Berger Financial Group Inc Increases Position in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)

Berger Financial Group Inc boosted its holdings in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) by 3.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,441 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the quarter. Berger Financial Group Inc’s holdings in McDonald’s were worth $762,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Abound Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Copia Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of McDonald’s during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Stock Performance

MCD opened at $305.62 on Friday. McDonald’s Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $265.33 and a fifty-two week high of $326.32. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $298.57 and its 200 day moving average is $304.49. The stock has a market cap of $218.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.52.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The fast-food giant reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.15 by $0.04. McDonald’s had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. The company had revenue of $6.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.68 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.97 EPS. McDonald’s’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a dividend of $1.77 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $7.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is 60.67%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $350.00 price target (up previously from $345.00) on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday. Erste Group Bank cut shares of McDonald’s from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Loop Capital cut shares of McDonald’s from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $346.00 to $315.00 in a report on Friday, June 6th. TD Securities restated a “hold” rating and issued a $305.00 target price on shares of McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of McDonald’s from $305.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonald’s presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $326.87.

Insider Activity at McDonald’s

In related news, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 1,000 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total transaction of $300,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer owned 8,858 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,657,400. The trade was a 10.14% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,487 shares of McDonald’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total transaction of $770,970.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 8,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,713,740. This trade represents a 22.12% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 7,280 shares of company stock worth $2,215,178. 0.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.