Vanguard Group Inc. Buys 703,458 Shares of McDonald's Corporation $MCD

Key Points

• Vanguard Group increased its McDonald’s stake by 703,458 shares (a 1.0% rise) and now owns 72,351,127 shares—about 10.16% of the company, valued at $22.11 billion per its SEC filing.
• McDonald’s recently beat quarterly estimates with EPS of $3.12 (vs. $3.05 expected) and revenue of $7.01 billion, up 9.7% year‑over‑year, while sell‑side analysts forecast roughly 13.22 EPS for the fiscal year.
• Insiders sold meaningful stock positions this quarter (71,990 shares, ~$23.8M, including CEO and CMO sales) even as the company pushes growth through a nationwide value menu, a 17‑item menu revamp and accelerated franchise openings, amid mixed signals from trademark and reputational risks.

Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD - Free Report) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 72,351,127 shares of the fast-food giant's stock after purchasing an additional 703,458 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 10.16% of McDonald's worth $22,112,675,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 2.7% during the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 143,492 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $43,606,000 after acquiring an additional 3,774 shares during the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 317.2% during the third quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 19,079 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $5,691,000 after acquiring an additional 14,506 shares during the last quarter. National Pension Service boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 2.5% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,533,015 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $465,868,000 after acquiring an additional 37,744 shares during the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group boosted its position in shares of McDonald's by 5.2% during the third quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,029,572 shares of the fast-food giant's stock worth $312,877,000 after acquiring an additional 51,039 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of McDonald's during the third quarter worth $1,697,000. Institutional investors own 70.29% of the company's stock.

McDonald's Price Performance

MCD stock opened at $299.62 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $212.98 billion, a PE ratio of 25.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.53. McDonald's Corporation has a 12 month low of $283.47 and a 12 month high of $341.75. The firm's 50-day moving average is $317.15 and its 200 day moving average is $311.94.

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.05 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.81 billion. McDonald's had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The firm's revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.83 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that McDonald's Corporation will post 13.22 EPS 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 paid a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonald's's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.26%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have commented on MCD shares. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $323.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. TD Cowen reissued a "hold" rating and issued a $320.00 price objective on shares of McDonald's in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $335.00 to $334.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of McDonald's from $345.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, McDonald's presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $340.93.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald's

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

• Positive Sentiment: Company rolled out a nationwide value menu and sub‑$3 items intended to drive traffic and simplify promotions — a potentially material near‑term top‑line boost. McDonald’s new value menu debuts today
• Positive Sentiment: Menu revamp (≈17 items) and "protein" badges aim to keep menu relevant amid changing consumer trends (GLP‑1 impact), supporting average check and guest counts. McDonald’s revamps menu across 17 items
• Positive Sentiment: New promotional tie‑ins (Stranger Things Happy Meals) and refreshed beverages are low‑cost demand drivers that help maintain brand relevance and incremental sales. McDonald’s introducing new ‘Stranger Things’ Happy Meal
• Positive Sentiment: Franchise expansion: McDonald’s opened more U.S. restaurants in 2025 than any year since 2002 — supports long‑term unit growth and franchise economics. McDonald's added a lot of new U.S. restaurants in 2025
• Neutral Sentiment: Some models still point to upside (24/7 Wall St. $341 PT) but flag "execution cracks" — supportive for medium‑term targets but mixed for near‑term momentum. McDonald’s Price Target Hits $341—But Cracks Are Starting to Show
• Neutral Sentiment: RBC sees Q1 roughly in line with consensus, reducing the chance of a major near‑term earnings surprise. McDonald's Seen Posting Largely In-Line First-Quarter Results, RBC Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Options flow and commentary show retail traders selling premium via spreads — market positioning implies limited downside expectations and muted volatility. Selling A Spread On McDonald's Stock Could Deliver A Big Mac-Sized Return
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale: Joseph M. Erlinger (President, McDonald’s USA) sold 333 shares (~$100.8k) — small in scale but visible to investors and sometimes interpreted as a mild negative signal. Insider Form 4 filing
• Negative Sentiment: Trademark/IP risk: USPTO has challenged McDonald’s attempt to reclaim “Extra Value Meal” — losing exclusive control over a core promotional term could complicate branding. McDonald's fights to win back ‘Extra Value Meal' moniker
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/reputational watch: equality watchdog says work with McDonald’s on sexual‑harassment prevention is "ongoing," keeping reputational risk on investors' radars. Equality watchdog update

Insider Activity at McDonald's

In related news, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 4,692 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $331.00, for a total value of $1,553,052.00. Following the transaction, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,277 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $331.35, for a total transaction of $8,706,883.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at $7,587,915. This represents a 53.43% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 71,990 shares of company stock worth $23,824,113. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About McDonald's

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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