Benjamin Edwards Inc. Reduces Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Benjamin Edwards Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 3.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 230,757 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 8,399 shares during the quarter. McDonald’s comprises about 0.8% of Benjamin Edwards Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Benjamin Edwards Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $70,559,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of MCD. Viking Global Investors LP boosted its position in shares of McDonald’s by 171.7% during the 2nd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 3,125,432 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $913,157,000 after acquiring an additional 1,974,998 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 36.6% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,396,837 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,336,155,000 after purchasing an additional 1,179,244 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 111.3% in the third quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,071,296 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $629,446,000 after purchasing an additional 1,090,849 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 927.5% in the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 827,547 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $251,483,000 after purchasing an additional 927,547 shares during the period. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 766.5% in the third quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 885,629 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $269,134,000 after purchasing an additional 783,416 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MCD has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Robert W. Baird set a $335.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $340.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank lowered shares of McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $340.93.

Insider Buying and Selling at McDonald’s

In other news, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 4,692 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $331.00, for a total transaction of $1,553,052.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer owned 6,200 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,052,200. This represents a 43.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.72, for a total transaction of $100,805.76. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 8,067 shares in the company, valued at $2,442,042.24. This represents a 3.96% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 71,990 shares of company stock worth $23,824,113 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Price Performance

NYSE MCD opened at $286.83 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $314.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $311.73. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12 month low of $283.47 and a 12 month high of $341.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $203.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.00, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.43.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.83 earnings per share. McDonald’s’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 13.2 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were given a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.26%.

More McDonald’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s rolled out an all‑purple “Grimace” menu and relaunched the viral Grimace milkshake — a pop‑culture promotion expected to drive short‑term foot traffic and social‑media buzz, which can lift same‑store sales and AUVs. McDonald’s unveils purple Grimace menu featuring viral milkshake comeback
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is pushing a new lineup of six hand‑crafted drinks (boba, “dirty” sodas and themed accessories). Management’s beverage push targets a high‑margin category and supports the broader thesis that drinks can be a multi‑billion growth engine for the chain. McDonald’s drops 6 new drinks with unusual accessories
• Neutral Sentiment: Local expansion news — a new McDonald’s site planned in Rockford — signals steady franchise development but is unlikely to move the stock materially on its own. New McDonald’s to be built on W. Riverside in Rockford
• Negative Sentiment: A widely circulated idea of a $20 “unlimited fries” subscription was fact‑checked and found to be inaccurate — removing a potential recurring‑revenue catalyst investors may have hoped for. Fact check: Is McDonald’s launching $20 subscription with unlimited fries?
• Negative Sentiment: The Street reports McDonald’s is adjusting menu “protein hacks” as beef prices rise — higher commodity costs pose a margin risk even as the company seeks menu workarounds. McDonald’s reveals protein hacks as beef prices rise
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group trimmed its FY2027 EPS estimate and downgraded MCD to a “Hold,” a mild analyst headwind that can weigh on sentiment. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Cut to “Hold” at Erste Group Bank

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.