Guardian Capital LLC Takes Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Posted by Latisha Jones on May 17th, 2026

Guardian Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD – Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 2,415 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock, valued at approximately $738,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 21.9% in the fourth quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. now owns 21,487 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $6,567,000 after purchasing an additional 3,866 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 5.2% in the third quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,029,572 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $312,877,000 after purchasing an additional 51,039 shares during the period. National Pension Service lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 2.5% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,533,015 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $465,868,000 after purchasing an additional 37,744 shares during the period. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the third quarter worth about $1,697,000. Finally, Machina Capital S.A.S. lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 12.3% in the third quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. now owns 15,956 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $4,849,000 after purchasing an additional 1,748 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE MCD opened at $276.42 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $304.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $310.02. The company has a market cap of $196.40 billion, a PE ratio of 22.79, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.43. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1 year low of $271.98 and a 1 year high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 442.10% and a net margin of 31.62%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.67 EPS. Research analysts forecast that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the business’s 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 owned 8,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,442,042.24. The trade was a 3.96% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total value of $2,066,731.29. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $763,567.39. The trade was a 73.02% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 12,119 shares of company stock worth $3,945,973. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

Positive Sentiment: Several analysts and market commentators argue that McDonald’s looks oversold and inexpensive relative to its historical valuation, with strong fundamentals and long-term growth prospects potentially supporting a rebound. McDonald’s Is the Cheapest It’s Been in Years—Does That Make It a Buy?
Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s landed a major naming-rights deal for the Chicago Fire stadium, which adds brand visibility and reinforces the company’s deep marketing reach. McDonald’s Lands Naming Rights Deal for $750 Million Chicago Fire Stadium
Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s remains a widely watched dividend stalwart, with its long record of shareholder payouts keeping it on income investors’ radar. Don’t Look Now, But 4 Blue-Chip Giants Could Be the Newest Dividend Kings
Neutral Sentiment: News coverage also highlights that McDonald’s is a trending stock and a subject of debate among investors, but this mostly reflects attention rather than a clear new catalyst. McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
Negative Sentiment: Attention is centered on weaker U.S. company-run restaurant margins, with investors worried about pricing pressure, cost inflation, and the ownership mix affecting profitability. McDonald’s Company-Run Margins Draw Focus: Can Ownership Mix Help?
Negative Sentiment: Commentary from Jim Cramer and others points to the stock’s recent weakness, with concerns that McDonald’s has been “breaking down” despite being a defensive name. Jim Cramer on McDonald’s: “QSR I Think Is the Better”
Negative Sentiment: Broader consumer cost pressures, including rising restaurant prices and higher gas prices, may weigh on traffic and spending at quick-service restaurants like McDonald’s. Grocery and Restaurant Prices Post Biggest Jump Since 2022

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have commented on MCD. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $325.00 to $305.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $380.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 8th. KeyCorp dropped their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $345.00 to $330.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Cfra upgraded shares of McDonald’s to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $334.45.

Read Our Latest Report on McDonald’s

McDonald’s Profile

(Free Report)

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.