Erste Asset Management GmbH Has $1.43 Million Stock Holdings in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Erste Asset Management GmbH reduced its stake in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 94.8% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 4,732 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 85,903 shares during the period. Erste Asset Management GmbH’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,434,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 279,129 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $84,825,000 after purchasing an additional 4,346 shares during the last quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 3.1% in the third quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC now owns 9,423 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,864,000 after buying an additional 283 shares during the period. Whalerock Point Partners LLC boosted its position in McDonald’s by 1.1% during the third quarter. Whalerock Point Partners LLC now owns 20,228 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $6,147,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. grew its holdings in McDonald’s by 23.3% during the 3rd quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 46,954 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $14,269,000 after acquiring an additional 8,867 shares during the period. Finally, Lansing Street Advisors raised its position in shares of McDonald’s by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Lansing Street Advisors now owns 52,878 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $16,069,000 after acquiring an additional 397 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: Street support: JPMorgan raised its price target to $325 and remains constructive, giving buy‑side validation and likely contributing to bullish flows. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Promotions and LTOs driving traffic: The U.S. rollout of the “Big Arch” supersized burger and national $1 McMuffin promotions are generating buzz and should lift short‑term visits and digital engagement, supporting revenue and comp trends. Article Title Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Loyalty and digital momentum: Coverage highlights McDonald’s rewards and app-driven promotions are improving visit frequency and ticket, a structural tailwind for margins and recurring sales. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend income visibility: Management confirmed a $1.86 quarterly dividend (ex‑div March 3, payable March 17), supporting demand from income‑oriented investors. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst estimate moves from Zacks: Zacks updated numerous quarterly and FY2027/28 EPS estimates — lifting some full‑year/quarter forecasts while trimming others. The net effect is ambiguous for near‑term sentiment but shows analysts are actively re‑modeling. (Zacks coverage also discusses value strategy sustaining traffic.) Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Product novelty tests: International menu items and limited‑time offers can boost visits but their incremental margin impact is uncertain; useful for short‑term traffic but not a proven long‑term earnings catalyst. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: Executives disclosed sales (including a recent sale by Joe Erlinger), which can spook some investors even if part of routine diversification. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Regional ad controversy: A Ramadan ad in Germany showing empty boxes drew criticism — a reputational headline that may pressure local sentiment but is unlikely to materially affect global fundamentals. Article Title

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on MCD shares. Mizuho upped their target price on McDonald’s from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Truist Financial increased their price target on McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Robert W. Baird set a $335.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $372.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $337.57.

McDonald’s Stock Up 1.9%

Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $340.85 on Monday. McDonald’s Corporation has a twelve month low of $283.47 and a twelve month high of $341.35. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $316.42 and its 200-day moving average is $310.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $242.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.52, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.51.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its quarterly 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.83 EPS. McDonald’s’s quarterly revenue was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be issued a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.26%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total transaction of $2,066,731.29. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $763,567.39. The trade was a 73.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.43, for a total value of $110,033.19. Following the sale, the insider owned 8,733 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,885,645.19. This trade represents a 3.67% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 71,517 shares of company stock worth $23,655,503 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.

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.