Greg Jennings LLC Purchases 7,996 Shares of McDonald's Corporation $MCD

Key Points

• Greg Jennings LLC initiated a McDonald’s position by purchasing 7,996 shares valued at approximately $1.85 million, while other institutional investors also increased their holdings. Institutions collectively own 70.29% of MCD.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $295.94, despite several recent target reductions.
• McDonald’s shares fell 0.2% to $242.60, while the company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.93 per share, equivalent to a 3.2% yield. The company’s latest results modestly exceeded earnings expectations, though U.S. weakness remains a concern.

Greg Jennings LLC purchased a new position in McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 7,996 shares of the fast-food giant's stock, valued at approximately $1,846,000. McDonald's makes up about 1.2% of Greg Jennings LLC's holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest position.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in MCD. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in McDonald's by 4,008.8% during the 2nd quarter. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC now owns 84,230 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $22,768,000 after acquiring an additional 82,180 shares during the period. Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new stake in McDonald's in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,026,000. Borer Denton & Associates Inc. lifted its stake in McDonald's by 16.9% in the second quarter. Borer Denton & Associates Inc. now owns 13,859 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $3,746,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of McDonald's by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 1,471,725 shares of the fast-food giant's stock valued at $397,822,000 after acquiring an additional 97,060 shares during the period. Finally, Viking Fund Management LLC grew its position in shares of McDonald's by 60.0% in the 3rd quarter. Viking Fund Management LLC now owns 40,000 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $9,238,000 after buying an additional 15,000 shares during the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MCD has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of McDonald's in a research report on Monday. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on McDonald's from $290.00 to $285.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Daiwa Securities Group dropped their price target on shares of McDonald's from $309.00 to $293.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of McDonald's from $325.00 to $300.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $308.00 to $297.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $295.94.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald's

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

• Positive Sentiment: UBS remains bullish on the company’s strategy. UBS said McDonald’s NEXT growth plan and renewed value offerings could outweigh near-term weakness in the U.S., positioning the company to gain global market share in 2027. McDonald's NEXT Plan, Value Push Seen Outweighing Near-Term US Weakness, UBS Says
• Positive Sentiment: New products and promotions could support customer traffic. McDonald’s is introducing a limited-availability chicken product and bringing back Halloween Disney Villains Boo Buckets, while renewed interest in menu items and sauces highlights continued consumer engagement. These initiatives are likely modest positives unless they translate into sustained comparable-store sales growth. McDonald’s has launched a superb new chicken product McDonald’s Boo Buckets return with Disney villains theme
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary is divided. One Seeking Alpha analysis argues that investors should focus on McDonald’s durable franchise model and strategic fundamentals, while another warns that valuation, competition and operating risks make the stock unattractive. These are opinion pieces rather than new company guidance. Tune Out The Noise, This Is What Matters For McDonald's
• Negative Sentiment: Allegations of menu-pricing and artificial-intelligence practices create reputational and legal risk. Reports describe a lawsuit and criticism involving claims that McDonald’s and Deloitte used pricing or AI-related methods to charge customers more. The allegations remain unresolved, but they could increase regulatory scrutiny and pressure the brand’s value perception. McDonald’s, Deloitte Under Fire Over Alleged Menu Pricing Scheme
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term U.S. weakness remains a concern. The UBS report itself acknowledges softer domestic conditions, while criticism of value, menu availability and product decisions may reinforce concerns about traffic and consumer sentiment. Why I Wouldn't Touch McDonald's With A 10 Ft Pole

McDonald's Trading Down 0.2%

MCD traded down $0.37 on Monday, hitting $242.60. 5,385,020 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,273,246. McDonald's Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $229.20 and a fifty-two week high of $341.75. The stock has a market cap of $171.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $252.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $271.83.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.32 by $0.06. McDonald's had a net margin of 31.72% and a negative return on equity of 572.06%. The firm had revenue of $7.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.13 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.19 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that McDonald's Corporation will post 12.84 EPS for the current year.

McDonald's Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $1.93 per share. This is a boost from McDonald's's previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. This represents a $7.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 1st. McDonald's's dividend payout ratio is currently 60.44%.

McDonald's Profile

McDonald’s Corporation is a global quick-service restaurant company that operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald’s brand. Its restaurants serve a menu that includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, breakfast items, desserts, salads, beverages and coffee. Offerings vary by market, and many locations provide drive-thru service, delivery and digital ordering through the McDonald’s mobile app.

The company operates through a heavily franchised business model, with restaurants owned and operated by independent franchisees, affiliates and the company itself.

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