McDonald's (MCD) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Q: What analysts cover McDonald's?

McDonald's has been rated by research analysts at Argus , BTIG Research , Citigroup , Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft , Evercore , Freedom Capital , Guggenheim , KeyCorp , Mizuho , Morgan Stanley , Piper Sandler , Robert W. Baird , Royal Bank Of Canada , Sanford C. Bernstein , TD Cowen , Tigress Financial , UBS Group , Weiss Ratings , and Wells Fargo & Company in the past 90 days.

$255.69 -3.94 (-1.52%)

As of 09/4/2026 03:58 PM Eastern

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

Consensus Rating

Moderate Buy

Based on 27 Analyst Ratings

Sell
0

Hold
11

Buy
16

Based on 27 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 27 analysts, 11 have given a hold rating, 15 have given a buy rating, and 1 has given a strong buy rating for MCD.

Consensus Price Target

$321.35
25.68% Upside

According to the 27 analysts' twelve-month price targets for McDonald's, the average price target is $321.35. The highest price target for MCD is $390.00, while the lowest price target for MCD is $285.00. The average price target represents a forecasted upside of 25.68% from the current price of $255.69.

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.

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MCD Analyst Ratings Over Time

Type	Current Forecast 9/6/25 to 9/6/26	1 Month Ago 8/7/25 to 8/7/26	3 Months Ago 6/8/25 to 6/8/26	1 Year Ago 9/6/24 to 9/6/25
Strong Buy	1 Strong Buy rating(s)	1 Strong Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)
Buy	15 Buy rating(s)	16 Buy rating(s)	16 Buy rating(s)	12 Buy rating(s)
Hold	11 Hold rating(s)	12 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)
Sell	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Sell rating(s)	2 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price Target	$321.35	$325.44	$336.26	$325.35
Forecasted Upside	25.68% Upside	18.60% Upside	21.14% Upside	3.52% 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	2.63	2.20	2.53
Consensus Rating	Moderate Buy	Hold	Moderate Buy
Predicted Upside	25.68% Upside	202.85% Upside	14.03% Upside
News Sentiment Rating	Positive News See Recent MCD News	Positive News	Positive News

