Gradient Investments LLC Has $35.44 Million Stock Position in McDonald's Corporation $MCD

Key Points

• Gradient Investments LLC increased its holdings in McDonald's by 1.3%, owning 121,309 shares worth approximately $35.4 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• McDonald's reported quarterly earnings of $3.19 per share, exceeding analysts' expectations, with revenue totaling $6.84 billion, a 5.4% year-over-year increase.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.77 per share, representing a 2.3% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 60.67%.

Gradient Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) by 1.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 121,309 shares of the fast-food giant's stock after purchasing an additional 1,584 shares during the period. Gradient Investments LLC's holdings in McDonald's were worth $35,443,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of McDonald's by 21.6% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,286 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $2,692,000 after buying an additional 1,649 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of McDonald's by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,942 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $563,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lifted its position in shares of McDonald's by 15.3% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 209,464 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $60,722,000 after buying an additional 27,774 shares during the last quarter. GHE LLC lifted its position in shares of McDonald's by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. GHE LLC now owns 14,677 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $4,255,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in shares of McDonald's in the 4th quarter worth about $331,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on MCD. TD Securities restated a "hold" rating and issued a $305.00 price target on shares of McDonald's in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. KeyCorp reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $335.00 price objective (up from $325.00) on shares of McDonald's in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of McDonald's from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 24th. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $327.00 to $322.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $325.86.

McDonald's Stock Performance

Shares of MCD stock traded up $1.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $302.16. 1,997,142 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,531,264. McDonald's Corporation has a 12 month low of $276.53 and a 12 month high of $326.32. The company has a market cap of $215.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.89, a PEG ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 0.50. The company's 50 day moving average price is $306.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $306.47.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The fast-food giant reported $3.19 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.15 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $6.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.68 billion. McDonald's had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. McDonald's's revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.97 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that McDonald's Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald's Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd were paid a $1.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $7.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. McDonald's's payout ratio is currently 60.67%.

Insider Buying and Selling at McDonald's

In other news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 1,000 shares of McDonald's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total value of $310,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 99 shares of the company's stock, valued at $30,690. The trade was a 90.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 1,000 shares of McDonald's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $315,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer directly owned 6,858 shares in the company, valued at $2,160,270. This represents a 12.73% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 8,341 shares of company stock worth $2,544,327. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

McDonald's Profile

McDonald's Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.