Gries Financial LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD)

Gries Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s Co. (NYSE:MCD) by 60.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,235 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after buying an additional 463 shares during the quarter. Gries Financial LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $358,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MCD. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its holdings in McDonald’s by 312.9% during the 2nd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 41,370 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $10,543,000 after purchasing an additional 31,351 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of McDonald’s by 3.6% in the second quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 5,387 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $1,373,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the period. Mattson Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in McDonald’s during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,740,000. Jacobs & Co. CA increased its holdings in McDonald’s by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs & Co. CA now owns 43,238 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $13,166,000 after acquiring an additional 2,072 shares during the period. Finally, Appleton Partners Inc. MA lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 9.1% in the 3rd quarter. Appleton Partners Inc. MA now owns 19,241 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $5,859,000 after purchasing an additional 1,603 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

NYSE:MCD opened at $290.19 on Friday. McDonald’s Co. has a fifty-two week low of $243.53 and a fifty-two week high of $317.90. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $291.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $289.24. The firm has a market cap of $207.96 billion, a PE ratio of 25.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.73.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The fast-food giant reported $3.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $6.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.82 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.79% and a negative return on equity of 175.42%. The company’s revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.19 EPS. Research analysts predict that McDonald’s Co. will post 11.72 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.75, for a total value of $84,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 7,887 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,214,275.25. This trade represents a 3.66 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 3,409 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.15, for a total value of $989,121.35. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,675 shares in the company, valued at $2,807,201.25. This trade represents a 26.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 7,406 shares of company stock worth $2,150,857. Company insiders own 0.23% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $330.00 to $320.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim lowered McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $290.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on McDonald’s from $285.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of McDonald’s from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $320.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Loop Capital reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $342.00 price target on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $320.87.

McDonald’s Company Profile

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. It offers food and beverages, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers, various chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, desserts, sundaes, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages; and full or limited breakfast, as well as sells various other products during limited-time promotions.