McDonald's (MCD) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Q: What analysts cover McDonald's?

McDonald's has been rated by research analysts at Argus , Bank of America , BMO Capital Markets , BTIG Research , Citigroup , Daiwa Securities Group , Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft , DZ Bank , Evercore , Freedom Capital , Gordon Haskett , Guggenheim , HC Wainwright , HSBC , Jefferies Financial Group , JPMorgan Chase & Co. , KeyCorp , Loop Capital , Melius Research , Mizuho , Morgan Stanley , Needham & Company LLC , Oppenheimer , Piper Sandler , Robert W. Baird , Rothschild & Co Redburn , Royal Bank Of Canada , Sanford C. Bernstein , TD Cowen , Tigress Financial , UBS Group , Weiss Ratings , and Wells Fargo & Company in the past 90 days.

$235.94 +0.29 (+0.12%)

Closing price 03:59 PM Eastern

Extended Trading

$235.86 -0.08 (-0.04%)

As of 07:59 PM Eastern

Compare

McDonald's - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Moderate Buy

Based on 37 Analyst Ratings

Sell
1

Hold
13

Buy
23

Based on 37 Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings for McDonald's in the last 12 months, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy." Out of the 37 analysts, 1 has given a sell rating, 13 have given a hold rating, 22 have given a buy rating, and 1 has given a strong buy rating for MCD.

Consensus Price Target

$295.94
25.43% Upside

According to the 37 analysts' twelve-month price targets for McDonald's, the average price target is $295.94. The highest price target for MCD is $390.00, while the lowest price target for MCD is $230.00. The average price target represents a forecasted upside of 25.43% from the current price of $235.94.

MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0 to .5 = Strong Sell, .5 to 1 = Sell, 1 to 1.5 = Reduce, 1.5 to 2.5 = Hold, 2.5 to 3.0 = Moderate Buy, 3.0 to 3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data.

Get the Latest News and Ratings for MCD and Related Stocks

Enter your email address to receive the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and its competitors.

SMS is currently available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. By entering your phone number and clicking the sign-up button, you agree to receive periodic text messages from MarketBeat at the phone number you submitted, including texts that may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency will vary. Messages will consist of stock alerts, news stories, and partner advertisements/offers. Consent is not a condition of the purchase of any goods or services. Text HELP for help/customer support. Unsubscribe at any time by replying "STOP" to any text message that you receive from MarketBeat or by visiting our mailing preferences page. Read our full terms of service and privacy policy.

MCD Analyst Ratings Over Time

Type	Current Forecast 10/13/25 to 10/13/26	1 Month Ago 9/13/25 to 9/13/26	3 Months Ago 7/15/25 to 7/15/26	1 Year Ago 10/13/24 to 10/13/25
Strong Buy	1 Strong Buy rating(s)	1 Strong Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)
Buy	22 Buy rating(s)	18 Buy rating(s)	16 Buy rating(s)	11 Buy rating(s)
Hold	13 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)	14 Hold rating(s)
Sell	1 Sell rating(s)	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Sell rating(s)	2 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price Target	$295.94	$321.50	$337.25	$325.18
Forecasted Upside	25.43% Upside	27.28% Upside	27.32% Upside	8.36% Upside
Consensus Rating	Moderate Buy	Moderate Buy	Moderate Buy	Hold

MCD Analyst Recommendations By Month

The chart below shows how a company's ratings by analysts have changed over time. Each bar represents the previous year of ratings for that month. Within each bar, the sell ratings are shown in red, the hold ratings are shown in yellow, the buy ratings are shown in green, and the strong buy ratings are shown in dark green.

MCD Price Targets by Month

The chart below shows how a company's share price and consensus price target have changed over time. The dark blue line represents the company's actual price. The lighter blue line represents the stock's consensus price target. The even lighter blue range in the background of the two lines represents the low price target and the high price target for each stock.

McDonald's Stock vs. The Competition

Type	McDonald's	Consumer Discretionary Companies	Broader Market
Consensus Rating Score	2.62	2.20	2.53
Consensus Rating	Moderate Buy	Hold	Moderate Buy
Predicted Upside	25.43% Upside	248.33% Upside	19.09% Upside
News Sentiment Rating	Neutral News See Recent MCD News	Positive News	Positive News

