Swiss National Bank Has $597.66 Million Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Swiss National Bank reduced its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 5.1% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,955,500 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 105,600 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $597,659,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 84.4% in the fourth quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 35,510 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $10,853,000 after purchasing an additional 16,252 shares during the period. Capital International Sarl raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 10.4% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Sarl now owns 64,256 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $19,639,000 after purchasing an additional 6,079 shares during the period. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 21.9% in the fourth quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. now owns 21,487 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $6,567,000 after purchasing an additional 3,866 shares during the period. North Dakota State Investment Board acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth $7,493,000. Finally, Schroder Investment Management Group raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 5.2% in the third quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,029,572 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $312,877,000 after purchasing an additional 51,039 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $330.00 to $300.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 7th. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and set a $370.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Guggenheim lowered their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Cfra raised shares of McDonald’s to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, McDonald’s has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $336.26.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total value of $1,493,248.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,198,930.88. This trade represents a 40.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total transaction of $769,108.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,744,760.48. This trade represents a 30.59% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 11,307 shares of company stock valued at $3,262,622. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Key Stories Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s new FIFA World Cup meal promotions, collectible cups, and Squishmallows tie-ins could lift traffic and drive incremental sales through limited-time demand. McDonald’s FIFA World Cup meals with Squishmallows and 9 collectible cups are here
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is testing AI-powered drive-thru systems, which could improve service speed, reduce labor pressure, and support margins if the rollout works well. McDonald’s testing AI drive-thru system at select US locations
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains constructive, with coverage pointing to a “Moderate Buy” consensus on MCD. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s is receiving additional attention from commentary framing it as a long-term buy-on-weakness name, but this is more sentiment than a fresh fundamental catalyst. Jim Cramer Discusses a Strategic Buying Plan to Build a Great Cost Basis in McDonald’s
• Negative Sentiment: An insider sale by executive Joseph M. Erlinger may weigh on sentiment, even though insider sales do not always indicate a weaker outlook. Joseph M. Erlinger insider sale
• Negative Sentiment: Recent analysis highlighted that MCD shares have fallen over the past few months amid cost pressures, weaker low-income demand, and slower sales growth, which remains a key overhang for the stock. McDonald’s Stock Slides 13% in 3 Months: Buy the Dip or Stay Away?
• Negative Sentiment: There is also some concern around customer frustration with drive-thru changes and workplace safety scrutiny, which could hurt brand perception if the issues persist. McDonald’s quietly makes a major change to its drive thru and customers are furious

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of MCD stock opened at $285.02 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $289.83 and a 200-day moving average of $306.90. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12-month low of $271.85 and a 12-month high of $341.75. The company has a market capitalization of $202.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.41.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.09. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.62% and a negative return on equity of 442.10%. The company had revenue of $6.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.67 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be given a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 2nd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.34%.

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.