Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Invests $36.05 Million in McDonald's Corporation $MCD

Key Points

• Jefferies Financial Group opened a new position in McDonald’s during the fourth quarter, buying 117,947 shares valued at about $36.05 million.
• McDonald’s recently raised its quarterly dividend to $1.86 per share, which works out to an annualized $7.44 per share and a yield of about 2.6%.
• The company’s latest earnings beat expectations, with EPS of $2.83 on revenue of $6.52 billion, while analysts currently rate the stock a Moderate Buy with an average price target of $334.45.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 117,947 shares of the fast-food giant's stock, valued at approximately $36,048,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in MCD. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new stake in McDonald's in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Park Place Capital Corp boosted its holdings in McDonald's by 95.7% in the fourth 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 in the last quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC boosted its holdings in McDonald's by 1,616.7% in the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in McDonald's in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Painted Porch Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in McDonald's by 735.7% in the third 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company's stock.

McDonald's News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald's declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.86 per share, reinforcing its appeal as a dependable income stock and signaling ongoing confidence in cash generation. McDONALD'S ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlighted McDonald's efforts to refresh its menu and customer experience, including new beverage additions, AI-driven drive-thru concepts, and other innovation-focused changes that could support traffic and sales. McDonald’s CEO shares major beverage menu additions
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald's confirmed plans for a restaurant in historic Castlemaine, a small expansion item that is unlikely to materially move the stock on its own. McDonald's confirms plan for restaurant in historic Castlemaine
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary suggested McDonald's investment story is shifting as growth and valuation expectations are reset, which reflects changing sentiment rather than a clear operational surprise. Why The McDonald's (MCD) Investment Story Is Shifting As Analysts Reset Growth And Valuation
• Negative Sentiment: Articles about “shrinkflation” and smaller McNuggets could pressure sentiment if consumers view McDonald's as offering less value, potentially weighing on brand perception. Shrinkflation hits McDonald's as customers say McNuggets are half the size they used to be
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage noting that customers are divided on McDonald's specialty drinks suggests product experimentation may not be universally resonating yet. Why McDonald's Customers Are Divided On Its Specialty Drinks

McDonald's Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of MCD stock opened at $282.48 on Friday. McDonald's Corporation has a 12 month low of $271.98 and a 12 month high of $341.75. The stock has a market cap of $200.70 billion, a PE ratio of 23.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.43. The company's fifty day moving average price is $299.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $309.25.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 firm had revenue of $6.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.47 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.67 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that McDonald's Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald's Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be issued 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%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on MCD. BTIG Research reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $370.00 price target on shares of McDonald's in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Robert W. Baird set a $305.00 price target on shares of McDonald's in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of McDonald's from $323.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a "market perform" rating and issued a $340.00 price target on shares of McDonald's in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Cfra upgraded shares of McDonald's to a "buy" rating in a report 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, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $334.45.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $302.72, for a total transaction of $100,805.76. Following the sale, the insider owned 8,067 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,442,042.24. The trade was a 3.96% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total transaction of $2,066,731.29. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $763,567.39. This trade represents a 73.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 12,119 shares of company stock worth $3,945,973. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

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.

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