Recent Analyst Forecasts and Stock Ratings

Show

Rating

Upside/Downside

Action

Report Date

0 Results

Export

Date	Brokerage	Analyst	Action	Rating	Price Target	Report Date Upside/Downside
10/8/2026	Sanford C. Bernstein 3 of 5 stars	Danilo Gargiulo Not Rated	Lower Target	Market Perform	$295.00 ➝ $250.00	+8.36%
10/6/2026	KeyCorp 2 of 5 stars	Christopher Carril Not Rated	Lower Target	Overweight	$305.00 ➝ $280.00	+20.33%
10/5/2026	Guggenheim 5 of 5 stars	Gregory Francfort 1 of 5 stars	Lower Target	Neutral	$290.00 ➝ $250.00	+7.73%
10/5/2026	Wells Fargo & Company Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Zachary Fadem Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Overweight	$300.00 ➝ $270.00	+16.35%
10/2/2026	Weiss Ratings Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Downgrade	Hold (C) ➝ Hold (C-)
9/29/2026	Jefferies Financial Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	John Ivankoe Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Overweight	$260.00 ➝ $250.00	+6.06%
9/28/2026	Morgan Stanley Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Brian Harbour Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Equal Weight	$308.00 ➝ $297.00	+25.54%
9/28/2026	Melius Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Jacob Aiken-Phillips Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Sell	$250.00 ➝ $230.00	-2.78%
9/25/2026	HC Wainwright Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Set Target		$250.00	+5.20%
9/24/2026	UBS Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Dennis Geiger Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Set Target		$260.00	+9.19%
Get the Latest News and Ratings for MCD and Related Stocks Enter your email address below to receive the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter.
9/24/2026	TD Cowen Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Andrew M. Charles Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Hold	$282.00 ➝ $270.00	+13.39%
9/24/2026	BMO Capital Markets Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Andrew Strelzik Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Outperform	$335.00 ➝ $310.00	+30.19%
9/24/2026	Evercore Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Lower Target	Outperform	$320.00 ➝ $300.00	+25.99%
9/24/2026	Citigroup Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Jon Tower Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Buy	$310.00 ➝ $305.00	+30.83%
9/24/2026	Gordon Haskett Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Lower Target	Buy	$315.00 ➝ $285.00	+22.30%
9/24/2026	DZ Bank Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Reiterated Rating	Buy
9/24/2026	Robert W. Baird Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Chris O'Cull Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Neutral	$285.00 ➝ $250.00	+4.27%
9/24/2026	Oppenheimer Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Lower Target	Market Perform ➝ Outperform	$325.00 ➝ $295.00	+22.49%
9/24/2026	JPMorgan Chase & Co. Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	John Ivankoe Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Overweight	$280.00 ➝ $260.00	+8.22%
9/24/2026	Royal Bank Of Canada Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Logan Reich Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Sector Perform	$290.00 ➝ $285.00	+18.49%
9/24/2026	BTIG Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Peter Saleh Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Buy	$350.00 ➝ $295.00	+23.89%
9/21/2026	Needham & Company LLC Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Reiterated Rating	Buy
9/14/2026	Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Lauren Silberman Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Buy	$325.00 ➝ $300.00	+16.58%
8/26/2026	Rothschild & Co Redburn Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Chris Luyckx Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target		$306.00 ➝ $285.00	+22.25%
8/26/2026	Argus Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	John Staszak Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Buy	$320.00 ➝ $310.00	+15.91%
8/6/2026	Daiwa Securities Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Lower Target	Outperform	$309.00 ➝ $293.00	+25.69%
8/5/2026	Loop Capital Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Lower Target	Hold	$301.00 ➝ $273.00	+17.08%
8/5/2026	HSBC Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Lower Target	Buy	$357.00 ➝ $356.00	+52.68%
8/5/2026	Bank of America Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Boost Target		$339.00 ➝ $343.00	+47.13%
8/5/2026	Freedom Capital Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Upgrade	Hold ➝ Strong-Buy
8/4/2026	Piper Sandler Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Set Target		$305.00 ➝ $286.00	+7.09%
7/31/2026	Mizuho Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Nick Setyan Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Neutral	$300.00 ➝ $290.00	+7.33%
7/17/2026	Tigress Financial Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Ivan Feinseth Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Boost Target	Buy	$385.00 ➝ $390.00	+45.67%
5/8/2026	Cfra Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Upgrade	Buy
5/8/2026	Stifel Nicolaus Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Lower Target		$315.00 ➝ $290.00	+24.36%
5/8/2026	Barclays Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Jeffrey Bernstein Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Lower Target	Overweight	$380.00 ➝ $350.00	+24.82%
4/27/2026	Erste Group Bank Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Downgrade	Buy ➝ Hold
2/12/2026	Truist Financial Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Jake Bartlett Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Boost Target	Buy	$356.00 ➝ $370.00	+14.81%
2/11/2026	The Goldman Sachs Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings		Boost Target	Buy	$360.00 ➝ $372.00	+59.64%
6/5/2025	TD Securities Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Agnes Lim Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Reiterated Rating	Hold	$305.00	-2.15%
The REAL Reason Trump is Invading Iran (Ad) For a moment… Forget about Trump’s ties to Israel. Forget about reports of Iran’s nuclear program. Because my research has led me to believe we’re risking World War 3 with Iran for a completely different reason. Click here to find out what it is.
5/6/2025	Northcoast Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Jim Sanderson Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Downgrade	Buy ➝ Neutral
2/11/2025	Wedbush Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock brokerage rankings	Nick Setyan Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access to unlock analyst rankings	Boost Target	Outperform	$320.00 ➝ $330.00	+7.07%

Analyst ratings data on MarketBeat is provided by Benzinga and other data providers. This page was last refreshed on Tuesday at 10:24 PM ET.

