McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Insider Joseph Erlinger Sells 5,252 Shares

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) insider Joseph Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.32, for a total transaction of $1,493,248.64. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 7,734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,198,930.88. This represents a 40.44% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

McDonald’s Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE MCD opened at $282.98 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $201.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.33, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s Corporation has a 12 month low of $271.85 and a 12 month high of $341.75. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $290.34 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $307.07.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 442.10% and a net margin of 31.62%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.67 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that McDonald’s Corporation will post 12.93 earnings per share for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 2nd. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. McDonald’s’s payout ratio is presently 61.34%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on MCD. UBS Group boosted their target price on McDonald’s from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded McDonald’s from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $260.00 to $306.00 in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Robert W. Baird set a $305.00 price target on McDonald’s in a report on Thursday, May 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $305.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their price objective on McDonald’s from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, McDonald’s currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $336.26.

Institutional Trading of McDonald’s

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 21.6% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,286 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,692,000 after buying an additional 1,649 shares in the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,942 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $563,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,017 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $589,000 after buying an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. United Bank boosted its holdings in shares of McDonald’s by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. United Bank now owns 8,102 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock worth $2,367,000 after buying an additional 459 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its holdings 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 worth $3,780,000 after buying an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting McDonald’s

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

• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s launched FIFA World Cup meal promotions with collectible cups, toys, and Squishmallows, which could boost customer traffic and merchandise-led demand. McDonald’s FIFA World Cup meals with Squishmallows and 9 collectible cups are here
• Positive Sentiment: McDonald’s is testing AI at select drive-thrus, potentially improving speed, labor efficiency, and long-term margins if the rollout works well. McDonald’s testing AI drive-thru system at select US locations
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view McDonald’s favorably, with one report saying the stock carries a “Moderate Buy” consensus. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Commentary from Jim Cramer framed McDonald’s as a stock investors can build into over time, reinforcing the view that it is a defensive long-term holding. Jim Cramer Discusses a Strategic Buying Plan to Build a Great Cost Basis in McDonald’s
• Neutral Sentiment: McDonald’s is also getting attention from articles about its collectible World Cup cups and menu shake-up, which are mainly promotional and likely more relevant to customer engagement than to fundamentals. McDonald’s World Cup 2026 meal deal – how to collect all the cups and which players are on them
• Negative Sentiment: An insider sale by McDonald’s executive Joseph M. Erlinger may create some caution, even though insider transactions do not necessarily signal a change in business outlook. Joseph M. Erlinger insider sale
• Negative Sentiment: Recent reporting has also highlighted customer frustration over a drive-thru change and workplace culture/safety concerns, which could pressure sentiment if they persist. McDonald’s quietly makes a major change to its drive thru and customers are furious

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.