Wedmont Private Capital Sells 2,706 Shares of McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Wedmont Private Capital lowered its position in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 31.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,942 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after selling 2,706 shares during the quarter. Wedmont Private Capital’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $1,632,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in McDonald’s by 21.6% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,286 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,692,000 after buying an additional 1,649 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in McDonald’s by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,942 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $563,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in McDonald’s by 11.4% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,017 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $589,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. United Bank boosted its stake in McDonald’s by 6.0% in the second quarter. United Bank now owns 8,102 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $2,367,000 after acquiring an additional 459 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. grew its position in shares of McDonald’s by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 12,938 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $3,780,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MCD has been the subject of several research reports. TD Cowen reissued a “hold” rating on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on McDonald’s from $320.00 to $290.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Freedom Capital raised McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Robert W. Baird upgraded McDonald’s to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, August 24th. Finally, UBS Group set a $305.00 price objective on McDonald’s in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $321.35.

Trending Headlines about McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: A McDonald’s franchisee in Milwaukee reported double-digit sales growth across seven restaurants, crediting improved operations, local marketing and disciplined execution. The results suggest that franchisees with effective store-level strategies may still be able to outperform broader U.S. trends. McDonald’s sales growth has slowed. One franchisee says his stores are up double digits — and he credits these 3 things.
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts cited McDonald’s franchise economics, global diversification and recurring royalty revenue as reasons the company could recover. One market commentary sees substantial upside to the shares despite current U.S. execution issues. Why Franchise Models Are Winning the Restaurant Stock Divide
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s long record of annual dividend increases—dating back to 1976—continues to appeal to income-oriented investors. The recent share-price pullback is being presented as a potentially attractive entry point, with the dividend supported by the company’s asset-light franchise model. McDonald’s Has Raised Its Dividend Every Year Since 1976
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s remained open on Labor Day, a routine operating update with limited direct implications for earnings or valuation. Fast Food Chains: Are Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Starbucks Open on Labor Day?
• Neutral Sentiment: New fall beverages and promotional menu changes could support traffic and seasonal sales, but the impact is unlikely to be material without evidence of stronger customer demand. McDonald’s drops a 13-year favorite as it unveils its new fall drinks
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage of a customer “hack” for keeping cars cleaner while eating McDonald’s is lifestyle content and has no meaningful near-term investment impact. The McDonald’s Hack That Keeps Your Car A Little Cleaner When Eating Burgers On The Go
• Negative Sentiment: Recent commentary highlights slowing U.S. sales and execution missteps, contrasting McDonald’s with restaurant peers that reported stronger results from franchise economics and international diversification. This is the clearest near-term pressure on the stock. Why Franchise Models Are Winning the Restaurant Stock Divide
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that McDonald’s once sold its roughly 90% stake in Chipotle are reviving criticism that the company missed significant long-term value creation. The issue is historical rather than an immediate earnings catalyst, but it may weigh on sentiment about capital allocation. McDonald’s Exit From a 90% Restaurant Stake Still Haunts Investors
• Negative Sentiment: McDonald’s India’s social-media account reportedly posted memecoin-related content, creating reputational and governance concerns, although the incident appears unlikely to materially affect consolidated financial results. McDonald’s India Drama Erupts While Wall Street Targets 24% Stock Rally

McDonald’s Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MCD opened at $255.69 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $269.43 and a 200-day moving average of $288.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $180.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.77, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12 month low of $255.49 and a 12 month high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $7.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.13 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.72% and a negative return on equity of 572.06%. The firm’s revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.19 EPS. On average, analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.87 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be issued a $1.86 dividend. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is presently 60.44%.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, insider Joseph Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total value of $1,493,248.64. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,198,930.88. This represents a 40.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s 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.