Townsquare Capital LLC Sells 2,140 Shares of McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Townsquare Capital LLC lowered its stake in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 34.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,012 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 2,140 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,226,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of MCD. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new position in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Park Place Capital Corp lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 95.7% during 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 lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 1,616.7% during 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 bought a new position in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Painted Porch Advisors LLC lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 735.7% during 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. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s launched FIFA World Cup meal promotions with collectible cups, toys, and Squishmallows, which could boost customer traffic and merchandise-led demand. McDonald’s FIFA World Cup meals with Squishmallows and 9 collectible cups are here
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is testing AI at select drive-thrus, potentially improving speed, labor efficiency, and long-term margins if the rollout works well. McDonald’s testing AI drive-thru system at select US locations
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view McDonald’s favorably, with one report saying the stock carries a “Moderate Buy” consensus. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Commentary from Jim Cramer framed McDonald’s as a stock investors can build into over time, reinforcing the view that it is a defensive long-term holding. Jim Cramer Discusses a Strategic Buying Plan to Build a Great Cost Basis in McDonald’s
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s is also getting attention from articles about its collectible World Cup cups and menu shake-up, which are mainly promotional and likely more relevant to customer engagement than to fundamentals. McDonald’s World Cup 2026 meal deal – how to collect all the cups and which players are on them
• Negative Sentiment: An insider sale by McDonald’s executive Joseph M. Erlinger may create some caution, even though insider transactions do not necessarily signal a change in business outlook. Joseph M. Erlinger insider sale
• Negative Sentiment: Recent reporting has also highlighted customer frustration over a drive-thru change and workplace culture/safety concerns, which could pressure sentiment if they persist. McDonald’s quietly makes a major change to its drive thru and customers are furious

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley set a $331.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their target price for the company from $260.00 to $306.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 23rd. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $325.00 to $305.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $336.26.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In related news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total value of $769,108.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,744,760.48. This represents a 30.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,198,930.88. This represents a 40.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 11,307 shares of company stock valued at $3,262,622 over the last three months. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $282.98 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $290.34 and its 200-day moving average price is $307.07. McDonald’s Corporation has a twelve month low of $271.85 and a twelve month high of $341.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $201.06 billion, a PE ratio of 23.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.41.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 31.62% and a negative return on equity of 442.10%. The firm had revenue of $6.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.47 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.67 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 2nd. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 61.34%.

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.