Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 106.9% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 4,366 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,256 shares during the period. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc.’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,334,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 71,647,669 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $21,773,010,000 after purchasing an additional 316,638 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,024,857 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $10,643,704,000 after purchasing an additional 196,505 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 4,757,967 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,445,899,000 after purchasing an additional 286,284 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,422,014 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,343,501,000 after purchasing an additional 21,168 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in McDonald’s by 36.6% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,396,837 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $1,336,155,000 after purchasing an additional 1,179,244 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MCD shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $345.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. BTIG Research raised their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Oppenheimer raised shares of McDonald’s from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $355.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird set a $335.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $339.69.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

MCD stock opened at $309.85 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $220.12 billion, a PE ratio of 25.93, a PEG ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.53. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $321.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $311.67. McDonald’s Corporation has a one year low of $283.47 and a one 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 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.05 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $7.01 billion for 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 business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.83 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $1.86 per share. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 3rd. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is presently 62.26%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Jonathan Banner sold 6,201 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.29, for a total transaction of $2,066,731.29. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 2,291 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $763,567.39. The trade was a 73.02% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 26,276 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.54, for a total value of $8,764,097.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,638,066. The trade was a 53.43% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 71,657 shares of company stock worth $23,722,204 in the last 90 days. 0.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key McDonald’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Company pushes value-pricing again — reports say McDonald’s is rolling out a simplified McValue/true-value menu with items under $3 and meals starting at $5, a move that should help drive customer traffic and mix during promotional periods. McDonald’s is bringing back true value: New menu has items under $3 and meals starting at $5
• Positive Sentiment: Sector momentum is supportive — consumer stocks were higher in afternoon trading, giving McDonald’s the benefit of a broader industry lift that can boost multiple and sentiment for defensive consumer names. Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Advance in Afternoon Trading
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst/valuation commentary favors MCD — at least one investing write-up compares McDonald’s favorably versus peers (Domino’s), highlighting resilient same-store sales and arguing MCD looks attractive to buy for long-term investors. McDonald’s or Domino’s: One of These Is a Screaming Buy Right Now
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand PR: CEO response to viral “Big Arch” backlash — the CEO has made on-camera remarks and appearances to address a viral social media flap; this is short-term noise but worth watching for reputational impact. McDonald’s CEO Responds to the Viral Big Arch Backlash (WSJ) McDonald’s CEO responds to the viral Big Arch backlash (MSN)
• Neutral Sentiment: Delivery economics / consumer behavior: coverage offers tips to avoid small‑order delivery fees — indicates continued consumer sensitivity to delivery costs, which can influence AUV and digital mix but is not an immediate earnings shock. Getting McDonald’s Delivered? Here’s How To Avoid That Small Order Fee
• Neutral Sentiment: Local marketing: McDonald’s Türkiye launched a safety-focused McCafé campaign that reinterprets brand assets — a reminder of ongoing international marketing experiments that can boost local traffic. McDonald’s Türkiye Launches Campaign Spotlighting Driving Safety
• Neutral Sentiment: Franchise operator noise: recent Arcos Dorados (Latin America franchisee) earnings miss highlights regional operator risks but also underscores McDonald’s global scale advantage — watch Latin America disclosures for any systemwide guidance effects. How Investors May Respond To Arcos Dorados (ARCO) Earnings Miss
• Negative Sentiment: Input-cost pressure: reporting suggests beef prices remain elevated, pushing chains to lean more on chicken — sustained protein cost inflation could compress margins if menu price moves lag input costs. McDonald’s makes a big menu shift as beef prices rise

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.