Trust Co. of Vermont Reduces Stock Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Trust Co. of Vermont cut its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 4.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 46,293 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 2,154 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $14,149,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MCD. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 71,647,669 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $21,773,010,000 after acquiring an additional 316,638 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of McDonald’s by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,024,857 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $10,643,704,000 after acquiring an additional 196,505 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 6.4% during the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 4,757,967 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,445,899,000 after purchasing an additional 286,284 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 0.5% during the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,422,014 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,343,501,000 after purchasing an additional 21,168 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in McDonald’s by 36.6% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,396,837 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,336,155,000 after purchasing an additional 1,179,244 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

McDonald’s Stock Down 1.1%

MCD opened at $307.27 on Thursday. McDonald’s Corporation has a 52 week low of $283.47 and a 52 week high of $341.75. The business’s 50 day moving average is $321.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $311.50. The firm has a market cap of $218.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.51.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The business had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.83 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.26%.

McDonald’s News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is targeting a large beverage opportunity — aiming at a ~$100 billion beverage market with new McCafé drinks planned for a 2026 U.S. and global rollout, a potential multi-year growth driver and same‑store check boost. Can McDonald’s Tap a $100B Beverage Opportunity in 2026?
• Positive Sentiment: The company is launching a new $3 value menu and $4 meal, a tactical move to drive traffic and affordability that could support sales and offset margin pressure if adoption is strong. McDonald’s to launch new $3 value menu, $4 meal this week
• Positive Sentiment: Lower potato input costs reported for suppliers (Lamb Weston) could indirectly help McDonald’s margins if those savings flow through to the chain, reducing a key commodity pressure. Frozen Out: Lamb Weston Beats Earnings, but the Stock Still Slides
• Positive Sentiment: Operational leadership moves: Skye Anderson returns as U.S. COO and other executive adjustments aim to sharpen U.S. operations and franchising/delivery focus, which could improve execution if transitions go smoothly. McDonald’s creates US COO role
• Neutral Sentiment: Marketing/promotions: the global “KPop Demon Hunters” McFlurry and themed meal rollout is generating buzz and likely a short‑term traffic lift, but the impact is promotional and temporary rather than structural. McDonald’s menu has new ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ McFlurry. What’s in it?
• Negative Sentiment: Shares moved lower amid a broader market uptick, signaling some investor caution about near‑term upside despite recent initiatives. McDonald’s (MCD) Stock Falls Amid Market Uptick: What Investors Need to Know
• Negative Sentiment: Investor questions around the leadership shuffle and ESG focus highlight execution and strategic clarity risks; coupled with reports that some new premium product tests (e.g., a $12 burger) are receiving mixed consumer reaction, these factors could weigh on sentiment if trends persist. McDonald’s Leadership Shuffle And ESG Focus Raise Fresh Investor Questions

Insider Activity

In other McDonald’s news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,277 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $331.35, for a total value of $8,706,883.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,587,915. This represents a 53.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total transaction of $2,066,731.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $763,567.39. This represents a 73.02% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 71,657 shares of company stock worth $23,722,204 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MCD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Tigress Financial upped their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, March 6th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $372.00 to $380.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $345.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $339.69.

McDonald’s 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.