McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Hits New 12-Month High on Analyst Upgrade

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on the stock from $305.00 to $325.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the stock. McDonald’s traded as high as $336.00 and last traded at $334.7740, with a volume of 278811 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $334.56.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on McDonald’s from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $323.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $337.57.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total value of $2,066,731.29. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $763,567.39. This represents a 73.02% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.43, for a total value of $110,033.19. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 8,733 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,885,645.19. The trade was a 3.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 78,084 shares of company stock valued at $25,661,722. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target to $325 and kept an “overweight” rating, signaling analyst confidence in MCD’s growth and reinforcing buy-side interest. JPMorgan Boosts McDonald’s Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: National promotions: McDonald’s is promoting $1 McMuffins (one‑day/local deals and broader giveaways), a low-price traffic driver that can boost morning-store visits and app usage. McDonald’s Is Giving Away $1 McMuffins Next Week
• Positive Sentiment: Big Arch Burger LTO: McDonald’s is rolling out a supersized “Big Arch” burger in the U.S., generating strong social buzz and free publicity — likely to lift short‑term sales and drive incremental visits during the promotion. McDonald’s launches supersized Big Arch Burger in US
• Positive Sentiment: Repeat business tailwinds: Coverage highlights loyalty and rewards programs (Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chipotle) that are improving frequency and ticket — a structural benefit for McDonald’s margins and digital sales mix. Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Chipotle Reward Loyal Customers
• Neutral Sentiment: Limited-time international items: McDonald’s is bringing a best‑selling international burger to U.S. menus for a limited run — positive for novelty and visits but uncertain lift vs. cost. McDonald’s bringing international burger to the US
• Neutral Sentiment: Relative performance note: Analysis shows MCD has outperformed the consumer discretionary sector over the past year — supportive context for longer-term investors but not an immediate catalyst. McDonald’s Stock: Is MCD Outperforming the Consumer Discretionary Sector?
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares (~$2.07M) and President Joe Erlinger sold 333 shares; meaningful executives trimming positions can spook some investors even if sales are routine. Jonathan Banner Form 4 Joseph Erlinger Form 4
• Negative Sentiment: Ad controversy in Germany: A new campaign showing empty boxes during Ramadan drew criticism — a reputational risk that could attract negative headlines in certain markets, though impact on sales likely limited. Why New McDonald’s Ad Campaign Will Show Empty Boxes

Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonald’s

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 84.1% during the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 141,775 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $41,422,000 after purchasing an additional 64,757 shares in the last quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. lifted its position in McDonald’s by 236.7% in the third quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 6,502 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,976,000 after purchasing an additional 4,571 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its stake in McDonald’s by 2.7% during the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 143,492 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $43,606,000 after buying an additional 3,774 shares in the last quarter. Choreo LLC increased its holdings in McDonald’s by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 58,515 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $17,096,000 after buying an additional 954 shares during the period. Finally, Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,120,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

McDonald’s Trading Up 0.3%

The business’s fifty day moving average price is $315.63 and its 200 day moving average price is $309.77. The company has a market capitalization of $237.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.52.

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

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

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

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.