First Financial Bankshares Inc Increases Stock Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

First Financial Bankshares Inc boosted its stake in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 1.5% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 319,205 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after buying an additional 4,576 shares during the quarter. McDonald’s comprises about 2.0% of First Financial Bankshares Inc’s portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest holding. First Financial Bankshares Inc’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $97,559,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 84.4% in the fourth quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 35,510 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $10,853,000 after buying an additional 16,252 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Sarl raised its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 10.4% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Sarl now owns 64,256 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $19,639,000 after buying an additional 6,079 shares during the last quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. raised its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 21.9% in the fourth quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. now owns 21,487 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $6,567,000 after buying an additional 3,866 shares during the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board acquired a new stake in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth approximately $7,493,000. Finally, Schroder Investment Management Group grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,029,572 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $312,877,000 after purchasing an additional 51,039 shares during the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on MCD shares. Argus raised McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $380.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, February 13th. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $370.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, May 7th. KeyCorp dropped their target price on McDonald’s from $345.00 to $330.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 8th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on McDonald’s from $355.00 to $320.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Erste Group Bank lowered McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $336.26.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares in the company, valued at $2,198,930.88. The trade was a 40.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total transaction of $769,108.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,744,760.48. This trade represents a 30.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 11,307 shares of company stock worth $3,262,622. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s new FIFA World Cup meal promotions, collectible cups, and Squishmallows tie-ins could lift traffic and drive incremental sales through limited-time demand. McDonald’s FIFA World Cup meals with Squishmallows and 9 collectible cups are here
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is testing AI-powered drive-thru systems, which could improve service speed, reduce labor pressure, and support margins if the rollout works well. McDonald’s testing AI drive-thru system at select US locations
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains constructive, with coverage pointing to a “Moderate Buy” consensus on MCD. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s is receiving additional attention from commentary framing it as a long-term buy-on-weakness name, but this is more sentiment than a fresh fundamental catalyst. Jim Cramer Discusses a Strategic Buying Plan to Build a Great Cost Basis in McDonald’s
• Negative Sentiment: An insider sale by executive Joseph M. Erlinger may weigh on sentiment, even though insider sales do not always indicate a weaker outlook. Joseph M. Erlinger insider sale
• Negative Sentiment: Recent analysis highlighted that MCD shares have fallen over the past few months amid cost pressures, weaker low-income demand, and slower sales growth, which remains a key overhang for the stock. McDonald’s Stock Slides 13% in 3 Months: Buy the Dip or Stay Away?
• Negative Sentiment: There is also some concern around customer frustration with drive-thru changes and workplace safety scrutiny, which could hurt brand perception if the issues persist. McDonald’s quietly makes a major change to its drive thru and customers are furious

McDonald’s Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of McDonald’s stock opened at $285.02 on Friday. McDonald’s Corporation has a 52-week low of $271.85 and a 52-week high of $341.75. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $289.83 and its 200-day simple moving average is $306.90. The firm has a market cap of $202.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.41.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $6.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.47 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.67 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

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

About McDonald’s

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.