UBS Group Lowers McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Price Target to $340.00

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) had its target price decreased by equities research analysts at UBS Group from $365.00 to $340.00 in a report issued on Monday. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the fast-food giant’s stock. UBS Group’s target price suggests a potential upside of 28.57% from the company’s previous close.

MCD has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup cut their price target on McDonald’s from $375.00 to $335.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of McDonald’s from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $325.00 price objective on shares of McDonald’s in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded shares of McDonald’s from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their price target for the company from $260.00 to $306.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, Tigress Financial increased their price target on shares of McDonald’s from $385.00 to $390.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $333.32.

McDonald’s Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE MCD opened at $264.46 on Monday. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $275.99 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $298.86. The company has a market cap of $187.90 billion, a PE ratio of 21.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.41. McDonald’s has a twelve month low of $260.96 and a twelve month high of $341.75.

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The fast-food giant reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.74 by $0.09. McDonald’s had a negative return on equity of 442.10% and a net margin of 31.62%.The company had revenue of $6.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.47 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.67 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that McDonald’s will post 12.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at McDonald’s

In other McDonald’s news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,763 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.36, for a total value of $769,108.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,744,760.48. The trade was a 30.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 5,252 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the insider owned 7,734 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,198,930.88. The trade was a 40.44% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 8,348 shares of company stock worth $2,355,634. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On McDonald’s

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP bought a new position in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of McDonald’s in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Abound Financial LLC acquired a new stake in McDonald’s in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. DecisionPoint Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of McDonald’s by 1,616.7% in the 4th quarter. DecisionPoint Financial LLC now owns 103 shares of the fast-food giant’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new position in McDonald’s during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About McDonald’s

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.