Brokerages Set McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Target Price at $337.57

Shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) have received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the thirty-two ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $339.6897.

Several brokerages have commented on MCD. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $356.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Oppenheimer upgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $355.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Argus upgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $380.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, BTIG Research upped their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th.

McDonald’s News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price-target bump — At least one outlet reports a new analyst target of $385, which supports upside expectations for the shares and likely underpins buying interest. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Price Target Raised to $385.00
• Positive Sentiment: Viral marketing lifted brand value — Coverage estimates the Big Arch Burger viral video added meaningful brand value (reported at roughly $18M), a free-media boost that can translate into incremental sales and customer engagement. McDonald’s Big Arch burger viral video has added at least $18 million brand value to the chain
• Positive Sentiment: New product & partnerships drive engagement — Recent rollouts (new Happy Meal offerings and a Crocs Happy Meal tie-in) and menu tweaks help sustain traffic and proven promotional lift. These initiatives support same-store sales momentum. McDonald’s, Crocs team up on new Happy Meal for limited time
• Positive Sentiment: Menu improvement stories — Positive consumer press (e.g., favorable write-ups on Filet-O-Fish upgrades) can help food quality perception and drive trial. The Game-Changing McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Upgrade That Makes It 10x Better
• Neutral Sentiment: Executive influence beyond McDonald’s — Brian Rice (McDonald’s EVP & Global CIO) joining the Albertsons board signals executive quality and digital/tech expertise but is only an indirect positive for MCD fundamentals. Does Brian Rice’s Board Appointment Reveal a Deeper Digital Ambition at Albertsons (ACI)?
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry supplier activism — Starboard’s stake and push at Lamb Weston (major fry supplier) could prompt supplier cost or strategy changes; implications for McDonald’s are indirect but worth watching for supply/cost dynamics. Activist Starboard Takes Big Stake in French-Fry Maker Lamb Weston
• Negative Sentiment: Macro risk from high oil — Analysis argues a $150 oil environment creates a demand-side threat (higher pump prices can reduce drive-through and delivery frequency) rather than just raising input costs; that scenario could pressure traffic and margins. McDonald’s Real Risk From $150 Oil Has Nothing to Do With Costs
• Negative Sentiment: PR/management gaffes — Viral CEO tasting videos and “Burgergate” commentary have led to mockery and short-term reputational noise; generally transitory but can draw negative headlines and investor attention. McDonald’s CEO mocked online after awkward Big Arch Burger tasting video goes viral

McDonald’s Stock Performance

NYSE MCD traded down $1.13 during trading on Monday, reaching $326.93. 533,066 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,364,670. The stock has a market cap of $232.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $318.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $311.02. McDonald’s has a 1 year low of $283.47 and a 1 year high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The fast-food giant reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.05 by $0.07. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 343.90% and a net margin of 31.85%.The business had revenue of $7.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.83 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that McDonald’s will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company 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 $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 3rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 62.26%.

Insider Activity

In other McDonald’s news, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 4,692 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $331.00, for a total transaction of $1,553,052.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer owned 6,200 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,052,200. The trade was a 43.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,486 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.00, for a total value of $795,520.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,005,760. This represents a 28.40% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 71,517 shares of company stock worth $23,655,503 over the last ninety days. 0.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. raised its stake in McDonald’s by 142.9% during the 2nd quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 85 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 162.5% during the third quarter. Evergreen Private Wealth LLC now owns 84 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Park Place Capital Corp lifted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 95.7% during the fourth quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 92 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.