McDonald's Corporation $MCD Stock Holdings Boosted by Schroder Investment Management Group

Key Points

• Schroder Investment Management Group raised its stake in McDonald's by 5.2% in Q3 to 1,029,572 shares, valued at about $312.9 million, as institutional investors now own 70.29% of the company.
• McDonald's beat quarterly estimates with EPS of $3.12 (vs. $3.05 expected) and revenue of $7.01 billion (up 9.7% year‑over‑year), and analysts forecast $12.25 in earnings per share for the current year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.86 (ex‑dividend March 3, payable March 17), equal to a $7.44 annualized payout (2.3% yield), while insiders sold roughly 71,517 shares (~$23.66 million) over the past three months, including sales by the CEO and CMO.

Schroder Investment Management Group grew its position in shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,029,572 shares of the fast-food giant's stock after purchasing an additional 51,039 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned 0.14% of McDonald's worth $312,877,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in McDonald's during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 162.5% during the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new position in shares of McDonald's during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald's in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Davis Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of McDonald's in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company's stock.

McDonald's Price Performance

Shares of MCD opened at $328.22 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $318.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $311.02. The stock has a market cap of $233.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.47, a PEG ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.51. McDonald's Corporation has a one year low of $283.47 and a one year high of $341.75.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald's had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The business had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.83 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that McDonald's Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald's Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be issued a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. McDonald's's dividend payout ratio is presently 62.26%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a "market perform" rating and set a $340.00 target price on shares of McDonald's in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on McDonald's from $305.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Robert W. Baird set a $335.00 price objective on McDonald's in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Oppenheimer raised McDonald's from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $355.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of McDonald's in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $339.69.

McDonald's News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price target raised to $385 — a direct bullish signal that increases upside expectations and can support buying interest. McDonald's NYSE: MCD Price Target Raised to $385.00
• Positive Sentiment: Viral "Big Arch" burger video added meaningful brand value (reported at ≈$18M) — free marketing and renewed customer attention could lift short-term traffic and digital orders. McDonald’s Big Arch burger viral video has added at least $18 million brand value to the chain
• Positive Sentiment: Product and promotion activity (new Happy Meal, Crocs Happy Meal tie‑in) — ongoing limited‑time offers and collaborations help traffic and merchandising. McDonald's, Crocs team up on new Happy Meal for limited time
• Neutral Sentiment: Executive talent visibility — McDonald’s CIO Brian Rice joining Albertsons’ board highlights McDonald’s digital capability but is not an immediate earnings driver. A Look At Albertsons Companies (ACI) Valuation As Tech Leader Brian Rice Joins The Board
• Neutral Sentiment: Menu reviews and local nostalgia pieces (Filet‑O‑Fish upgrade, Long Island location story) keep brand conversation active but are unlikely to move the stock materially. The Game-Changing McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Upgrade That Makes It 10x Better
• Negative Sentiment: $150 oil risk argument — coverage warns that a big jump in oil threatens demand (drive‑through, delivery, franchise economics) more than McDonald’s direct input costs, implying traffic and same‑store sales downside if fuel spikes. This is a key macro sensitivity to watch. McDonald’s Real Risk From $150 Oil Has Nothing to Do With Costs
• Negative Sentiment: Viral CEO tasting video drew mockery — while it increased awareness, any reputational noise could blunt the marketing upside and merits monitoring of brand sentiment. McDonald's CEO mocked online after awkward Big Arch Burger tasting video goes viral

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 4,692 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $331.00, for a total value of $1,553,052.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer owned 6,200 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,052,200. This trade represents a 43.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,276 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.54, for a total value of $8,764,097.04. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at $7,638,066. The trade was a 53.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 71,517 shares of company stock valued at $23,655,503. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.

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