Pacer Advisors Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD – Free Report) by 11.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 126,891 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 16,135 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $38,561,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in MCD. Johnson & White Wealth Management LLC raised its position in McDonald’s by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Johnson & White Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,444 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $743,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Whitener Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 3.0% during the third quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. now owns 31,616 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $9,608,000 after buying an additional 933 shares during the last quarter. Cadent Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the third quarter worth about $411,000. Iams Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 14.4% in the 3rd quarter. Iams Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,772 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,059,000 after acquiring an additional 853 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jeppson Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in McDonald’s by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,164 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $962,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
McDonald’s Trading Down 0.9%
NYSE:MCD opened at $310.61 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $308.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $304.06. The stock has a market cap of $221.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.50, a P/E/G ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.52. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12 month low of $276.53 and a 12 month high of $326.32.
McDonald’s Increases Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were given a dividend of $1.86 per share. This is a boost from McDonald’s’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is presently 63.48%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on McDonald’s from $322.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $335.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $320.00 price target for the company. Barclays cut their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $362.00 to $358.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $340.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $324.57.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on McDonald’s
More McDonald’s News
Here are the key news stories impacting McDonald’s this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Zacks highlights McDonald’s restaurant margin dollars topping $4B in Q3 2025, arguing the company’s scale and value strategy can still expand margins despite inflation and a pressured consumer — a direct bullish signal for profit leverage. Does McDonald’s $4B Margin Milestone Signal Model Durability?
- Positive Sentiment: Reporting says McDonald’s plans over 8,000 new locations and major technology upgrades — if executed, that accelerates franchised development fees, systemwide sales growth and long-term comp growth. McDonald’s 2026 expansion plans: Over 8,000 new locations and major technology upgrades coming
- Positive Sentiment: Coverage of planned drive-thru and in-restaurant changes for 2026 suggests operational improvements (speed, order accuracy, upsell) that can lift throughput and margins at scale. 4 changes coming to McDonald’s drive-thrus in 2026
- Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s Disney Happy Meal promotion and holiday menu/availability stories are routine marketing/seasonal items that support short-term traffic but are unlikely to move the stock materially on their own. How long will Disney Happy Meal be available at McDonald’s?
- Neutral Sentiment: Multiple outlets covered McDonald’s being open on Christmas and customer-facing changes for 2026 — background consumer-facing news that maintains brand visibility but has limited near-term EPS impact. 10 changes coming to McDonald’s in 2026 that customers need to know
- Neutral Sentiment: A playful Dogecoin tweet calling out businesses that don’t accept DOGE is social-media noise rather than a catalyst for material payment adoption or revenue change. Dogecoin Account Wants You To Tag ‘Naughty’ Businesses That Won’t Take The Good Boy
- Negative Sentiment: Reports that a Minneapolis location locked doors to keep out individuals deemed a safety risk raise operational and reputational concerns in specific markets; localized safety issues can pressure sales and require extra store-level costs. McDonald’s locks doors to keep out individuals who present a risk in crime-ridden Minneapolis area
- Negative Sentiment: Lingering macro/near-term pressure: McDonald’s last quarterly report (Nov 5) showed a slight EPS and revenue miss, which remains a selling point for investors awaiting clearer margin/growth guidance.
Insider Transactions at McDonald’s
In other McDonald’s news, CFO Ian Frederick Borden sold 17,134 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total value of $5,311,540.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 26,353 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,169,430. This represents a 39.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total transaction of $795,520.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,005,760. This trade represents a 28.40% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 42,516 shares of company stock valued at $13,036,090 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.25% of the company’s stock.
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.
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