective on McDonald’s in a report on Friday, October 17th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $328.88.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Manuel Jm Steijaert sold 13,134 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.42, for a total value of $3,945,716.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 4,606 shares in the company, valued at $1,383,734.52. The trade was a 74.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Ian Frederick Borden sold 17,134 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total transaction of $5,311,540.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 26,353 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,169,430. This trade represents a 39.40% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 42,516 shares of company stock valued at $13,036,090. Corporate insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

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.