3,363 McDonald’s Corporation $MCD Shares Sold by Mechanics Bank Trust Department

Mechanics Bank Trust Department reduced its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 20,551 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 3,363 shares during the period. Mechanics Bank Trust Department’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $4,746,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 4,008.8% in the second quarter. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC now owns 84,230 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $22,768,000 after purchasing an additional 82,180 shares during the period. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,026,000. Borer Denton & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 16.9% in the 2nd quarter. Borer Denton & Associates Inc. now owns 13,859 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $3,746,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 1,471,725 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $397,822,000 after buying an additional 97,060 shares during the period. Finally, Chapin Davis Inc. grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 242.2% in the 3rd quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. now owns 8,251 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,905,000 after buying an additional 5,840 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $300.00 to $290.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on McDonald’s from $308.00 to $297.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 28th. DZ Bank reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Daiwa Securities Group decreased their target price on McDonald’s from $309.00 to $293.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on McDonald’s from $285.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $295.94.

McDonald’s News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s has a consensus price target of approximately $295.94, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. The target reflects expectations that the company’s brand, franchise model and turnaround efforts can support a recovery. McDonald’s Corporation Stock Has Consensus Target Price of $295.94
• Positive Sentiment: Management is resetting its marketing strategy around personalized digital offers, value meals and more streamlined campaigns. Better execution could improve customer engagement and help rebuild baseline sales after recent promotions failed to meet expectations. Can MCD’s Marketing Reset Help Improve Customer Engagement and Sales?
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s may bring Disney villains to its Boo Buckets Halloween promotion in 2026. The potential collaboration could create marketing buzz, but its direct financial impact is likely limited. Disney villains may appear on McDonald’s Boo Buckets in 2026 return
• Negative Sentiment: Investors have reacted cautiously to McDonald’s roughly $8.5 billion franchisee-support commitment through 2036. The spending could strengthen restaurants over time, but it raises near-term capital-allocation and return-on-investment concerns. McDonald’s Trades at 18 Times Earnings. Is the $8.5B Fix Priced In?
• Negative Sentiment: The Restaurant NEXT overhaul requires U.S. drive-through franchisees to invest about $800,000 per location in technology and operational upgrades, prompting resistance from some operators who question the payoff. McDonald’s $800,000 overhaul hits resistance from within
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s efforts to drive growth through chicken and beverages face competitive pressure: consumer-spending data reportedly shows Chick-fil-A and coffee chains gaining share. Value promotions have also not yet produced strong demand. McDonald’s is leaning into chicken and drinks to grow
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank lowered its FY2026 EPS estimate to $12.87 from $12.92 and its FY2027 estimate to $13.80 from $13.96, reinforcing concerns about slower earnings growth. McDonald’s earnings estimate revisions

McDonald’s Stock Performance

MCD stock traded up $0.29 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $235.94. 4,540,226 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,235,564. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1-year low of $229.20 and a 1-year high of $341.75. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $254.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $273.24. The firm has a market cap of $166.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.44.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $7.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.13 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.72% and a negative return on equity of 572.06%. The business’s revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.19 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be issued a dividend of $1.93 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 1st. This is a positive change from McDonald’s’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. This represents a $7.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.44%.

McDonald’s Profile

McDonald’s Corporation is a global quick-service restaurant company that operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald’s brand. Its restaurants serve a menu that includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, breakfast items, desserts, salads, beverages and coffee. Offerings vary by market, and many locations provide drive-thru service, delivery and digital ordering through the McDonald’s mobile app.

The company operates through a heavily franchised business model, with restaurants owned and operated by independent franchisees, affiliates and the company itself.