Jonathan Banner Sells 6,201 Shares of McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Stock

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total value of $2,066,731.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $763,567.39. This trade represents a 73.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of McDonald’s stock opened at $334.58 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $237.69 billion, a PE ratio of 28.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.52. McDonald’s Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $283.47 and a fifty-two week high of $336.94. The business’s fifty day moving average is $315.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $309.94.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 343.90% and a net margin of 31.85%.The firm had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.83 EPS. The firm’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 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 62.26%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays upped their price objective on McDonald’s from $372.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Mizuho boosted their target price on McDonald’s from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, McDonald’s has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $337.57.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Value + expansion: McDonald’s reported 5.7% global comparable growth in Q4 driven by value deals, digital momentum and plans for ~2,600 openings in 2026 — a near‑term traffic and longer‑term unit growth story that supports revenue and same‑store sales expectations. Can McDonald’s Value Strategy Sustain Traffic Gains in 2026?
• Positive Sentiment: Promotions & LTOs lifting visits: national $1 McMuffin promotions and the U.S. rollout of the supersized “Big Arch” burger are generating buzz and likely short‑term foot traffic and app engagement, helping maintain momentum into the quarter. McDonald’s launches supersized Big Arch Burger in US
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: JPMorgan raised its price target to $325 and kept an overweight view, reinforcing buy‑side conviction and providing a near‑term catalyst for investor demand. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Boosts McDonald’s Price Target to $325.00
• Neutral Sentiment: Loyalty & beverage trends: coverage highlights loyalty programs and menu experimentation (including limited international items) that boost repeat visits — positive structurally but with uncertain immediate margin impact. Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Chipotle Reward Loyal Customers. It Brings Them Back.
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive & category context: broader coffee/cold‑beverage trends at rivals and Burger King’s strategy updates are industry factors to monitor; they affect relative share but aren’t an immediate McDonald’s earnings shock. Why Starbucks and Other Chains Are Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Their Biggest Spenders
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: recent filings show EVP Jonathan Banner and President Joe/ Joseph Erlinger sold shares (multi‑hundred to multi‑thousand share transactions). Executive sales can unsettle some investors even if for non‑company‑specific reasons. SEC Form 4 (Jonathan Banner sale)
• Negative Sentiment: Reputational noise: a controversial regional Ramadan ad in Germany and social backlash around high‑profile, politicized moments (e.g., coverage of Trump serving McDonald’s to Olympians) create short‑term PR risk that could pressure sentiment in specific markets. Why New McDonald’s Ad Campaign Will Show Empty Boxes With No Food Trump Serves McDonald’s To Olympic Hockey Champs And Many Fans Aren’t Lovin’ It

Hedge Funds Weigh In On McDonald’s

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. increased its holdings in McDonald’s by 142.9% during the 2nd quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 85 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of McDonald’s by 162.5% during the third quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Park Place Capital Corp raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 95.7% in the fourth quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 92 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.