J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. Cuts Stock Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lessened its stake in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 5.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 37,836 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 2,236 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $11,564,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Harbour Investments Inc. grew its stake in McDonald’s by 84.4% in the fourth quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 35,510 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $10,853,000 after purchasing an additional 16,252 shares during the last quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. grew its stake in McDonald’s by 21.9% in the fourth quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. now owns 21,487 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $6,567,000 after purchasing an additional 3,866 shares during the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board purchased a new position in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at about $7,493,000. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its stake in McDonald’s by 5.2% in the third quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,029,572 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $312,877,000 after purchasing an additional 51,039 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service grew its stake in McDonald’s by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,557,348 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $475,972,000 after purchasing an additional 24,333 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Stock Down 0.2%

McDonald’s stock opened at $272.65 on Friday. McDonald’s Corporation has a 52 week low of $271.85 and a 52 week high of $341.75. The company has a market capitalization of $193.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.41. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $292.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $307.73.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.74 by $0.09. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 442.10% and a net margin of 31.62%.The firm had revenue of $6.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.67 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 2nd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is 61.34%.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.11, for a total transaction of $93,276.63. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,166,370.74. The trade was a 4.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total value of $769,108.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,744,760.48. This trade represents a 30.59% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 8,681 shares of company stock valued at $2,631,594 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $305.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Erste Group Bank downgraded McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Evercore set a $350.00 price target on McDonald’s in a report on Friday, May 8th. KeyCorp lowered their price target on McDonald’s from $345.00 to $330.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $305.00 price target on McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $335.50.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s launched a major global FIFA World Cup campaign featuring collectible cups, Squishmallows, and themed meals, which could boost traffic, engagement, and limited-time sales across key markets. McDonald’s launches global FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with collectible cups, Squishmallows
• Positive Sentiment: The company unveiled its “McDonald’s > NEXT” growth strategy, emphasizing automation and higher hospitality standards, which may improve efficiency and support long-term margins. McDonald’s unveils new ‘McDonald’s > NEXT’ growth strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and media highlighted McDonald’s as a stock to watch amid Gen Z spending trends, reinforcing the view that the brand remains relevant with younger consumers. Gen Z Trends Make These 3 Stocks Worth Watching (MCD)
• Neutral Sentiment: A McDonald’s executive, Desiree Ralls-Morrison, sold 2,763 shares, but the filing appears routine and does not necessarily signal a change in fundamentals. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison Sells 2,763 Shares
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles simply reiterated the World Cup promotion details, which may add near-term buzz but are unlikely by themselves to materially change earnings expectations. McDonald’s FIFA World Cup 26 meals with collectible cups
• Negative Sentiment: A new customer survey noted only 40% of customers view McDonald’s as a good value, highlighting a potential demand risk if consumers continue to feel pressured by pricing. Only 40% of customers think McDonald’s is a good value

McDonald’s Company Profile

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.