McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) PT Lowered to $320.00 at Morgan Stanley

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) had its price target cut by Morgan Stanley from $327.00 to $320.00 in a research report released on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the fast-food giant’s stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on MCD. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Argus reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Monday, March 25th. StockNews.com downgraded McDonald’s from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Bank of America upped their price target on McDonald’s from $291.00 to $341.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $330.00 price target on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $320.17.

McDonald’s Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:MCD opened at $266.23 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $191.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.71. McDonald’s has a 52 week low of $245.73 and a 52 week high of $302.39. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $284.60 and a 200 day moving average of $280.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 5th. The fast-food giant reported $2.95 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.83 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $6.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.45 billion. McDonald’s had a net margin of 33.22% and a negative return on equity of 171.96%. McDonald’s’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.59 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that McDonald’s will post 12.35 EPS for the current year.

McDonald’s Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a $1.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $6.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.51%. McDonald’s’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 57.74%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 1,099 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.38, for a total transaction of $312,533.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 18,075 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,140,168.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in McDonald’s by 51.9% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 123 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Retirement Group LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Clear Investment Research LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the company’s stock.

McDonald’s Company Profile

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises restaurants under the McDonald's brand in the United States and internationally. It offers food and beverages, including hamburgers and cheeseburgers, various chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes, desserts, sundaes, cookies, pies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages; and full or limited breakfast, as well as sells various other products during limited-time promotions.