Delta Financial Advisors LLC Lowers Holdings in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Delta Financial Advisors LLC decreased its stake in shares of McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) by 4.4% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 5,422 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 250 shares during the quarter. Delta Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,608,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MCD. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in McDonald’s by 51.9% during the third quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 123 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management purchased a new position in McDonald’s during the third quarter valued at $33,000. Retirement Group LLC purchased a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at $37,000. Keener Financial Planning LLC purchased a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Bear Mountain Capital Inc. purchased a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.1 %

NYSE:MCD traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $270.15. 1,094,897 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,216,908. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $283.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $280.69. McDonald’s Co. has a one year low of $245.73 and a one year high of $302.39. The firm has a market cap of $194.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.71.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 5th. The fast-food giant reported $2.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.12. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 171.96% and a net margin of 33.22%. The business had revenue of $6.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.59 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that McDonald’s Co. will post 12.34 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a $1.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $6.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.47%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is 57.74%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the company. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Citigroup reduced their target price on McDonald’s from $312.00 to $297.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Erste Group Bank reissued a “hold” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on McDonald’s from $315.00 to $300.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 11th. Finally, HSBC assumed coverage on McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $317.00 target price for the company. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $319.72.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 1,099 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.38, for a total value of $312,533.62. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,075 shares in the company, valued at $5,140,168.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

About McDonald’s

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. It offers food and beverages, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers, various chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, desserts, sundaes, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages; and full or limited breakfast, as well as sells various other products during limited-time promotions.