Recent Analyst Forecasts and Stock Ratings

Rating

Upside/Downside

Action

Time Frame

Start Date

End Date

Show

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Date	Brokerage	Analyst	Action	Rating	Price Target	Report Date Upside/Downside
8/26/2026	Argus 3 of 5 stars	John Staszak 2 of 5 stars	Lower Target	Buy	$320.00 ➝ $310.00	+15.91%
8/24/2026	Robert W. Baird 3 of 5 stars		Upgrade	Hold
8/5/2026	Guggenheim 5 of 5 stars	Gregory Francfort 1 of 5 stars	Lower Target	Neutral	$320.00 ➝ $290.00	+6.71%
8/5/2026	Sanford C. Bernstein Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Reiterated Rating	Market Perform	$295.00	+7.30%
8/5/2026	UBS Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Dennis Geiger Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Set Target		$305.00	+11.35%
8/5/2026	Citigroup Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Jon Tower Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Buy	$335.00 ➝ $345.00	+27.58%
8/5/2026	Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Boost Target	Buy	$335.00 ➝ $345.00	+28.57%
8/5/2026	KeyCorp Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Christopher Carril Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Overweight	$315.00 ➝ $305.00	+13.66%
8/5/2026	Freedom Capital Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Hold ➝ Strong-Buy
8/5/2026	Royal Bank Of Canada Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Logan Reich Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Sector Perform	$305.00 ➝ $295.00	+9.93%
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8/5/2026	Morgan Stanley Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Brian Harbour Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Equal Weight	$322.00 ➝ $319.00	+18.88%
8/5/2026	BTIG Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Peter Saleh Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Reiterated Rating	Buy	$350.00	+30.43%
8/4/2026	TD Cowen Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Andrew M. Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Reiterated Rating	Hold
8/4/2026	Piper Sandler Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Set Target		$286.00	+7.09%
7/31/2026	Mizuho Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Nick Setyan Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Neutral	$300.00 ➝ $290.00	+7.33%
7/23/2026	Evercore Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Set Target		$320.00	+21.46%
7/17/2026	Tigress Financial Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Ivan Feinseth Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Buy	$385.00 ➝ $390.00	+45.67%
7/16/2026	Wells Fargo & Company Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Zachary Fadem Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Overweight	$320.00 ➝ $300.00	+13.26%
6/23/2026	Weiss Ratings Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Downgrade	Hold (C+) ➝ Hold (C)
5/11/2026	JPMorgan Chase & Co. Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	John Ivankoe Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Overweight	$325.00 ➝ $305.00	+11.39%
5/8/2026	Cfra Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Buy
5/8/2026	Barclays Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Jeffrey Bernstein Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Overweight	$380.00 ➝ $350.00	+24.82%
4/27/2026	Erste Group Bank Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Downgrade	Buy ➝ Hold
4/23/2026	Rothschild & Co Redburn Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Chris Luyckx Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Upgrade	Sell ➝ Neutral	$260.00 ➝ $306.00	+1.94%
2/12/2026	Jefferies Financial Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Andy Barish Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Buy	$360.00 ➝ $375.00	+15.98%
2/12/2026	Truist Financial Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Jake Bartlett Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Buy	$356.00 ➝ $370.00	+14.81%
1/6/2026	Oppenheimer Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Brian Bittner Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Upgrade	Market Perform ➝ Outperform	$355.00	+17.30%
11/6/2025	BMO Capital Markets Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Andrew Strelzik Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Reiterated Rating	Outperform
8/22/2025	Stifel Nicolaus Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Chris O'Cull Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Hold	$300.00 ➝ $315.00	+0.59%
7/18/2025	Bank of America Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Sara Senatore Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Neutral	$327.00 ➝ $322.00	+7.46%
7/14/2025	Melius Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Initiated Coverage	Sell	$250.00	-16.61%
7/10/2025	The Goldman Sachs Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Christine Cho Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Upgrade	Neutral ➝ Buy	$345.00	+17.61%
6/6/2025	Loop Capital Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Alton Stump Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Downgrade	Buy ➝ Hold	$346.00 ➝ $315.00	+2.02%
6/5/2025	TD Securities Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Agnes Lim Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Reiterated Rating	Hold	$305.00	-2.15%
5/6/2025	Northcoast Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Jim Sanderson Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Downgrade	Buy ➝ Neutral
2/11/2025	Wedbush Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Nick Setyan Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	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 Sunday at 05:32 AM 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 Friday, September 4, 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. is currently trading at $255.69, which is near its 52-week low of $255.49, presenting a potential entry point for value-oriented investors who believe the stock is undervalued relative to its long-term franchise model and global brand strength.
The company recently reported earnings per share of $3.38 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.32, demonstrating its ability to maintain profitability and outperform analyst expectations even in a challenging consumer environment.
McDonald's Co. offers a dividend yield of 2.85%, with a recent quarterly dividend of $1.86 per share, providing a steady income stream for investors who prioritize cash flow and capital preservation over aggressive growth.
Analysts maintain a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $321.35, suggesting that the current market price may be below the perceived fair value, indicating potential upside for investors who align with the broader Wall Street outlook.
The company's low beta of 0.41 indicates that its stock price is less volatile than the overall market, making it a defensive holding that may provide stability in a portfolio during periods of economic uncertainty or market turbulence.

McDonald's
Bear Case

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

Recent reports indicate that U.S. consumer weakness is a primary concern, with customers shifting to competing fast-food chains, which is putting pressure on traffic and comparable sales for McDonald's Co. in its largest market.
There are growing concerns about the effectiveness of McDonald's Co.'s value positioning, as its $3 value offering has not fully delivered for customers or the company, raising questions about affordability and the economics of discounting for franchisees.
Insider selling has been significant, with CEO Chris Kempczinski and other executives selling substantial blocks of shares in early 2026, which may signal a lack of confidence in the company's near-term stock price performance or a desire to diversify personal holdings.
The stock has experienced a series of 52-week lows in recent months, with the price declining from over $300 in early 2026 to the current $255.69, indicating a sustained downward trend that may reflect deeper structural issues in the company's U.S. operations.
Short interest in McDonald's Co. has increased over the past several months, with the number of shares shorted rising from 7.3 million in October 2025 to 11.05 million in August 2026, suggesting that a growing number of investors are betting against the stock's future performance.

MCD Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

According to the research reports of 27 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for McDonald's is $321.35, with a high forecast of $390.00 and a low forecast of $285.00.

27 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for McDonald's in the last year. There are currently 11 hold ratings, 15 buy ratings and 1 strong buy rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" MCD shares.

According to analysts, McDonald's's stock has a predicted upside of 25.68% 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, BTIG Research, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Evercore, Freedom Capital, Guggenheim, KeyCorp, Mizuho, Morgan Stanley, Piper Sandler, Robert W. Baird, 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.

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MarketBeat monitors more than a dozen sources for McDonald's analyst ratings, with the most recent rating issued on 8/26/2026.

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McDonald's (MCD) Stock Forecast & Price Target