Cerity Partners LLC increased its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD – Free Report) by 4.6% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 504,941 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after buying an additional 22,249 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $154,325,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 1,574,007 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $481,064,000 after purchasing an additional 62,944 shares during the last quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 41.9% in the fourth quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH now owns 6,714 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,064,000 after purchasing an additional 1,982 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 7.2% in the fourth quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 134,042 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $40,967,000 after purchasing an additional 8,975 shares during the last quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 8,083 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,470,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the fourth quarter worth about $1,082,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
McDonald’s Stock Performance
McDonald’s stock opened at $277.58 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $291.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $307.36. The stock has a market cap of $197.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.88, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $271.85 and a fifty-two week high of $341.75.
McDonald’s Announces Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be given a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 2nd. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is currently 61.34%.
Key McDonald’s News
Here are the key news stories impacting McDonald’s this week:
- Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is testing AI-powered drive-thru ordering, and early reports say the Google-based system is already reaching about 90% accuracy. That could support faster service, lower labor costs, and better margins if it scales successfully. McDonald’s Google AI Drive-Thru Ordering Hits 90% Accuracy
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market commentary continue to point to McDonald’s as a potential long-term winner, with one note highlighting upside tied to its recent growth strategy and another citing beverage innovation—new McCafé and energy drinks—as a way to boost traffic and ticket size in 2026. Can Beverage Innovation Fuel the Next Leg of Growth for MCD Stock?
- Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is also promoting limited-time offerings tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which could help drive short-term customer traffic and sales. McDonald’s Celebrates 2026 FIFA World Cup With Limited-Time Meals
- Neutral Sentiment: Several articles are focused on McDonald’s broader brand and menu appeal, including long-running popular orders and comparisons with competitors, but these are unlikely to materially move the stock on their own. McDonald’s And Burger King Use The Same Potatoes For Fries — But One Chain Still Dominates
- Neutral Sentiment: News about a restaurant worker injury in Yuba City appears operationally isolated and does not yet suggest a companywide financial impact, though it may add some reputational noise. McDonald’s Employee in ICU After Coworker Allegedly Throws Hot Oil in Yuba City Attack
- Negative Sentiment: Some coverage questions whether customers actually want AI ordering, and those concerns could temper enthusiasm around the technology rollout if service quality or customer satisfaction suffers. McDonald’s is testing AI ordering at drive-thrus — but customers don’t want it
- Negative Sentiment: Another article says McDonald’s is officially replacing drive-thru workers with AI, which could raise labor and execution concerns, even if it supports efficiency over time. McDonalds Orders People Over 55 Still Swear By After Decades
Insider Buying and Selling
In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 333 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.11, for a total value of $93,276.63. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,166,370.74. The trade was a 4.13% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total value of $769,108.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,268 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,744,760.48. This represents a 30.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 6,055 shares of company stock worth $1,769,373. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several analysts recently issued reports on MCD shares. Guggenheim cut their target price on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Argus raised McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $380.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on McDonald’s from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on McDonald’s from $330.00 to $305.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $336.26.
Read Our Latest Analysis on McDonald’s
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.
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