Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Cuts Stake in McDonald's Corporation $MCD

Key Points

• Pictet Asset Management trimmed its stake in McDonald's by 5.6% in Q4, selling 24,700 shares and leaving it with 414,805 shares (about 0.06% of the company) valued at roughly $126.78 million.
• McDonald's beat quarterly estimates with EPS of $3.12 (vs. $3.05 expected) and revenue of $7.01 billion (up 9.7% YoY), and declared a quarterly dividend of $1.86 ($7.44 annualized, ~2.6% yield).
• Insider selling and mixed analyst views: insiders sold 71,990 shares (~$23.8M) in the last three months — including CEO Christopher Kempczinski's sale of 26,276 shares — while analysts remain split (consensus "Hold", average price target $340.93).

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA reduced its stake in shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) by 5.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 414,805 shares of the fast-food giant's stock after selling 24,700 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA owned about 0.06% of McDonald's worth $126,777,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MCD. 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 acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 95.7% during the 4th 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 during the last quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 1,616.7% during the 4th 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 during the last quarter. Painted Porch Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 735.7% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Davis Capital Management bought a new position in shares of McDonald's during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

McDonald's Stock Down 3.0%

Shares of MCD opened at $290.45 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $206.46 billion, a PE ratio of 24.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53. The business has a fifty day moving average of $316.41 and a 200 day moving average of $312.04. McDonald's Corporation has a 52-week low of $283.47 and a 52-week high of $341.75.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.81 billion. McDonald's had a negative return on equity of 343.90% and a net margin of 31.85%.McDonald's's revenue was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.83 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that McDonald's Corporation will post 13.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

McDonald's Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were given a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. McDonald's's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.26%.

McDonald's News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts have adjusted targets in the mid‑$300s (some raised), reflecting continued confidence in McDonald's long‑term growth and prompting debate over how much upside remains. This support from parts of the Street can buoy sentiment. How The McDonald's (MCD) Investment Story Is Shifting As Analysts Rework Growth And Valuation
• Positive Sentiment: New product and marketing initiatives — including a major Stranger Things Happy Meal collaboration — provide short‑term traffic drivers and brand visibility that can help sales while cross‑promotions roll out. McDonald's x Stranger Things Happy Meal
• Positive Sentiment: Product expansion efforts, like a new drinks menu aimed at capturing more beverage spend, could incrementally lift check sizes if adoption scales. Investors view beverage gains as a meaningful long‑term lever. McDonald's takes aim at Starbucks with new drinks menu
• Positive Sentiment: Institutional buying was reported in a recent 13F (Advisors Capital Management increased holdings), a sign that some money managers are adding to positions. Holdings Increased by Advisors Capital Management
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts are also reworking fair value and valuation assumptions (a very small fair‑value tweak was reported), highlighting that expectations are being recalibrated rather than radically shifted. This creates mixed signals for near‑term price moves. How The McDonald's (MCD) Investment Story Is Shifting As Analysts Rework Growth And Valuation
• Neutral Sentiment: Various viral/consumer stories (CEO explaining a viral tiny‑burger bite, menu articles) are generating media buzz but are unlikely to move fundamentals materially. CEO explains viral tiny burger bite
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group downgraded MCD from "buy" to "hold," a direct negative catalyst that can pressure sentiment and prompt short‑term selling. Finviz (Erste Group downgrade)
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts and outlets note a tougher operating backdrop—slowing customer traffic, softening sales and rising food costs—which raises near‑term margin and growth concerns for the restaurant sector and weighs on the stock. McDonald's unveils new Happy Meal; operating challenges noted

Insider Buying and Selling

In other McDonald's news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.72, for a total value of $100,805.76. Following the sale, the insider owned 8,067 shares in the company, valued at $2,442,042.24. This trade represents a 3.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,276 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.54, for a total value of $8,764,097.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,638,066. The trade was a 53.43% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 71,990 shares of company stock valued at $23,824,113 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on MCD shares. Tigress Financial increased their target price on McDonald's from $360.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, March 6th. KeyCorp lowered their target price on McDonald's from $354.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Truist Financial increased their target price on McDonald's from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on McDonald's from $305.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their target price on McDonald's from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $340.93.

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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