Arizona State Retirement System Has $53.28 Million Stock Position in McDonald’s Corporation $MCD

Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in shares of McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 1.0% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 197,122 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,005 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $53,284,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. bought a new stake in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Abound Financial LLC bought a new position in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. bought a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the first quarter worth about $33,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key McDonald’s News

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is reportedly slowing its restaurant expansion to protect returns as construction costs rise and consumers remain price-sensitive. A more disciplined development pace could improve new-restaurant economics and reduce capital risk. Can MCD’s Slower Expansion Pace Help Protect New-Restaurant Returns?
• Positive Sentiment: A Milwaukee franchisee says sales at his seven locations are growing at double-digit rates, attributing the gains to local execution, customer engagement and operational initiatives. The example suggests individual operators can still outperform despite broader U.S. sales softness. McDonald’s franchisee sales are up
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s is rethinking its strategy as an unexpected customer group increasingly buys Happy Meals, potentially broadening the product’s appeal beyond children. The report signals a marketing opportunity but provides no immediate financial forecast. McDonald’s CEO Says an Unlikely Group Is Turning to Happy Meals
• Neutral Sentiment: The company plans a first-of-its-kind U.K. location where customers can make their own burgers. The experiential concept could generate publicity and engagement, but its impact on companywide results is likely limited initially. McDonald’s reveals new UK store
• Neutral Sentiment: Market coverage continues to describe McDonald’s as a defensive stock ahead of inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s rate decision, which may support investor interest during periods of volatility. 5 Defensive Stocks to Watch
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts note that McDonald’s U.S. sales have slowed because of execution issues, even as other major franchised restaurant companies reported stronger results. This is the clearest fundamental pressure on MCD and helps explain its weaker share performance. Why Franchise Models Are Winning the Restaurant Stock Divide
• Negative Sentiment: Reports of customers criticizing a children’s area that lacks toys or playground equipment could reinforce concerns about an uneven in-store experience, though the issue appears localized. McDonald’s also deleted a viral post involving a controversial intern claim, creating a minor reputational and social-media risk. McDonald’s guests criticize kids corner McDonald’s deletes viral post

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Joseph Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,198,930.88. This trade 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 at the SEC website. 0.26% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

McDonald’s Trading Down 0.1%

MCD stock traded down $0.16 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $255.53. The company had a trading volume of 4,196,825 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,941,729. The business has a 50-day moving average of $269.43 and a 200-day moving average of $288.61. McDonald’s Corporation has a one year low of $254.28 and a one year high of $341.75. The stock has a market cap of $180.82 billion, a PE ratio of 20.76, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.41.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The fast-food giant reported $3.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.06. McDonald’s had a net margin of 31.72% and a negative return on equity of 572.06%. The business had revenue of $7.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.19 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.87 EPS 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 given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio is 60.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $335.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Piper Sandler set a $286.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $305.00 to $295.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of McDonald’s to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, August 24th. Finally, Argus reduced their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $320.00 to $310.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, McDonald’s currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $321.35.

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.