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.

$232.06 +0.23 (+0.10%)

Closing price 10/2/2026 03:59 PM Eastern

Extended Trading

$232.17 +0.11 (+0.05%)

As of 10/2/2026 08:00 PM Eastern

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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

$300.64
29.55% Upside

According to the 37 analysts' twelve-month price targets for McDonald's, the average price target is $300.64. 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 29.55% from the current price of $232.06.

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 10/3/25 to 10/3/26	1 Month Ago 9/3/25 to 9/3/26	3 Months Ago 7/5/25 to 7/5/26	1 Year Ago 10/3/24 to 10/3/25
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)	12 Buy rating(s)
Hold	13 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)
Sell	1 Sell rating(s)	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Sell rating(s)	2 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price Target	$300.64	$323.32	$336.00	$325.86
Forecasted Upside	29.55% Upside	24.59% Upside	19.79% 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	2.19	2.53
Consensus Rating	Moderate Buy	Hold	Moderate Buy
Predicted Upside	29.55% Upside	231.37% Upside	21.54% Upside
News Sentiment Rating	Neutral News See Recent MCD News	Neutral News	Neutral 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
9/29/2026	Jefferies Financial Group 3 of 5 stars	John Ivankoe Not Rated	Lower Target	Overweight	$260.00 ➝ $250.00	+6.06%
9/28/2026	Morgan Stanley 3 of 5 stars	Brian Harbour 2 of 5 stars	Lower Target	Equal Weight	$308.00 ➝ $297.00	+25.54%
9/28/2026	Melius Research 4 of 5 stars	Jacob Aiken-Phillips Not Rated	Lower Target	Sell	$250.00 ➝ $230.00	-2.78%
9/25/2026	Sanford C. Bernstein Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Danilo Gargiulo Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Reiterated Rating	Market Perform	$310.00 ➝ $295.00	+24.13%
9/25/2026	HC Wainwright Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Set Target		$250.00	+5.20%
9/24/2026	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		$260.00	+9.19%
9/24/2026	TD Cowen Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Andrew M. Charles Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Hold	$282.00 ➝ $270.00	+13.39%
9/24/2026	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	Lower Target	Outperform	$335.00 ➝ $310.00	+30.19%
9/24/2026	Evercore Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target	Outperform	$320.00 ➝ $300.00	+25.99%
9/24/2026	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	Lower Target	Buy	$310.00 ➝ $305.00	+30.83%
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9/24/2026	Gordon Haskett Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target	Buy	$315.00 ➝ $285.00	+22.30%
9/24/2026	DZ Bank Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Reiterated Rating	Buy
9/24/2026	Robert W. Baird 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	Lower Target	Neutral	$285.00 ➝ $250.00	+4.27%
9/24/2026	Oppenheimer Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target	Market Perform ➝ Outperform	$325.00 ➝ $295.00	+22.49%
9/24/2026	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	$280.00 ➝ $260.00	+8.22%
9/24/2026	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	$290.00 ➝ $285.00	+18.49%
9/24/2026	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	Lower Target	Buy	$350.00 ➝ $295.00	+23.89%
9/21/2026	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	Reiterated Rating	Overweight	$315.00 ➝ $305.00	+22.64%
9/21/2026	Needham & Company LLC Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Reiterated Rating	Buy
9/18/2026	Weiss Ratings Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Reiterated Rating	Hold (C)
9/14/2026	Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Lauren Silberman Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Buy	$325.00 ➝ $300.00	+16.58%
8/26/2026	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	Lower Target		$306.00 ➝ $285.00	+22.25%
8/26/2026	Argus Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	John Staszak Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Buy	$320.00 ➝ $310.00	+15.91%
8/6/2026	Daiwa Securities Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target	Outperform	$309.00 ➝ $293.00	+25.69%
8/5/2026	Guggenheim Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Gregory Francfort Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Neutral	$320.00 ➝ $290.00	+6.71%
8/5/2026	Loop Capital Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target	Hold	$301.00 ➝ $273.00	+17.08%
8/5/2026	HSBC Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target	Buy	$357.00 ➝ $356.00	+52.68%
8/5/2026	Bank of America Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Boost Target		$339.00 ➝ $343.00	+47.13%
8/5/2026	Freedom Capital Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Hold ➝ Strong-Buy
8/4/2026	Piper Sandler Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Set Target		$305.00 ➝ $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%
7/17/2026	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%
5/8/2026	Cfra Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Buy
5/8/2026	Stifel Nicolaus Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target		$315.00 ➝ $290.00	+24.36%
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
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%
2/11/2026	The Goldman Sachs Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Boost Target	Buy	$360.00 ➝ $372.00	+59.64%
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%
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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 Saturday at 03:07 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 Friday, October 2, 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. shares are currently trading at $232.06, a level that has entered oversold territory and is near the 52-week low of $229.61, presenting a potential value opportunity for investors looking to buy the dip after a significant decline from the 52-week high of $341.75.
The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.93 per share, which represents an annualized yield of approximately 3.3% and marks a positive increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.86, providing a steady income stream for shareholders.
Wall Street analysts maintain a consensus rating of Moderate Buy with an average price target of $300.64, suggesting nearly 30% upside potential from the current price, as institutions like GoalVest Advisory LLC significantly increased their stakes in the third quarter.
McDonald's Co. is testing hand-breaded chicken tenders and sandwiches at approximately 200 U.S. restaurants, an initiative that could strengthen its chicken platform and support customer traffic if the response is favorable, adding to its product innovation pipeline.
The company is expanding its beverage offerings, which analysts view as a potential global growth driver that could increase store visits, average check sizes, and overall cash flow, diversifying revenue sources beyond traditional food items.

McDonald's
Bear Case

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

Investors are concerned that AI-driven pricing and loyalty tools could create uneven prices between restaurants, potentially triggering a consumer backlash similar to previous dynamic-pricing controversies, despite the company's rejection of claims that it is secretly setting individualized prices.
Soft U.S. traffic and pressure on lower-income consumers remain fundamental concerns, with service and value-menu execution issues cited by analysts like Jefferies, who recently reduced their price target, indicating cautious sentiment ahead of the next earnings report.
The company is investing in an approximately $8.5 billion modernization program, including the Archy AI drive-thru assistant, which requires improved accuracy and consistent customer acceptance to reduce costs over time, posing execution risks if the technology rollout is not successful.
McDonald's Co. reported a negative return on equity of 572.06% in its most recent quarterly results, a financial metric that indicates the company is generating negative returns on the equity invested by shareholders, which may concern value-oriented investors.
Several major financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, have recently decreased their price targets on the stock, reflecting a broader trend of analysts lowering expectations due to the current market environment and company-specific challenges.

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 $300.64, 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 29.55% based on their 12-month stock forecasts.

Over the previous 90 days, McDonald's's stock had 2 upgrades 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.

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MarketBeat monitors more than a dozen sources for McDonald's analyst ratings, with the most recent rating issued on 9/29/2026.

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McDonald's (MCD) Stock Forecast & Price Target