Ceredex Value Advisors LLC Takes $37.29 Million Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Ceredex Value Advisors LLC bought a new stake in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 122,706 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock, valued at approximately $37,289,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in McDonald’s by 162.5% during the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the period. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Traub Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Davis Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Miller Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the third quarter worth approximately $38,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MCD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Tigress Financial increased their target price on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating and set a $320.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Erste Group Bank raised shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 13th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $339.69.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,277 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $331.35, for a total value of $8,706,883.95. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at $7,587,915. The trade was a 53.43% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 4,692 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer directly owned 6,200 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,052,200. This represents a 43.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 71,517 shares of company stock worth $23,655,503. 0.25% of the stock is owned by insiders.

McDonald’s Price Performance

NYSE MCD opened at $331.03 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $318.66 and a 200-day moving average price of $311.15. The firm has a market cap of $235.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.70, a PEG ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.51. McDonald’s Corporation has a 1 year low of $283.47 and a 1 year high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.85% and a negative return on equity of 343.90%. The company had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.81 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.83 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.26%.

Key Headlines Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: New product momentum — McDonald’s Big Arch burger is being heavily promoted (CEO appearances, social campaigns such as “First Job Confessional”) and is generating strong online buzz that can lift traffic and brand engagement. McDonald’s Big Arch Burger Tests Brand Power And Rich Valuation
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade — At least one outlet reports a raised price target to $385, signaling increased analyst confidence in MCD’s outlook and valuation support. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Price Target Raised to $385.00
• Positive Sentiment: Viral CEO marketing — A widely viewed video of McDonald’s CEO sampling the new product has driven free publicity and conversations that amplify the Big Arch campaign. Increased organic attention can translate into short-term traffic gains. Viral video of McDonald’s CEO eating new ‘product’ draws response from Columbus Metropolitan Library
• Neutral Sentiment: Pricing variability — A study shows Big Arch prices vary widely across U.S. markets; this affects local comps and customer perception but is not a company-wide earnings surprise. McDonald’s Big Arch Burger Prices Swing Wildly Across U.S., New Study Shows
• Neutral Sentiment: Ongoing product initiatives — New Happy Meal offerings and Filet‑O‑Fish tips/PR continue to support menu innovation and value perception, which can aid transaction growth over time. McDonald’s announces new happy meal
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive and reputational noise — Rival chains (notably Burger King) and their agencies have produced social jabs that highlight brand rivalry; while largely promotional theatre, sustained negative narratives can dent sentiment. Burger King names 2 new agencies following viral Whopper bite moment
• Negative Sentiment: Macro/logistics risk — Analysis flags meaningful exposure to very high oil prices (fuel for delivery/drive‑thru, packaging, logistics) that could suppress demand or raise operating risk if energy spikes materially. McDonald’s Real Risk From $150 Oil Has Nothing to Do With Costs

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.