Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. Takes $654,000 Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 2,139 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock, valued at approximately $654,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Park Place Capital Corp increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 95.7% in the 4th 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 during the period. DecisionPoint Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 1,616.7% in the 4th quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC now owns 103 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. Entrust Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Painted Porch Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 735.7% in the 3rd quarter. Painted Porch Advisors LLC now owns 117 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is rolling out fresh promotional items, including a 2026 FIFA World Cup Happy Meal and Squishmallows tie-in, plus regional beverage offerings like refreshers and dirty sodas, which could help drive traffic and keep the brand top of mind for families and younger consumers. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary remains constructive, with one article arguing McDonald’s still has a strong “moat,” reinforcing the view that its scale, franchise model, and brand strength can support earnings resilience. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s expansion in Ukraine suggests continued international growth, which can be a long-term support for revenue even in a challenging macro environment. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Viral social media attention around a McDonald’s nugget “hack” may boost brand visibility, but it is unlikely to materially affect fundamentals on its own. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: An insider sale by Joseph M. Erlinger of 333 shares is small relative to his remaining stake and does not appear to signal a major shift in outlook, though investors may note it. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s said it cannot meet its 2030 emissions targets and also fell short on a packaging goal, which could create ESG-related pressure and weigh on sentiment for some investors. Article Title

Insider Buying and Selling

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.11, for a total transaction of $93,276.63. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,166,370.74. The trade was a 4.13% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 5,918 shares of company stock worth $1,862,485. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Price Performance

Shares of MCD stock opened at $281.09 on Thursday. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1-year low of $271.98 and a 1-year high of $341.75. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $297.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $308.93. The company has a market cap of $199.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.43.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.09. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 442.10% and a net margin of 31.62%.The firm had revenue of $6.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.67 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 2nd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is currently 61.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note 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 research note on Friday, February 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a “market perform” rating and set a $340.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Erste Group Bank downgraded McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Finally, KeyCorp dropped their target price on McDonald’s from $345.00 to $330.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $334.45.

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.