Should I Buy McDonald's Stock? MCD Pros and Cons Explained

These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Please send any questions or comments about these McDonald's pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

McDonald's
Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in McDonald's Co.:

McDonald's Co. recently increased its quarterly dividend to $1.93, representing a 3.3% annualized yield, which provides a steady income stream for investors seeking consistent cash flow from a stable consumer brand.
The stock is currently trading at $236.64, which is near its 52-week low of $229.20, potentially offering a valuation entry point below the average analyst price target of $295.94.
McDonald's Co. reported an EPS of $3.38 for the most recent quarter, beating analyst estimates of $3.32, demonstrating the company's ability to maintain profitability despite broader consumer spending pressures.
The company's heavily franchised business model, where independent franchisees own and operate most locations, allows McDonald's Co. to generate high-margin revenue with lower capital expenditure risk compared to company-operated restaurants.
Recent promotional activities, such as the return of the Monopoly game with a $1 million grand prize, are expected to boost customer engagement and drive near-term traffic to stores.

McDonald's
Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in McDonald's Co. for these reasons:

McDonald's Co. faces a significant legal overhang from a proposed class action alleging that its AI-assisted pricing tool facilitates price coordination among competing franchisees, which could result in costly antitrust litigation.
The company plans to spend approximately $8.5 billion on its "Next" remodeling program, which may strain franchisee resources and raise concerns about the long-term payoff of these capital investments.
Analyst sentiment has turned cautious, with Sanford C. Bernstein lowering its price target to $250.00 and maintaining a "market perform" rating, reflecting concerns about weak consumer sentiment and discount campaigns not fully restoring customer visits.
Short interest in McDonald's Co. has increased, with shares shorted rising to 12,196,481 in the most recent reporting period, indicating that a portion of the market is betting against the stock's performance.
Complaints regarding higher prices and smaller perceived portions could pressure sales and brand perception, potentially eroding the company's competitive position in the quick-service restaurant sector.

MCD Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

According to the research reports of 37 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for McDonald's is $295.94, with a high forecast of $390.00 and a low forecast of $230.00.

37 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for McDonald's in the last twelve months. There is currently 1 sell rating, 13 hold ratings, 22 buy ratings and 1 strong buy rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" MCD shares.

According to analysts, McDonald's's stock has a predicted upside of 25.43% based on their 12-month stock forecasts.

Over the previous 90 days, McDonald's's stock had 2 upgrades and 1 downgrade by analysts.

McDonald's has been rated by research analysts at Argus, Bank of America, BMO Capital Markets, BTIG Research, Citigroup, Daiwa Securities Group, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, DZ Bank, Evercore, Freedom Capital, Gordon Haskett, Guggenheim, HC Wainwright, HSBC, Jefferies Financial Group, JPMorgan Chase & Co., KeyCorp, Loop Capital, Melius Research, Mizuho, Morgan Stanley, Needham & Company LLC, Oppenheimer, Piper Sandler, Robert W. Baird, Rothschild & Co Redburn, Royal Bank Of Canada, Sanford C. Bernstein, TD Cowen, Tigress Financial, UBS Group, Weiss Ratings, and Wells Fargo & Company in the past 90 days.

Analysts like McDonald's more than other "consumer discretionary" companies. The consensus rating for McDonald's is Moderate Buy while the average consensus rating for "consumer discretionary" companies is Hold. Learn more on how MCD compares to other companies.

Stock Forecasts and Research Tools

Related Companies

Today's Analyst Ratings

Top-Rated Stocks

More Ratings Tools

Brokerages With McDonald's Recommendations

MarketBeat monitors more than a dozen sources for McDonald's analyst ratings, with the most recent rating issued on 10/8/2026.

From Our Partners

Unlock superior investment research and tools.

Get MarketBeat All Access

In-depth profiles and analysis for 20,000 public companies.
Real-time analyst ratings, insider transactions, earnings data, and more.
Our daily ratings and market update email newsletter.

Sign In
Create Account

Your Email Address:

Your Password:

Forgot your password?

Your Email Address:

Choose a Password:

By creating a free account, you agree to our terms of service. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

McDonald's (MCD) Stock Forecast & Price Target