McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Shares Acquired by Mediolanum International Funds Ltd

Key Points

• Mediolanum International Funds Ltd increased its stake in McDonald's Corporation by 67.7% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 29,641 shares, bringing its total holdings to 73,401 shares valued at $22.5 million.
• McDonald's reported earnings of $2.67 per share for the last quarter, matching analysts' expectations, although revenue fell short of estimates, amounting to $5.96 billion against a consensus of $6.17 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.77 to be paid on September 16th, representing an annualized yield of 2.37% and a dividend payout ratio of 62.49%.

Mediolanum International Funds Ltd lifted its stake in shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) by 67.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 73,401 shares of the fast-food giant's stock after acquiring an additional 29,641 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd's holdings in McDonald's were worth $22,541,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in MCD. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in McDonald's by 21.6% during the fourth 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 period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in McDonald's by 2.8% during the fourth 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 period. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lifted its position in McDonald's by 15.3% during the fourth 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 period. GHE LLC lifted its position in McDonald's by 0.9% during the fourth 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 period. Finally, Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. lifted its position in McDonald's by 137.2% during the fourth quarter. Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. now owns 1,943 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $563,000 after buying an additional 1,124 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the company's stock.

McDonald's Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of MCD traded up $1.16 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $303.83. The stock had a trading volume of 1,275,145 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,586,943. The company has a market cap of $217.25 billion, a PE ratio of 26.81, a PEG ratio of 3.13 and a beta of 0.53. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $300.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $303.25. McDonald's Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $262.40 and a fifty-two week high of $326.32.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The fast-food giant reported $2.67 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.67. The company had revenue of $5.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.17 billion. McDonald's had a negative return on equity of 195.27% and a net margin of 31.75%. The business's revenue was down 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.70 EPS. Equities analysts expect that McDonald's Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald's Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be issued a $1.77 dividend. This represents a $7.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. McDonald's's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.49%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MCD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Northcoast Research downgraded McDonald's from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Redburn Atlantic restated a "sell" rating and issued a $260.00 price objective (down from $319.00) on shares of McDonald's in a report on Tuesday, June 10th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on McDonald's from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. KeyCorp dropped their target price on McDonald's from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 30th. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded McDonald's from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonald's presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $322.00.

Insider Activity at McDonald's

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 939 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $299.49, for a total value of $281,221.11. Following the sale, the insider owned 9,283 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,780,165.67. This trade represents a 9.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total value of $300,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 8,858 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,657,400. This trade represents a 10.14% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 3,817 shares of company stock worth $1,147,992. Company insiders own 0.25% of the company's stock.

About McDonald's

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.